Year of innovation: EXPEDITION FEMSA celebrates its first anniversary

EXPEDITION FEMSA has celebrated its first anniversary after 470 events, 24,000 participants in initiatives and projects focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, and the promotion of more than 80 scientific and technological projects with the work and collaboration of more than 1,000 students and 275 academics.

Established to promote a science and technology-based research ecosystem, this space also brought together 32innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.

“The Tec was founded with strong ties to industry, entrepreneurship, and research; that DNA is still present in the Innovation District to which EXPEDITION belongs.

“Through this initiative, we will promote three priorities for 2030: research, on-campus graduate programs, and selectivity,” said Mario Adrián Flores Castro, Vice President of the Monterrey Region and General Director of the Monterrey campus.

Under the name BITÁCORA (logbook), a commemorative event was held on December 2, attended by institutional authorities, students, academics, training partners, and part of the Tec community.

EXPEDITION FEMSA is located on the Monterrey campus and has seven levels, each focused on one of Tec de Monterrey’s key objectives.

Its goal is to connect specialists who propose solutions to social challenges, such as conducting scientific and innovative activities over the next 100 years.

“Today we celebrate that this space is establishing itself as a benchmark for innovation in Monterrey, Mexico, and the world,” he said..

“The Tec was founded with strong ties to industry, entrepreneurship, and research".

Milestones revealed one year after inauguration

One of the main objectives of this initiative is to promote a better society through significant changes in the teaching-learning process.

In order to achieve this goal, various connections between academia, industry, and government were established during the first 12 months.

Several companies such as Xignux, CEMEX, Daikin, and Corning have joined the initiative, as well as 15 resident startups promoted by the Eugenio Garza Lagüera Institute of Entrepreneurship.

“EXPEDITION is also a living laboratory, a container and generator of ideas in motion.

“This is where initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, technology, and social innovation coexist,” said Hugo Garza, Vice President of Strategy.

Here are some of the milestones achieved by EXPEDITION during its first year:

OriGen Project

This project has compiled a genetic and clinical database of 100,000 volunteers from 19 states in Mexico to address health issues through research based on genomic data.

2025 Diseña México (Design Mexico) National Prize

The Futures Design Lab and Forma Foods projects for the KOLI restaurant were recognized for integrating design, science, and sensory experience.

Advanced Biofabrication Patent

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property granted the first patent in this field to a multilayer printing method developed by researchers Grissel Trujillo and Mario Álvarez.

Researchers in the top 2% worldwide

Elsevier recognized four researchers from the ecosystem as being among the top 2% most cited worldwide.

“EXPEDITION is also a living laboratory, a container and generator of ideas in motion".

Sharing a vision of the future

During the event, there was a panel discussion entitled Future Opportunities for the Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship Community led by Grissel Trujillo, leader of the Advance Fabrication initiative.

Hans Villa, CEO and founder of Nufi, Yadira Ornelas, leader of Futures Design Lab Monterrey, and Héctor Brosing, Head of Digital Transformation at Xignux.

In this conversation, moderated by Blanca Flores, Director of EXPEDITION FEMSA, participants shared their vision for the future of the projects and initiatives promoted by EXPEDITION. 

“In five years, I hope that EXPEDITION will be recognized as one of the most important entrepreneurship centers in the world. 

“To achieve this, we must continue to forge links so that this talented community can continue to grow,” said Héctor Brosing.

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