Nearshoring presents a historic opportunity for Mexico’s manufacturing industry. However, its success hinges on implementing three critical elements: fostering a collaborative approach, leveraging this momentum as a catalyst for profound transformation, and bridging the gaps in underdeveloped regions.
This was the consensus among researchers from various disciplines at Tecnológico de Monterrey during the panel discussion, “Interdisciplinary Solutions to the Challenges of Nearshoring,“ held at the Third International Congress of the Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing (IAMSM).
1. Inclusive and Flexible Development
The conversation around nearshoring goes beyond relocating operations closer to the end consumer. It calls for a deep reflection on how professionals are educated and collaborate in a country marked by significant inequalities.
Edna Jaime Treviño, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Government, emphasized that nearshoring will benefit segments of society that are prepared for it. Developing an inclusive strategy is essential to ensure more Mexicans can seize this opportunity and to prevent existing gaps from widening further.
“We have a dual economy, and we have many Mexicos. Nearshoring is a commercial opportunity that only those prepared can capitalize on—unfortunately, that’s not everyone,” she said.
Jaime Treviño expressed concern that nearshoring might primarily benefit regions where talent is already concentrated, perpetuating the pattern of foreign investment favoring certain states while others remain underdeveloped.
“To close these gaps, we need to radically improve education at all levels and bring every Mexican into a shared development project. We must address the duality in our economy and society; otherwise, we will continue to replicate it,” she added.
The School of Social Sciences and Government, she noted, is preparing the social scientists Mexico needs in this new era, enabling them to drive public innovation and tackle challenges with flexibility.
“This is a rapidly changing world. We can’t anchor ourselves to a static understanding of our disciplines. We must prepare students for adaptability and technological adoption. Lawyers and economists should understand technology and global dynamics while remaining rooted in the local context—because global governance cannot be disconnected,” she concluded.
2. Learning from NAFTA’s Missteps
As Mexico enters this new era of nearshoring, adaptation and innovation will be crucial to fully capitalize on its potential. However, learning from past events, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), is essential to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Jaime Treviño reflected on NAFTA’s legacy, noting that while it was successful in many respects, it did not lead to transformative change for the country.
“NAFTA didn’t fundamentally change Mexico, and the same could happen with nearshoring if we don’t seize this opportunity. We need to create the conditions to make nearshoring a lever for profound transformation,” she said.
She added, “Nearshoring will benefit us because of our unique geographic advantage, but we must fully capitalize on its potential.”
Rita Fuentes, Interim Director of IAMSM, echoed this sentiment, warning that if action is not taken across three pillars—government, industry, and academia—Mexico could squander the opportunity nearshoring presents to strengthen its production system.
3. A Collaborative Approach
Fuentes underscored that interdisciplinarity is a cornerstone of nearshoring’s success. This goes beyond merely collaborating across fields; it requires understanding the language of each discipline.
“If you’re going to work with other disciplines, it’s important to understand their language to arrive at solutions that truly connect. Staying within your own field and working with the same people won’t lead to growth. Collaboration needs to happen across all levels and areas—it makes a big difference,” she said.
Luis Alfonso Herrera Montalvo, Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, agreed, highlighting how cross-disciplinary interaction disrupts the notion that each field operates in isolation when they are all addressing shared global challenges.
“Education needs to embrace transversal themes like public policy, engineering, medicine, governance, and business. If our university can ensure these cross-cutting themes are well-integrated, and our students acquire them, we’ll be balancing knowledge,” Herrera Montalvo said.
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