El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) or the National Council of Science and Technology, was established in 1970 to increase quality, competitiveness and innovation, especially in the areas of information and communication technology, biotechnology, and advanced materials in Mexico. It is also responsible for the elaboration of science and technology policies in the country. Its goal is to consolidate a national system of science and technology that corresponds to the country’s priority demands, to provide solutions to specific needs, and contribute to higher standard of living and social inclusion. By 2025, CONACYT’s goal is for Mexico to invest 2% of the country’s gross domestic product in research and development. CONACYT initiatives and programs include the funding of scholarships for doctoral students inside and outside Mexico, tax reductions for R&D-intensive firms, and the establishment of research centers. In 2001, a fiscal stimulus package was amended to enable Research & Development intensive firms to deduct 30% of their income tax. Due to this fiscal stimulus, the number of those firms increased from 252 in 2001 to 2,000 in 2005. In 2009, after the swine flu scare, CONACYT created a fund to help finance AH1N1 virus research that included 41 projects and US$8 million in funding. At the same time, it granted 16,170 scholarships to Mexican students in higher education and approved 209 scientific and research projects worth US$16 million.

Founded in 1943 by a group of local businessmen with the aim of providing highly-skilled personnel to the thriving corporations in Monterrey, Mexico, Tec de Monterrey has 64 campuses throughout the country, 22 international offices around the world, 24 corporate universities for 136,307 students and an additional 87,366 registered in on-line programs. It is ranked as one of the best universities in Latin America. The Tec encourages research through 135 research centers. In 1978, university professors and local businessmen jointly created a program to foster entrepreneurship. By 2010, the program had evolved into the Training for Leadership in Entrepreneurship Development and now hosts about 8,900 students per year. As a result of these entrepreneurship programs, a network of 63 business incubators and 14 technology parks has been promoted. Technology transfer and the creation of competitive businesses with the participation of students, alumni, faculty and community members is a main interest for the Tec de Monterrey. Among Mexican Universities, the Tec de Monterrey is one of the leaders in patent applications. The university encourages and has had a significant impact on building an entrepreneurial and innovative culture in the region.

After opening its first cinema in Mexico in 1993, Cinépolis today owns 2,320 screens worldwide, making it the fourth movie distributor in the world and the largest film distributor and theatre chain in Latin America, with revenues of US$675 million in 2009. This international firm employs 15,190 people and has a presence in Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Peru and El Salvador. In June 2010, Cinépolis entered India, and plans to enter the Chilean and Argentinean markets next. In Latin America, Cinépolis has introduced the concept of multiplexes that includes stadium-sized cinemas equipped with digital sound systems and enormous screens. This was its main competitive advantage when entering India, one of the biggest film markets in the world. Recently, the firm created the concept of cinema luxury with “Cinépolis VIP”, with personalized services for high-end clients. Other services include the satellite transmission of international events like concerts or sports events in its cinemas with digital 3D quality. In 2010, Cinépolis reached an agreement with FIFA for exclusive rights to broadcast the football World Cup matches in its cinemas.

Established in 1977 in Monterrey, OXXO is the largest chain of convenience stores in Latin America, with 7,500 stores in 350 cities. The company is wholly owned by the beverage company FEMSA which initially conceived OXXO as an outlet for its beer and soft drinks products. OXXO has delivered double- digit sales growth during the last five years through a combination of rapid expansion and growth. In 2009, its revenues were US$3.85 billion. Its success lies in the development of a computerized operating system that tracks merchandising, warehouse operations, assortment planning and pricing. Additionally, the system is able to identify specifically what customers want to find in each OXXO, and track customer preferences and expectations. At the same time, OXXO provides services to facilitate everyday life, such as payment for public services. In 2009, OXXO opened 800 additional stores.

In 1982, Softtek S.A. was founded as the first Latin American firm specialized in providing near-shore information technology services. In 2007, Softtek created Nearshore Goes Global (Nearshore 2.0), a software that gives customers the possibility to work offshore with the comfort of offering services in the same time zone, the so-called ‘near shore’. The company is a software integrator of Enterprise Resource Planning such as the German SAP. Its growth has been sustained by a unique system of incentivizing entrepreneurship among employees. For much of the company’s history the majority of employees have had compensation packages that are 100% variable. Employees are encouraged to pursue new ideas and start new projects with their compensation being linked to the success of their efforts. Currently, the firm has 6,000 associates, and operates in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia. Softtek was the first Latin American firm to earn Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMi) Level 5, the highest level that a company can acquire. Revenues in 2008 were US$220 million, including 55% from clients in the United States. It has eight global delivery centers in Mexico, China, Brazil, Argentina and Spain.

In 1995, Pineda Covalín was founded by Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covalin in association with the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History. The company started in Mexico City by making cuff-links and ties for companies such as Volkswagen and Coca Cola, to finance their own fashion projects. Initially, products were sold in the Museum of Anthropology and History, the Bellas Artes and the Museum of Modern Art, but due to their success new channels were opened in hotels such as the Four Seasons, Marriott, Nikko, and Sheraton. Since then, the company has focused on promoting Mexican culture through the production and distribution of design pieces (silk ties, scarves, handbags, cushions and other fine products) inspired by pre-Hispanic influences such as the Huichol, Mayan and Zapotec cultures. In the last ten years, Pineda Covalín has become a global fashion brand and its products can be found in museum shops and select boutiques in North America, Europe and Latin America. In 2002, Fashion Group Mexico awarded Pineda Covalín the “Estrella de Plata” for its work in Mexican design. In 2005, the company represented Mexico at the Global Fashion Show in Europe, and in 2006 it served as a representative of Mexican fashion at the United Nations.

Patrimonio Hoy is an innovative corporate social responsibility (CSR) program developed and supported by CEMEX. Founded in Mexico in 1906, CEMEX is one of the world’s three largest building materials companies, with 50,000 employees, US$14.7 billion in net sales in 2009, and a presence in more than 50 countries across five continents. In 1998, CEMEX introduced Patrimonio Hoy. The program is one of the pioneers of social innovation in Latin America. CEMEX provides the assistance and resources to build and improve houses with a low cost and efficient micro-credit system, contributing to the development of the region. The project has benefited more than 300,000 families in five countries; 180,000 of them have received more than US$67 million in loans, with a loan repayment rate of 99%. Patrimonio Hoy has become a case study taught in major universities. It has won recognition from the Organization of American States (OAS), the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank. In 2009, Cemex won the United Nation's Habitat Business Award for Patrimonio Hoy as an outstanding innovative business model that promotes social development.

Causas.org is a non governmental organization (NGO) created in 2005 by Arturo Franco, Vidal Cantu and Adolfo Franco. It aims to strengthen Mexican civil society by introducing the use of information technology for the development and professionalization of the NGO sector. By verifying, registering and classifying 9,650 Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Causas.org has developed a comprehensive online directory of Mexican civil society. It gives each civil organization in Mexico a free domain and hosts a simple website where a Non Governmental Organization can communicate its mission and vision, social action, as well as blogs, post videos and photographs, and, most importantly, solicit volunteers. Participating organizations can also administer their own websites. Causas.org provides a place on the web where people looking to volunteer can search and compare various NGOs. In the first stage of the program Causas.org received financial support from companies like AXTEL, Coca-Cola, FEMSA, Cinepolis, and Scotiabank. These companies also participated in Causas.org Corporate Volunteering Program, which generated more than 3,000 social action opportunities for their employees. In 2009, Causas.org was one of the winners of the National Solidarity and Volunteering Awards presented by the Mexican government.