Since semiconductors are a matter of national security and are at the center of geopolitical tensions, Mexico could have a historic opportunity to become a key player in the supply chain in this area , according to José Luis Jáuregui, professor at the Center for Technical and Higher Education (CETYS University) .
During the webinar Chips at stake: How geopolitics is rewriting the global supply chain , the specialist emphasized that semiconductors are the “soul of any electronic equipment” and have become a matter of national security, so countries are seeking sovereignty in their supply to avoid dependence .
“The importance for any country of having a reliable source of semiconductor supplies is already a truly significant issue, as it is part of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any country, and undoubtedly, countries or companies are increasingly seeking to protect themselves from any shortages,” he stated.
As an example, he explained the restrictions imposed by countries like China, through companies like Nexperia , which have wreaked havoc on the global semiconductor supply chain, affecting major automotive companies like Volkswagen , BMW , Audi , and Ford .
The Mexican challenge: ecosystem and talent
Mexico could be a viable alternative for semiconductor manufacturing, Jáuregui emphasized; however, the country is “not on the map” globally, despite being the United States’ number one trading partner. The professor pointed out that Mexico faces two major challenges: developing a robust ecosystem and training specialized talent .
“Mexico does not yet have an ecosystem, and for me, one of the priorities that the government should have before venturing to manufacture or build a semiconductor factory is to generate an ecosystem, that is, to generate those companies that contribute commodities or products so that the semiconductor industry in the United States can be strengthened,” he said.
Jáuregui indicated that while there are success stories like that of T-note in Querétaro, Mexico faces challenges such as the lack of natural resources needed for semiconductor manufacturing, such as rare earth elements and water , which only Hermosillo, Sonora and Mexicali, Baja California, have available, but the location of the plants must consider this critical resource.
Furthermore, he warned of the lack of specialized labor in the field, since the United States alone faces a shortage of 27,000 semiconductor engineers for the next four years, which represents a great challenge for the region , but also an opportunity for Mexico, which must expand its educational offerings in this field; however, although institutions such as the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) and the Technological University of Tijuana (UTT) already offer programs in semiconductor engineering, the number of graduates remains insufficient.
Electricity generation, the challenge
José Luis Jáuregui emphasized that the demand for semiconductors will skyrocket, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), and that sales are expected to reach a record high of one trillion dollars next year .
However, the immediate challenge will be generating electricity. The data centers that power AI demand gigawatts of electrical capacity, a limited resource in the United States. It is estimated that building 30 such complexes would require at least one gigawatt each, a figure that exceeds the current infrastructure .
The expert pointed out the risk of a bubble due to insufficient energy. However, manufacturers like Nvidia are sticking to their strategy, convinced that AI will become increasingly essential. Chip production will not stop, even with the energy constraints .
Jauregui concluded that Mexico is at a privileged historical moment and must take advantage of geopolitical tensions, and to achieve this it is essential that the government, academia and industry agree to facilitate investments , develop talent and establish that ecosystem that allows Mexico to put itself on the semiconductor map
Comment and follow us on X: @miroslavacs / @GrupoT21
