Puebla advances as a model city towards technological specialization with three new innovative centers

Puebla is transforming its economic development model through an ambitious technological training strategy. By 2026, the region plans to establish three Centers of Excellence for High-Level Human Resources (Cerhan), an initiative aimed at closing the gap between academic training and the competitiveness demands of the regional productive sector.

According to Víctor Gabriel Chedraui, Secretary of Economic Development and Labor (Sedetra), although Puebla’s universities produce abundant specialized talent in engineering fields related to technology and automotive manufacturing, there is a need to align this human capital with the specific requirements of local, national, and international markets.

The gap between academic training and business demands

The problem lies in the fact that the educational ecosystem produces competent professionals, but their profiles do not always match the technical needs of the companies established in the state. Cerhan centers are precisely designed to serve as a bridge between universities, governments, and productive sectors, adapting curricula and methodologies to the real industrial operation context.

This strategy responds to an observable reality: sectors such as automotive manufacturing, the textile industry, and maquiladoras require trained professionals in new methodologies and precision processes that minimize resource losses and optimize productivity.

San José Chiapa: a consolidated technological hub

The first Cerhan is already operating in San José Chiapa, where an AUDI plant and its supplier ecosystem are located. This area, previously known as Ciudad Modelo, has recently been renamed the Capital of Technology and Sustainability, reflecting its transformation into a hub of comprehensive innovation.

However, the state government has decided to expand this strategy. San José Chiapa represents a model city of industrial concentration and specialized training—a model that will now be replicated in other regions to decentralize development opportunities.

Cuautlancingo and Tehuacán: new innovation hubs

The second center will be located in Finsa Industrial Park, adjacent to the Volkswagen Mexico plant in Cuautlancingo. This Cerhan will focus on Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, targeting both the automotive industry and complementary strategic sectors. Its opening is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

The third center will be established in Tehuacán, leveraging the available infrastructure in the local industrial park, where land is currently underutilized. This territorial expansion will particularly benefit the textile and maquiladora sectors, which demand technological innovation to increase precision and efficiency in production processes.

The schedule indicates that this third center will be operational by the end of 2026, allowing for broader geographic coverage of the region.

Strategic focus on AI and technology transfer

All Cerhan centers will be linked with the University of Technology and Sustainability, facilitating knowledge transfer and ensuring that curricula respond to contemporary technological challenges. Artificial Intelligence will serve as a transversal axis, applicable to automotive manufacturing, textiles, and other dynamic sectors.

The strategy recognizes that entrepreneurs are the primary generators of wealth and employment, essential tools to combat poverty and marginalization. Therefore, government support aims to strengthen sectoral competitiveness.

Puebla as a regional hub of development and innovation

These three centers of specialization position Puebla as a model city of convergence between education, technology, and manufacturing. Recent records show substantial growth in the industrial and automotive sectors, while the available academic talent constitutes a comparative advantage.

The projects aim to establish the region as a hub of technological innovation and a seedbed for startups, transforming the traditional vision of an industrial model city into an emerging model of sustainable and comprehensive development. This territorial commitment seeks to attract strategic investment and position Puebla at the forefront of the national economy.