The University of Texas at Austin (UT) has signed a partnership agreement with Monterrey Tech, one of Mexico’s top universities, to work together to develop a reliable, clean, sustainable and affordable electric power sector for Mexico.
UT says the Mexican government has set ambitious clean energy generation targets of 30% by 2021 and 50% by 2050. The joint agreement will help the country develop a balanced mix of natural gas and renewables to meet these goals.
The UT-Monterrey Tech partnership will make it easier to transfer and share knowledge and best practices, leveraging the strengths of both institutions to meet Mexico’s fast-growing demand for electricity. The Mexican government has set ambitious clean energy generation targets of 30% by 2021 and 50% by 2050.
Joint research by UT and Monterrey Tech will help the country develop a balanced matrix of clean-burning natural gas and renewables to meet these goals.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by Guillermo Ignacio García Alcocer, president of Mexico’s Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE), or Energy Regulatory Commission.
“The collaboration between UT Austin and Tec de Monterrey is strategic to our vision of fulfilling a model of the knowledge economy for Mexico,” said Salvador Alva, president of Monterrey Tech. “If we want to transform our country and bring about economic growth and competitiveness, we need to create alliances with international institutions that are active game-changers in the global landscape, such as UT Austin. We are delighted with the strengthening of a relationship that will generate joint world-class research, education and long-lasting impact to our societies.”
The partnership, managed by UT’s Energy Institute, will link Monterrey Tech with more than 100 faculty members at UT in 20 energy-related research centers. The two universities will conduct joint faculty and student exchanges, conferences and seminars, and research on electric power. Areas of collaboration will include energy security, reliability, sustainability, efficiency, affordability, and good governance for energy markets.
“Monterrey Tech is a strong partner for The University of Texas,” said Gregory L. Fenves, president of UT Austin. “Through our decades-long relationship, UT has worked closely with the business and engineering community of Monterrey, whose entrepreneurial spirit has much in common with Texas. It is fitting that UT and Monterrey Tech are making this historic agreement that has the opportunity to improve the lives of millions of people.”
UT has had academic and research exchange programs with Monterrey Tech for almost 50 years. For the past eight years, UT has managed a research office in Apodaca, just outside Monterrey. The Center for Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the free flow of students, teachers, businesses and knowledge between Texas and Mexico.
Overall, UT is one of the top educational destinations for Mexican students. The university has 550 Mexican students and ranks No. 7 among U.S. universities for students with scholarships from Mexico’s Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). UT has more Mexican scholars with Fulbright fellowships than any other American university. Working jointly with Mexican universities, UT offers professional degrees in the country in business, technology and law.
President Fenves and university leaders have been in Mexico this week expanding UT’s academic and research partnerships in the country.
“We look forward to working with our colleagues in Mexico on critical energy issues of importance to both countries, and tackling challenges that know no borders,” said Energy Institute Director Tom Edgar.
The agreement with Monterrey Tech is the second energy agreement UT signed with Mexican officials this week. On Wednesday, UT signed an academic and research agreement with Mexico’s oil and gas regulatory commission, Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH), to support the sustainable development of Mexico’s hydrocarbon resources.
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