The Border Region between El Paso- Ciudad Juarez has been a major manufacturing hub for well over half a century, with links to global markets ever since Mexico established the Border Industrialization Program in 1965. Among many, many others, it has attracted important foreign companies including Bosch, Delphi Technologies, Aptiv, Johnson & Johnson, Lear and Lexmark among many others to lay down deep roots for operations and for growing their business models.


Nowadays, over 340 manufacturing operations in Juarez utilize a dynamic, cost effective labor force in a prime logistical location. These companies have helped us modernize our city and become the most skilled and talented labor force in the Border Region. Nonetheless, it is a presence and economic opportunity den on which our region has not yet fully capitalized.


The manufacturing supply chain in this area is worth 39 billion dollars in inputs each year, yet only 2% of the inputs used in production processes come from suppliers in the state of Chihuahua (Source Coparmex/Department of Economy State of Chihuahua). The remaining 98% is supplied from other parts of the world. In fact, even the inputs coming from the US are often coming from much further afield than our regional borderplex partners in Texas and New Mexico. Suppliers from the state of Chihuahua provide services such as suppling production lines, automation processes and parts, office supplies, among others. Their participation in the supply chain is capable of expanding to any number of goods and services. There is an array of opportunity left on the table along side the potential of the border region´s SMEs to supply a spread of different high value, productive implements due to the proximity of the manufacturing facilities. Utilizing local suppliers will allow the manufacturers to slash logistical costs and side step the red tape and bureaucracy that come with importing inputs. However, before we can make any of this happen, there are few key areas and verticals that we need to develop.


Introducing The Bridge


The Bridge is a multi-stage industrial accelerator program built to professionalize the border area suppliers and strengthen their commercial relationships with large-scale manufacturers. Developed by bi-national business incubator and accelerator Technology Hub and The Hub of Human Innovation, the program specifically works to boost and accelerate the SMEs and companies in the El Paso, Ciudad Juarez region, increasing the local input by connecting them to the multi billion dollar regional manufacturing supply chain.


Professionalizing the border area suppliers


During these intensive 12 weeks of acceleration process, The Bridge will engage 12 companies operating on the supply side to professionalize processes up to international business standards and illuminate gaps and inefficiencies where they can better compete and serve the local supply chain. Throughout the program, participants will

: • Understand the unique requirements of the manufacturing industry and binational business culture.

• Identify different types of innovation and how it applies to the manufacturing supply chain.

• Understand models of intellectual property protection. • Articulate a value proposition and define competitive advantages and new go-to market strategies.

• Develop financial models and identify types and sources of funding.


The Bridge program will also be onboard with new companies. In the acceleration process, industry experts will be offering mentorship to local companies and will work with them to develop brand new solutions and services for the manufacturer industry´s needs. In the long-term, these businesses are expected to become specialized vendors for the industry.


Brokering commercial relationships


At the end of the acceleration process, graduating companies will benefit from introductions to top executives at regionally based manufacturers like Bosch, Lear, TECMA, Johnson & Johnson, Seisa, among others. They will have the opportunity to demo innovations and offerings as well as pitch their services to become local suppliers to the manufacturers. For our industry partners, it is an opportunity to have a direct role in sculpting the local supply chain so they can better address specific regional needs, implement efficiencies and cut costs dramatically.


Twelve companies will be selected to participate in The Bride Accelerator. At the end of the program they will compete in a demo day and the winner will receive up to $25,000 in seed funding to help grow their business.


Strengthening our bi-national entrepreneurial eco-system


The program is set to be a differentiator for both of our cities. Annually the program will develop and certify twenty companies, secure ten major manufacturing supply contracts, create a number of high skills jobs and build career pathways for companies in the U.S. – Mexico Border region. The Bridge program has a self-sustaining financial model thanks to the support of our sponsors: TechSpark -Microsoft, Transtelco, Bosch, Department of Economic Development for the State of Chihuahua (SIDE), Technology HUB, The Hub of Human Innovation. The manufacturing industry has been the driving engine that has helped Ciudad Juarez and El Paso to become the manufacturing hub it is today. I strongly believe with the right modifications and the boost from The Bridge program, we can advance both our cities to another level, strengthen our bi-national region, create higher quality jobs and bring more cultural prosperity in the process.


The Bridge Accelerator application process is open and will close April 22nd the program start date is may 6th,

Apply now: https://forms.gle/1j2ogK3QuYSbRqZQ6


Application deadline April 25

Program starts, May 6


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