The premiere public university in the state of Georgia is setting up shop in Mexico.
In cooperation with Technologico de Mexico, Georgia Tech will run a Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Center in Mexico City aimed at education, research, and industry growth.
The center is expected to become a fountain for research on supply chains in emerging markets. Mexico’s federal government, which aims to streamline disaster relief efforts and improve infrastructure, is slated to be the center’s first client.
Georgia Tech researchers will gain insight into how the trade process works in one of the United States’ largest trade partners. Jaymie Forrest, managing director of the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute, said at the inauguration ceremony on September 30, “It is essential that there be in-depth knowledge of major trading partners such as Mexico for Georgia Tech to be the leader in international trade.”
This is the fourth innovation center Georgia Tech has opened abroad; elder centers are in Singapore, Costa Rica and Panama. Beyond providing synergy between academics and business managers, Georgia Tech’s international centers have brought hidden strengths to the fore; for instance, Panama is quick becoming a major player in food transport thanks to food chain logistics works done by researchers at the Georgia Tech center there.
Mexico ranks 50th in this year’s World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index: the United States is ranked 15th; Chile 49; Colombia 72.
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings Georgia Tech is number 27.
