The Ministry of Economy launches a free online course for SMEs: dates and requirements

The Ministry of Economy , in collaboration with Grupo Santander , announced the launch of the "Boost Your MSME Scholarships: Training for the Future" program, an initiative that seeks to strengthen the capabilities of the country's micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises . The project offers completely free online training, with the goal of providing participants with tools to improve the management, innovation, and competitiveness of their businesses.

In this first phase, 5,500 scholarships will be awarded out of a total of 60,000 , which will be distributed in several rounds nationwide. Recipients will have access to the courses for a period of three months through the online platform Coursera .

Registration for the first round began on June 11 and will remain open until August 24, 2025. Classes are scheduled to begin on August 27 , extending through November 27, 2025 .

Interested applicants must register on the Santander Open Academy portal and meet the basic requirements: be over 18 years of age, hold a management or decision-making position in an MSME , or be an official of the Ministry of Economy . No specific academic degree or prior knowledge is required, but the company must be registered and operate anywhere in the country.

The academic offering includes programs designed to cover key areas of business management, digital skills, and innovation strategies. Available courses include:

• “Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Master Tough Subjects,” certified by Deep Teaching Solutions.
• "How to Persuade? Playing with Words, Images, and Numbers," accredited by the Autonomous University of Barcelona .
• “Successful Business Management for SMEs” , certified by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile .

In addition, participants will have access to content on personal branding , negotiation , marketing analytics and metrics , and innovative product development for emerging markets.

Applications will be evaluated by working groups composed of representatives from the General Directorate of Productive Development of the Ministry of Economy and executives from Santander Universities . Selected applicants will receive an email notification on August 27, 2025, and must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship within 20 calendar days.

The results can also be viewed in the account created within the Santander Open Academy platform. According to the Santander Group, all personal information will be protected in accordance with current personal data legislation.

This program represents a valuable opportunity for executives and entrepreneurs to strengthen their management skills and capabilities at no cost. In an increasingly competitive and digitalized business environment, ongoing training is key to adapting to market changes and ensuring sustainable business growth.

With initiatives like this, the Ministry of Economy and Santander seek not only to support Mexican companies, but also to promote innovation, efficiency, and economic development throughout the country.