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Programs and Projects

FEMSA Biotechnology Center at the Tecnologico de Monterey

Lead Agency

Tecnológico de Monterrey

This is a private university, a leader in Latin America comprised of a system of a university of multi-campuses with 33 campuses in Mexico and a Virtual University with headquarters in Mexico and Latin America; it also has representative offices in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has 93,642 students and employs 8,200 professors.

Partners

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Country/Region

Latin America with headquarters in the City of Monterrey, Mexico.

Objectives

Develop applied research in the area of biology, with the end goal of promoting implementation of sustainable technologies for the following:
  • Goods and services produced using cells, microorganisms, animals, and vegetables
  • Human resources specially trained in the design and application of biotechnology processes
  • A scientific foundation on which technological development may be converted into business opportunities that generate value to society

Description of the Center

FEMSA Biotechnology Center is dedicated to the development of research, the transfer of knowledge, and the design of business models in the areas of biotechnology and nutrition. The center contains the most modern equipment infrastructure in its laboratories, pilot plants, and business incubators.

The Biotechnology Center began 15 years ago as a response to the growing national and international trends in scientific and technological innovations in this emerging sector.

Through time, the Biotechnology Center has developed the following lines of biotechnology research directed toward the innovation of processes, products, and services:
  • Functional Food Products and Nutrigenomics
  • Design of Food Products and Biomaterials
  • Development of Biotherapeutics
    • Biopharmaceuticals and Nutraceutics
    • Engineering of Bioreactors and Metabolomics
    • Tissue Cultivating and Biological Escalation
  • Bioengineering and Nanobioparticles
    • Extraction and Purification of Bioproducts
  • Agrobiotechnology
    • Genetic Engineering of Microorganisms and Plants
  • Molecular Design and Bioenergy
    • Renewable Bioenergetics
  • Sustainable Use of Water
    • Biological Filters
Currently, the scientific environment is complemented by an area of technological transparency and the incubation of new companies based on the latest research developments.
  • Some of the strategic partners connected to the FEMSA Biotechnology Center of  the Tecnológico de Monterrey are:
    • Cambridge University, UK
    • Texas A&M University
    • Cornell University
    • Arizona State University
    • University of California (San Diego and Davis)
    • Carnegie Mellon University
Some of the center’s achievements over the past 5 years include:
  • Fourteen patent applications
  • More than 250 published articles in high-index level magazines
  • Three published books
  • Twelve chapters of a book
  • More than 70 students who have received their Master’s Degrees and 7 students having been granted Doctorate Degrees
  • 30 salaried investigators (70% belong to the National System of Investigators (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores, SNI)