Talplan Innovation District: Monterrey Tec CCM

Overview

Located in southern Mexico City, the Monterrey Tec Tlalpan Innovation District project reimagines the knowledge economy ecosystem that is being built around the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Ciudad de México (CCM) campus, as a dynamic anchor in a thriving talent magnet, and innovation hub. Endowed with close links to major academic and research institutions—including UNAM, IPN, UAM, and a leading medical research complex—the district is positioned to become a premier hub for advanced research, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven economic growth. Aretian’s role was to deliver a comprehensive urban, economic, and innovation strategy for the broader ecosystem, updating and expanding on prior analyses and masterplans to align the district with the latest trends, opportunities, and ecosystem dynamics.

The Challenge

Despite its privileged location and institutional strengths, the Tlalpan district faced several key challenges:

• Fragmented Ecosystem: Disconnected academic, medical, and industrial actors limiting the flow of knowledge and innovation.

• Outdated Spatial Planning: Previous campus development lacked integration with the wider urban context and did not reflect the full potential for industry-university collaboration.

• Evolving Innovation Landscape: Shifts in the economic and research environment since the original 2021 masterplan called for updated analyses, tenant selection, and innovation strategies to remain globally competitive.

• Need for Critical Mass: Achieving the scale and intensity required of a world-class innovation district (>35% innovation employment), requiring new planning, design, and partnership approaches.

Aretian's Solution

Aretian applied its rigorous, data-driven urban analytics methodology, focusing on four key scales—from campus to the greater urban region—to deliver actionable insights and a future-ready masterplan:

• Multi-Scalar Urban and Innovation Analysis: Examined research, innovation, and economic activity at the campus, district, city, and metropolitan levels, identifying key synergies and opportunities for growth.

• Ecosystem Integration: Mapped current and potential partnerships with UNAM, IPN, the medical complex, and other anchor institutions to foster joint research, innovation centers, and startup incubators.

• Innovation Pipeline Strategy: Strengthened the full innovation lifecycle, bridging research, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and industry, supported by updated data and benchmarking.

• Spatial and Programmatic Masterplan: Developed a new vision for land use and activity programming, clustering uses by both innovation phase (from research to startup incubation) and strategic knowledge area (advanced manufacturing, digital, healthcare, etc.).

• Urban Design Excellence: Prioritized connectivity, density, and a human-centered environment with vibrant public spaces, pedestrian networks, and integrated amenities.

• Accessible Database: Delivered a comprehensive, up-to-date database of urban and innovation metrics to support future campus and ecosystem decision-making.

Outcomes

The updated Tlalpan Innovation District masterplan lays the groundwork for transformative outcomes, including:

• Innovation & Employment Growth: Projected to increase innovation employment intensity within the CCM campus to 50% by 2040 (compared to the current citywide average of 11%), with over 18,000 employees in core innovation activities and upwards of 36,000 employees overall in the district, including related industry and support sectors.

• Economic Impact: Estimated to add $3.75 billion USD in economic activity, with an increase in business scene revenue and high-value job creation.

• Expanded Research Capacity: Growth from 2,611 to over 4,320 researchers, supported by new facilities, advanced equipment, and research partnerships.

• Startup and Industry Attraction: Creation of 150–200 new startups, attraction of 40–50 anchor innovative firms, and substantial expansion of tech transfer and incubation programs.

• Enhanced Urban Environment: A vision for a compact, sustainable, and lively campus that attracts global talent, strengthens community ties, and serves as a model for knowledge-based urban development in Mexico and beyond.

• Strategic Positioning: By integrating with major research and medical institutions, Tlalpan becomes a central node in Mexico City’s knowledge economy, amplifying regional impact and resilience.