Potential for High Technology Manufacturing In Our Own Backyard

At a time when most companies are cutting back on capital investment and capacity expansions, the challenge of developing a high technology industrial park appears to be an impossible task.  But Silicon Border continues to seize that challenge. 

Silicon Border is a 10,000 acre science park located in Mexicali, capital of Baja California.  The park hopes to attract semiconductor, flat panel display, photovoltaic and other technology-driven manufacturing tenants. 

Since breaking ground in 2005, Silicon Border has invested $20 million in preparing the infrastructure to support the needs of high technology manufacturing such as access to power generation (1600 MW), onsite water and waste treatment facility, advanced data and voice communication systems. 

In late-May 2009, solar-cell manufacturer Q-Cells, a manufacturer of solar cells,  announced plans to locate its North American manufacturing facility in the Silicon Border area with an investment of up to $3.5 billion.  This certainly makes sense.  Tenants of the Silicon Border Park enjoy free trade with 43 different countries, strong IP protection laws, a young, educated workforce and location incentives from the Mexican government. 

For selfish reasons, I am partial to locations in Arizona, however, this Park certainly provides an attractive option for companies that need easy transport access to U.S. markets while still enjoying low cost of operations.