Semiconductors
Semiconductors have become a crucial component to thousands of devices in virtually all industries. From healthcare technologies, telecommunications and automobiles, to energy production and defense systems, they have become a central pilar of the international economy. Reliance on a limited number of suppliers and production centers located in geopolitical hotspots has become too risky for North America’s energy transition, digitalization, and technological innovation. Bringing production closer to home will make North America stronger and less reliant on foreign factors in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.
Public and private sectors must be involved in this process, not only to address geopolitical and security concerns by governments, but to help businesses and companies thrive in the region. Coordination between all relevant stakeholders is crucial.
Therefore the U.S.-Mexico Foundation has joined the conversation incentivizing stakeholders to work together in addressing the issues concerning semiconductors supply chains, particularly the opportunities to increase production in the region.
This process promises to enhance economic stability, strengthen institutions, and upgrade physical and digital infrastructure, making North America the most competitive region in the world, allowing our interests to go further, together.
Fellows
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Christian Norton Ayora studied a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Chicago (where he graduated with honors), a bachelor’s degree in economics at ITAM in Mexico City and recently obtained a certificate in ESG Sustainability (environmental, social and governance) from the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI).
He has more than 15 years of experience creating evidence-based solutions as well as designing and implementing projects to address problems associated to health, the environment, connectivity, energy, and access to information and justice. He has led teams in federal government agencies (e.g., IMSS, IFT, Ministry of Energy, etc.), in the Judiciary, and in start-ups (e.g., Reinicia el ciclo), where he has overseen strategic planning and implementation of projects with high social and financial impact. He has also carried out research and impact evaluation projects in institutions such as the Mexican Health Foundation (Funsalud), IMSS and Pratham in India.
He is currently a Fellow at the US – Mexico Foundation, where he is conducting research and analysis of the semiconductor industry to identify areas of opportunity for Mexico to take advantage of near-shoring opportunities in the current geopolitical and economic context.
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Jesús Silva is a Washington, D.C.-based specialist in Trade and Nearshoring, with a solid academic background and extensive experience in public policy. He holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, where he developed expertise in data analysis, statistics, behavioral economics, and organizational management. In addition, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), and has participated in academic programs at UC San Diego and Georgetown University.
Jesús has successfully led significant strategic initiatives during his tenure at the Mexican Embassy to the US. Notable achievements include the development of the USMCA Congress Tracker, an advanced intelligence tool that monitors U.S. Congress initiatives related to Mexico-U.S. trade. He has also spearheaded projects like the Mexican Talent Map, a geospatial data visualization tool that highlights workforce skills and industrial clusters in various Mexican states. Furthermore, Jesús has played a crucial role in the creation of the Exporter Self-diagnosis Tool, an interactive platform designed to assist Mexican SMEs in assessing their readiness for international trade.
Currently, Jesús serves as a Fellow Researcher at the US Mexico Foundation, specializing in supply chain monitoring for the automotive, electronics, strategic minerals, and semiconductor sectors. His focus is on deepening regionalization of production processes in North America and leveraging Mexico's trade alliances, particularly through the implementation of the USMCA agreement.