U.S. Department of State announces 11 teams to win Innovation Fund competition grants

Eleven new grant-winning teams for the Innovation Fund competition have been announced by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and Partners of the Americas.

The Innovation Fund, sponsored by Fundación Banorte, Fundación Gruma and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, is a public-private sector fund to help companies stimulate higher education between partnerships with the U.S., according to a PR Newswire press release. 

"The Innovation Fund inspires U.S. universities and colleges to work in teams with higher education institutions in Latin America to design and implement new models of academic exchange and workforce development programs throughout the Americas," the U.S. Department of State wrote in the press release. "The Innovation Fund higher education partnerships ensure that students access academic training programs to work in teams, solve real-world problems, research and gain technical and linguistic skills imperative for today's workforce. Since its inception in 2014 through this month, the Innovation Fund has awarded 243 grants ($25,000 to $35,000 each) to 491 higher education institutions, working in teams in 25 countries and in 49 U.S. states."

Mexico has been the leading country of the initiative for six years, with partnerships with many U.S. colleges and universities to help create training programs. In total, there are 20 Mexican states and 27 U.S. states that are part of it. 

"The 100,000 Strong in the Americas is an example of educational cooperation between our countries, showing that when Mexicans and Americans work together, we go further and are stronger, especially when we invest in education and the prosperity of our peoples. For this reason, it is noteworthy that, despite the challenging times we are living, today we can make this announcement so relevant to our countries, which is a symbol of our cooperation. I want to give a very special recognition to the Banorte and Gruma foundations for joining the Mexican companies that, with a strategic vision, joined the great family of the Innovation Fund and, in the case of Banorte, is the first Mexican bank to join," U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau said in the press release.