Innovative milieu in Mexico: The case of the El Bajío industrial corridor

Several regions have been transformed from passive locations to active structures capable of generating and promoting local innovative processes. The analysis presented is centered on the case of the “el Bajio” industrial corridor in Mexico. The goal is to determine if this corridor has the characteristics of an innovative environment. Based on qualitative analysis, we performed a literature review, followed by several interviews with participants in the innovative activities within the study region. The results show that this industrial corridor was created because of its strategic geographic location in order to attract more investments in the region, but without a definitive plan. Therefore, a local regulation process was designed and implemented, yet is still in under revision. This regulation incorporates several strategies aimed at promoting innovation, which the government will support if various states in the region and adopt similar development patterns.