Sonora & the Semiconductor Opportunity: Talent, Industry, and Global Integration

BI5ON LIVE SUMMARY

The semiconductor industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven by trade policy shifts and supply chain reconfigurations. As companies look to reduce dependency on China and strengthen North American production, new opportunities are emerging for Mexico and Sonora. In this BI5ON Live, industry leaders, researchers, and education experts will explore how Sonora can seize this moment, develop talent, attract investment, and strengthen its role in the global semiconductor value chain.

Don’t miss this opportunity to understand how Sonora can position itself in the global semiconductor industry—tune in live!

KEY INSIGHTS TO EXPLORE BEFORE THE EVENT

Nearshoring in Hermosillo: Analysis of Economic Growth Opportunities

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SPEAKERS

Andres Fortunato
Research Fellow, Growth Lab
Harvard Kennedy School

Andrés joined the Center for International Development’s Growth Lab as a Research Fellow in 2021 and is now a Research Manager. 

Before joining the Growth Lab, Andrés spent seven years in the public sector of Argentina working on policy implementation with multiple public agencies. He worked in the Ministry of Social Development, the National Airports Police, the Government of Tierra del Fuego, and the Ministry of Production.  

Andrés holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Universidad de Buenos Aires and a Master of Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, with certificates in Data Analytics, International Development, and Policy Analysis. 

His research interests include growth diagnostics, capacity building, and innovation policy. 

Dr. Ernesto Stein
Distinguished University Professor in Public Policy
School of Government and Public Transformation
Tecnológico de Monterrey

Dr. Ernesto Stein was the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representative in Mexico, where he guided all the activities of the IDB Group (public and private side) in the country with a focus on reducing regional gaps and fostering economic development. With a career spanning almost 30 years at the IDB, Ernesto Stein has served different roles, including principal economist at the Research Department and regional economic advisor for Central America, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.

He has also been a Growth Fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Development.

His research primarily focuses on areas critical to economic development and policy. These include international trade and integration, foreign direct investment, productive development policies, institutional economics, and political economy.

He has authored or edited over 12 books and contributed to more than 40 articles in edited volumes and refereed journals such as the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Development Economics, Economic Policy, Economics and Politics, and the American Economic Review (papers and proceedings), among others.

Ernesto Stein joined Tecnológico de Monterrey as Distinguished University Professor in Public Policy for the School of Social Sciences and Government and the School of Government and Public Transformation.

Dr. Santos Castillo
Full-time Researcher, Universidad de Sonora

Dr. Santos Jesús Castillo is a Full-time Researcher at the Universidad de Sonora, specializing in solid-state physics, semiconductor materials, and nanotechnology. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the Universidad de Sonora and completed postdoctoral research at the University of North Texas.

His work focuses on materials for semiconductor applications, with a strong background in both experimental and theoretical approaches. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles in international scientific journals and is a Level III member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI). He also holds patents related to nanoparticle structures and thin-film growth processes.

Aned de León
Full-time Professor, Universidad de Sonora

Aned de León Flores is a Full-time Professor at the Universidad de Sonora, specializing in semiconductor materials, photonic materials, and supramolecular chemistry. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and has conducted research stays at institutions such as Zhejiang University in China, the University of Ulm in Germany, and Jackson State University in the U.S.

Her academic work focuses on materials for semiconductor applications, and she has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications in international journals. As a Level II member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI) and leader of the Academic Body in Semiconductors: Studies of Photonic Materials, she actively contributes to advancing semiconductor research and innovation in Mexico.

Dr. Rafael Ramírez-Bon
Professor, CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Querétaro

Dr. Rafael Ramírez-Bon is a distinguished physicist and professor at CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Querétaro. With a Ph.D. in Physics from CINVESTAV-IPN, he has dedicated his career to the synthesis and study of optical, electrical, and structural properties of semiconductor, metallic, and ceramic coatings. His research also extends to the fabrication and characterization of semiconductor electronic devices, including solar cells and thin-film transistors.

As a leading scientist, Dr. Ramírez-Bon has authored over 240 peer-reviewed journal articles, accumulating approximately 3,300 independent citations and an H-index of 35. He has been the principal investigator of 15 scientific projects funded by government and private institutions.

Beyond his research, he has significantly contributed to academia, mentoring over 140 students across bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. levels. His impact in the field has earned him recognition as a Member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and Level 3 Investigator in the Mexican System of National Researchers. He has also served as President of the Mexican Vacuum Society and as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Currently, he serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Materials and continues to lead advancements in materials science and semiconductor research.

BI5ON LIVE DETAILS

The global semiconductor industry is at the center of a major realignment, driven by policies like the CHIPS Act in the U.S., geopolitical shifts in Asia, and recent trade tariff adjustments aimed at reducing reliance on China and strengthening supply chains in North America.

This shift creates a significant opportunity for Mexico—particularly Sonora—to position itself as a key partner within the semiconductor ecosystem of Arizona and the southwestern U.S. However, capitalizing on this potential requires a clear strategy to:

• Develop a highly skilled workforce in engineering and advanced manufacturing.

• Attract semiconductor investment and companies with strategic incentives and local capabilities.

• Strengthen cross-border integration with Arizona’s expanding semiconductor cluster.

• Drive research and innovation in materials, design, and manufacturing processes.

In this BI5ON Live, industry experts, researchers, and educators will share insights on how Sonora can establish itself as a key player in the global semiconductor value chain, leveraging the current market dynamics to become a hub for talent, innovation, and strategic manufacturing.