Jalisco Leads in Patents and Commercialization
Guadalajara, Jalisco. Not only does Jalisco hold the top national position with the highest number of patents (242 registered in 2024), but its scientists are also bringing their inventions into the productive sector, making the state more competitive in the long term. Larisa Cruz Ornelas, General Director of Science and Technological Development at the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology (SICyT), shared this information with El Economista.
“Jalisco contributes the majority of patents in Mexico, but we are applying these patents to economic sectors, meaning we’re not just generating an indicator; we’re transferring that indicator as added value to the productive sectors, making Jalisco a more competitive state,” Cruz Ornelas emphasized.
She highlighted that Jalisco’s entrepreneurial spirit drives innovation across all sectors, both traditional and those based on science. These science-based innovations will provide competitive advantages for Jalisco in the medium to long term, as competition shifts from price to innovative products that are patented.
Challenges in Bringing Innovative Products to Market
Cruz Ornelas explained that products or processes with science-based innovation are the most challenging to bring to market, citing pharmaceutical examples requiring laboratory studies, preclinical and clinical trials, along with significant certifications from Cofepris to launch these technologies.
Patents usually reach a TRL-3 (Technology Readiness Level), indicating the level of technological maturity, according to a NASA-designed scale to assess how ready a technology is for market introduction.
“From Science to Market” Program
SICyT’s “From Science to Market” program assists universities, research centers, independent inventors, and small businesses in converting their patents into commercial products.
“This program takes scientists’ patents and turns them into marketable products that can be positioned in economic or even social sectors, such as sustainability, circular economy, or healthcare projects,” Cruz Ornelas detailed.
Fourth Generation of the Program
During the fourth generation, SICyT’s Science and Technological Development Director supported 15 projects from universities, research centers, independent inventors, and small businesses for a year.
These projects began in June of the previous year and concluded this month with a public Demo Day, allowing citizens and the general public to learn about the products and attract potential businesses or interested parties.
Throughout the process, each project received a business advisor and technical advisor for 12 months, along with funding to improve technology if at the prototype stage.
SICyT allocated a budget of 10 million pesos for this generation, providing national and international consultations, training, and laboratory or pilot plant work until the products were ready for market, including branding, packaging, and business models (B2B or B2C) for scientists looking to establish their own companies.
Focus on Biotecnology and Pharma
Of the 15 projects in this generation, 40% focused on biotechnology sectors, 27% on pharma, 13% on medical devices, and the remainder on agroindustry.
Participating institutions included the University of Guadalajara, ITESO, UVM, TEC de Monterrey, CIATEQ, and two maturing startups developing new products.
Cruz Ornelas mentioned that 33% of the participants were women, noting that although Jalisco has a significant population of female scientists, their participation in this program indicates a substantial group of women who not only conduct science but also make inventions and pursue applied science, aiming to commercialize their work.
