An Industry-Government-Academia Partnership to Develop Talent and Technology

Since 2005, Hewlett Packard Laboratories (HP Labs) has been developing research collaborations with universities and public research centers in Mexico. The strategy has primarily focused on engaging Mexican engineering and science students in HP Labs’ projects, aligning universities’ research interests to HP Labs’ research portfolio. In an effort to develop IT talent in Mexico, enhance the speed of innovation at HP Labs, and foster the development of attractive and adequate jobs in the region, HP’s initiative has recently evolved to become a formal program sponsored by the Government of the State of Jalisco in Mexico. This paper describes the history, steps and some of the outcomes of the newlyestablished HP Guadalajara Prototyping Organization (GUAPO), a program developed and sponsored by HP Labs and the state government of Jalisco. We also share some of the lessons learned, best practices and challenges in establishing and nurturing such a program. This novel R&D, talent, and technology development partnership model can be of assistance to other companies and regions establishing similar programs.