Invitation to Apply
The 7th Americas Competitiveness Exchange on Innovation and Entrepreneurship invites key leaders and decision makers from the public, private and academic sectors to apply for this program. ACE provides the opportunity to experience first-hand advanced technology centers, innovation hubs, public-private partnerships, and strategic investments in Central Texas, United States.
Convening Institutions
7th ACE is convened by the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC); the Government of the United States, through its U.S. Department of Commerce (the International Trade Administration (ITA) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA)); the U.S. Department of State-Permanent Mission of the United States to the OAS; and the Government of Mexico, as Chair Pro Tempore of RIAC 2016-2018.
When & Where
The six-day tour will take place from Sunday, April 2 to Friday, April 7, 2017 through the cities of San Antonio, New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, San Marcos, College Station, and Austin in Central Texas, United States.
Target Clusters
Featured sites on the tour will target the following clusters: advanced manufacturing, bioscience, cybersecurity, life sciences, rural healthcare, disaster recovery and resiliency, IT, and agriculture.
Objectives
By the end of the 7th ACE, participants will see how Central Texas is:
- Establishing global commercial relationships and FDI partnerships among hosts and participants.
- Sharing and promoting best practices in economic development to strengthen local innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
- Showcasing the importance and benefits of:
- Public-private partnerships to advance a coordinated regional economic development strategy that leverages local assets;
- A coordinated regional business plan to stimulate capital investment and job creation;
- Research to understand problems and develop tools to achieve environmentally sound economic development;
- Providing appropriate infrastructure for innovative businesses to startup and expand;
- Connecting Universities, Industry, and Government to solve complex challenges no one sector or player could address on their own.