Houston Technology Center to Serve as Technology Gateway Between United States & Mexico 

Houston, Texas (December 2, 2008) – On December 1, 2008, the Houston Technology Center, the largest technology business incubator in Texas, hosted a groundbreaking event in support of its mission to accelerate emerging technology companies. This unique event highlighted a collaborative effort and commitment to identify commercial opportunities in each geographic region and develop mutually beneficial trade promotion programs including trade missions, international business seminars and development of strategic alliances between technology companies in the targeted sectors of both countries.

In attendance was the Governor of Nuevo Leon, Jose Natividad Gonzalez Paras, Consul General of Mexico, Carlos Gonzalez Magallon and Dr. Jaime Parada Avila.

“The purpose of the event and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to help foster greater cooperation and closer ties between each respective business community,” said Walter Ulrich, HTC’s president and chief executive officer. “The Governor indicated the importance of technology partnerships between Monterrey and Houston, with the goal of Houston becoming a gateway for emerging technology companies to enter into the U.S.”

The afternoon event featured the signing of the MOU, a panel presentation on “Capitalizing on technology business opportunities/resources between Texas & Mexico, case studies on “Celebrating Success” and a cocktail reception.

"HTC is committed to serving as a technology gateway to embrace emerging technology companies for the purpose of economic development. Houston’s proximity to so many markets makes it attractive for those who wish to establish headquarters here." Ulrich continued.

The HTC-Americas program, launched in 2007, offers foreign companies access to HTC’s acceleration program, including business guidance, entrepreneurial education and the vast HTC community of technology and business leaders, service providers and investors. 

About the Houston Technology Center

Houston Technology Center (HTC), a non-profit 501(c)(3), is a business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas, supported by more than 300 corporations and organizations, Houston's leading academic institutions, Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Medical Center, NASA-Johnson Space Center, and the City of Houston.

Accelerating the commercialization of emerging technology companies by providing in-depth business guidance, access to capital and service providers, and entrepreneurial education, HTC has become the center of technology entrepreneurship, assisting more than 200 companies within several key sectors: Energy, Technology, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, and NASA/Aerospace technologies.

HTC serves as the Gulf Coast Regional Center for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, providing funding for small to mid-size companies to expedite the commercialization of new technologies. For more information, visit www.houstontech.org.