Company Invests $1.5 Million in ‘Signature Project’ to Accelerate Region’s Digital Transformation
Microsoft President Brad Smith joined community and government leaders to announce the expansion of Microsoft TechSpark El Paso, Texas to include Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Smith also announced a $1.5 million Microsoft investment in The Bridge Accelerator, its new signature project in partnership with Technology-Hub (T-Hub) to drive innovation, digital skills, and economic opportunity in the El Paso-Juárez region.
Microsoft TechSpark was launched in 2017 to help spark job creation and economic opportunity in six communities in the U.S., including the diverse border city of El Paso, TX. TechSpark is focused on promoting digital skills and employability, increasing access to broadband, and helping local organizations thrive by embracing new technologies.
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El Paso and Ciudad Juarez converge in a cross-border flow of ideas, ambition, and aspirations that have shaped the region for centuries. This forward-looking spirit is what attracted us to the region in 2017 when we launched Microsoft TechSpark in El Paso to create new economic opportunities and help digitally transform established industries with modern software and cloud services. It’s also why today Microsoft is announcing that it is expanding the TechSpark El Paso program to include Ciudad Juarez and making a $1.5 million USD investment in the binational Bridge Accelerator.
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As part of the expansion, Microsoft hired Omar Saucedo, who is based in Ciudad Juarez, to manage TechSpark Ciudad Juarez. He will work with local community partners, government leaders and non-profits to determine the best approach to create local impact. Omar is already working closely with TechSpark El Paso manager, JJ Childress.
Through partnerships with local businesses, non-profits and governments, the El Paso-Juárez region can become a leader in advanced manufacturing, advanced logistics, business services and ensure the people here have access to skills to be future-ready.
“The future of TechSpark El Paso-Juárez is grounded in the binational foundation developed over the course of hundreds of years,” said Saucedo. “Together, we can make sure people in the region have the skills to participate in a digital economy and the core industries have the support they need to foster technology innovation, economic development, and high-growth scalable businesses.”
At the event, Smith also announced its signature project in the region: The Bridge Accelerator in partnership with T-Hub, a binational business incubator built to stimulate regional innovation, entrepreneurship and industry. The Bridge Accelerator is an intensive program designed to accelerate the growth of business on both sides of the border.
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