ASU hosts Colombian leaders to explore innovation and workforce models for regional transformation

Representatives from Medellín’s CUEE board, G8 universities and regional partners take part in three-day study tour at ASU

November 2025
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As part of a growing partnership between Arizona State University and Latin American innovation ecosystems, ASU hosted a delegation from Comfama and Medellín’s University-Business-Government Committee (CUEE) from Nov. 12–14 for a three-day study tour focused on innovation, higher education, and regional development.

The delegation included senior leaders from Comfama, Bancolombia, Ruta N, the G8 universities of Medellín, and local government agencies. Their goal was to understand how ASU’s design model, centered on collaboration and public impact, could inform strategies for Medellín’s future as an innovation-driven region.

“When companies like Intel, TSMC, and Amkor invest here, they’re not just drawn by incentives. They come because of the workforce, the engineers, the technicians, and the partnerships that make innovation sustainable. That’s the ecosystem we’ve built at ASU.”

Over three days, the group met with leaders from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, ASU Global, ASU Corporate Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, the ASU University Design Institute, to discuss how ASU’s academic and research structure drives regional competitiveness. Sessions explored models for applied research, digital learning, and prototype-to-market pathways that connect students and faculty to industry needs.

Delegates also visited Dreamscape Learn, a cutting-edge immersive learning platform, and met with the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and the City of Phoenix to better understand how the state’s coordinated approach to economic development supports talent attraction and technology investment.

“Every conversation, every partnership is connected to a larger purpose, expanding opportunity, creating knowledge that serves society, and ensuring innovation benefits everyone. That kind of coherence is something we aspire to achieve in Medellín.”

The study tour included a hands-on session with ASU’s University Design Institute, where participants worked through design exercises to reimagine how Medellín’s innovation ecosystem could evolve in the coming decade. Discussions focused on strategies to strengthen university–industry linkages, scale workforce training, and promote a more unified regional vision that connects economic growth with social well-being.
 

“Medellín has extraordinary talent, energy, and creativity,” said Juan Carlos Mora Uribe, CEO of Bancolombia. “What we saw at ASU is how a university can act as the connective tissue , aligning education, entrepreneurship, and research with long-term goals for a city and a country. That is a powerful idea for Colombia’s transformation.”

ASU’s engagement with Comfama builds on a broader strategy to work with partners in Latin America that are advancing human capital development and inclusive innovation. Through the study tour, both institutions identified shared priorities such as faculty development, workforce certification, and the creation of innovation zones that link universities and industries in new ways.

“This visit is the beginning of a long-term collaboration,” Goss said. “We see immense potential in working with Comfama and Medellín’s universities to co-design programs that develop talent, strengthen research capacity, and create lasting regional impact.”

The visit concluded with a commitment to continue collaboration through joint workshops and pilot projects in 2026, marking a new chapter in ASU’s engagement with Latin America’s innovation ecosystems.