Coahuila: Universities dismiss the value of generating patents; innovation is falling behind

In the last year, the entity moved from 8th to 15th place nationally in this indicator, reports the IMCO

Coahuila has regressed in the generation of patents—which are primarily driven by universities—dropping from 8th to 15th place last year , according to the State Competitiveness Index (ICE) 2025.

According to the report prepared by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), the state saw a decrease in the number of patent applications during 2024, falling from 1.6 to 1.2 per 100,000 inhabitants . This drop impacted the state's performance within the national ranking, where it was given a medium-high competitiveness rating, compared to a high level the previous year.

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Data from the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) confirm this trend: in 2024, only 39 patent applications were filed in Coahuila, of which only 19 were approved. A year earlier, the state had registered 50 applications, with 25 approvals.

The decline in patent applications and grants affects competitiveness, as they represent a tangible indicator of a region's ability to innovate, generate its own technology, and compete in global markets.

In the 2025 State Competitiveness Index, #CDMX is the most competitive state, followed by #BajaCaliforniaSur and #NuevoLeón . In contrast, #Chiapas ranks last. How did your state fare? 🔎 Learn more about #ICE2025 : https://t.co/zAlePgsQjE pic.twitter.com/QPzIJa9yPf

— IMCO (@imcomx) June 10, 2025

Without progress in this area, IMCO warns, the state will lose its attractiveness for investment in high-value-added sectors and risks falling behind in the adoption of advanced technologies.

While Coahuila is slipping, other states are strengthening their lead. Mexico City, Jalisco, and Guanajuato lead the national list with rates exceeding four patent applications per 100,000 economically active people. At the other extreme, states like Nayarit did not register any applications in the last period.

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Valeria Moy, director general of IMCO, emphasized that if Mexico aspires to compete with Asia in advanced manufacturing, it must stop being an assembly nation and begin generating added value through innovation.

Among the recommendations to reverse this trend, IMCO proposes strengthening ties between companies, universities, and governments to improve knowledge transfer, accelerate the digital transformation of strategic sectors, and invest in scientific and technological education.

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