Americas Competitiveness Exchange
- The Americas Competitiveness Exchange is the premier economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurial network of the Americas and is one of the leading High – Level events of the Organization of American States (OAS). The ACE program is the core initiative of the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC)1, for which the OAS serves as Technical Secretariat.
- The ACE brings together up to 50 senior-level government, business, policy, and economic decision-makers from across the Americas and beyond to experience first-hand the diverse range of projects, strategic investments, public-private partnerships, and best practices from a particular region’s economic, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. These global top leaders are selected to participate in the week-long program tour innovation hubs, advanced technology centers, leading firms, and educational and research institutions, to explore local, regional, urban, and rural economic development models, share experiences and knowledge, and build networks among the local and visiting stakeholders to enhance economic competitiveness in the Americas.
- The top leaders selected to participate in the week-long program tour innovation hubs, advanced technology centers, leading firms, and educational and research institutions, to explore local, regional, urban, and rural economic development models, share experiences and knowledge, and build networks among the local and visiting stakeholders to enhance innovation and competitiveness in the Americas.
- The ACEs are designed to build cooperation networks throughout the Americas and beyond to create better Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems that promote sustainable and inclusive economic development and increased trade.
There are up to two ACEs per year, ideally occurring in two different countries. However, the ACE Coordinating Committee may select two ACE events within the same country based on bids received. Special Editions and ACE Technical Visits (which are shorter and more targeted versions) are also under the ACE brand.
- ACE I - Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, USA - April 2014
- ACE II - Mexico D.F., Aguascalientes, and Guadalajara, Mexico - August 2014
- ACE III - Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, USA - April 2015
- ACE IV - Córdoba, Argentina - October 2015
- ACE V - Arizona and California, USA – April 2016
- ACE VI – Southern Ontario, Canada – September 2016
- ACE VII- Central Texas - April 2017
- ACE VIII – North Central Florida – December 2017
- ACE Technical Visit - Mexico March 2018
- ACE IX Special Edition - Germany and Israel – June 2018
- ACE X - Central California – October 2018
- ACE XI - Puerto Rico – May 2019
- ACE XII – Chile – October 2019
- ACE XIII – Colorado – May 2020 *Postponed*
Objectives
- Promoting long-term multinational commercial, trade, and investment partnerships among constituencies of the participants;
- Identifying and sharing best practices in economic development, including public-private partnerships, building local assets that grow businesses, cluster development, promoting entrepreneurship and coordinating regional economic development strategies;
- Stimulating capital investment and job creation in the region;
- Fostering an environment for innovative companies to startup and expand;
- Bringing together universities, industries, and governments to solve complex challenges no one sector or business could address on its own;
- Eliminating barriers to commerce and trade;
- Promoting economic resiliency; and
- Enhancing opportunities for underrepresented populations.
Outcomes
- Stakeholders in Conover, North Carolina and the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, are collaborating to support entrepreneurs in the textile industries of both countries, which has led to a new joint textile line that debuted at ITMA in Milan, Italy;
- Research centers and co-ops such as Organic Valley in Wisconsin and Escuela Superior Integral Lecheria (ESIL) of Villa María in Cordoba, Argentina, are working on business and export development in the dairy industry which has led to new jobs in both countries. Madison now has strong connections in trade, agriculture, innovation, entrepreneurship, research and collaboration with most of Latin America; and
- UNITEC Honduras and University of California San Diego are facilitating the soft- landing process of young entrepreneurs from UNITEC to interact and collaborate with the entrepreneurship ecosystems led by UCSD.
Partners
- The following organizations comprise the Coordinating and Advisory Committee:
- U.S. Department of Commerce: Economic Development Administration and International Trade Administration
- U.S. Department of State: Permanent Mission to the OAS
- Organization of American States: General Secretariat
Resources
The official website for ACE: http://www.riacevents.org/ace/
Webinar on “How to Apply to Host an ACE:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Abgw17nVrk
PDF Application Form to Host: http://www.riacevents.org/ace/assets/ace-application.pdf (PDF)