Industrial Innovation Center for the Aerospace Sector of the Bajío

Recognized as a 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence, The Industrial Innovation Center for the Aerospace Sector of Bajío (CIIA Bajío) was created to bridge the gap between education and industry needs. It equips students with industry-ready skills through projects and certifications aligned with real-world aerospace needs. 

Inside a technical lab in Aguascalientes, Mexico, students get to grips with the same digital technologies used by the world’s leading aerospace companies. The skills they’re developing will prepare them for their future careers as part of a wider effort to close the gap between classroom learning and the realities of global industry. This hands-on learning is all happening at the CIIA Bajío, where Mexico is supporting the next generation of engineers and putting itself on the map as a hub for advanced aerospace manufacturing.  

CIIA Bajío is one of five specialized learning centers in Mexico strategically located in regions where industries like aerospace and automotive are growing fast. Together, these centers aim to address key challenges in the country’s economy: a shortage of specialized talent, technological lag in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the need for stronger integration with global value chains.

Backed by the ‘Alliance Industrie du Futur’ (French initiative) and supported by global partners like Dassault Systèmes, CIIA Bajío sets a benchmark for regional innovation. It trains students to use industry-standard platforms, supports SMEs to adopt advanced tools, fosters the development of high-value products, and connects local startups and entrepreneurs to international supply chains.

CIIA Bajío also is recognized as a 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Center of Excellence, a program endorsed by Dassault Systèmes for providing students and professionals with industry-relevant training and hands-on skills development. This recognition puts CIIA Bajío within Dassault Systèmes’ global network of best-practice hubs, connecting it to a worldwide ecosystem of innovation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
 

CIIA Bajío is equipped with all the state-of-the-art digital technologies and equipment you’d expect to find in a modern aerospace factory. Alongside Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, with its in-built modeling and simulation and virtual twin technology, students and local companies have access to industrial 3D printers, scanners and virtual reality (VR) suites. These tools allow them to design, prototype, test and validate ideas to the same standards as top-tier manufacturers.

“The aim of this institution is to train students so they are capable of solving problems in industry,” said José Armando Rodriguez Cerros, technical instructor at CIIA Bajío. “One of the characteristics that sets us apart is the use of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which is used widely in many companies.”

“The center gives us access to powerful solutions like the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which prepares us for when we graduate and helps us enter the job market with confidence,” said Leslie Katherine Martinez Reyes, an engineering student in CIIA Bajío’s Business Administration program.”

Different labs are dedicated to product design, additive manufacturing, reverse engineering, manufacturing and immersive virtual reality. And every workflow is seamlessly connected to achieve a continuous data flow from one stage of the product development lifecycle to the next.

CIIA Bajío is a launchpad for creativity and innovation. In every project, students are encouraged to think like engineers and tackle the kinds of challenges companies face in real life, whether it’s experimenting with a new material, building a functional prototype or simulating production processes.

“What I like most is the freedom that the 3DEXPERIENCE platform gives us to create designs and support collaborative work. It’s supported me to gain valuable skills like creative problem-solving", said César Guillermo Rodríguez Amador, an engineering student in CIIA Bajío’s Industrial Engineering program.

Through a practical, hands-on approach, students learn how to take an idea from concept to execution with industry-standard precision. They can get involved in different projects and build a versatile skillset that’s in demand across multiple sectors, benefiting from a continuous exchange of knowledge that keeps the curriculum aligned with what industry actually needs.

“Students here can work in any industry, whether it’s automotive and aerospace manufacturing, or metalworking,” said David Hernandez Vaca, technical instructor at CIIA Bajío.

Education programs are delivered both in person and online, and work towards certifications from Dassault Systèmes that are recognized by employers worldwide. “What I like the most about this center is that it provides the advanced capabilities and skillsets that we will need in our careers and are used by leading companies,” Reyes said. “It bridges the gap between academia and industry.”

Mexico’s growing role in global aerospace depends on engineers who understand certification requirements, digital traceability and the interconnected processes that underpin modern aviation.

CIIA Bajío works with local and global companies to address their needs. SMEs can access support from the center to adopt new technologies or improve their processes and get help from experts to co-develop designs, create functional prototypes and optimize production. This empowers local suppliers to strengthen their capabilities and become part of the global aerospace supply chain.

Entrepreneurs and startups also benefit from incubation programs, mentorship and the technical resources needed to test and scale their ideas, and attract investors. Meanwhile, larger companies use the center to strengthen their supplier networks and train their staff to use next-generation Industry 4.0 technologies.

“At our center, we collaborate with industry to address the various issues it faces and work closely to resolve them,” Cerros said.

Global connectivity with the wider industry is supported by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. By working in a shared virtual environment, students, instructors and companies in Mexico can collaborate seamlessly with peers worldwide, working on the same projects in real time.

“It’s awesome: Someone in Germany, France, the United States, China and us here in Mexico can all work together on the same project simultaneously,” Vaca said. 

By boosting productivity, fostering innovation and creating a strong pipeline of job-ready talent, CIIA Bajío directly contributes to Mexico’s ambitions for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.