Don’t Build It Alone

It’s tempting to think we can get this done by working harder inside our own institutions — more budget, better programs, stronger messaging. But the truth is, the kind of change Sonora is aiming for won’t come from one actor doing more. It will come from many actors doing it together — on purpose, with clarity, and with each other.

The first step isn’t technical. It’s not about incentives, suppliers, or facilities.

It’s about coordination.

And in Sonora, that means something we still don’t have: a formal, focused, cross-sector body to drive this effort — and the relationships to make sure we’re not building it alone.

If Everyone Owns It, No One Leads It

Right now, different groups are moving in the right direction — universities launching training programs, state agencies hosting Arizona delegations, suppliers asking how they can get involved. But without a shared frame, everyone’s sprinting on parallel tracks. No one’s tying it together.

What we need is an ATP Task Force — a small, committed group of public, private, and academic actors that sees the full picture and owns the job of stitching it together.

This doesn’t mean building a bureaucracy. It means focusing our efforts through a real structure — one that can:

• Track progress across all pillars

• Connect the dots between talent, policy, and supply chain

• Ensure that when an OSAT visits Sonora, they see a region that’s not just motivated — but coordinated

And it’s not just about internal coordination. This task force must be binational by design.

Arizona isn’t just a neighbor — it’s an extension of the value chain we want to join. And without regular coordination with players like the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), ASU, and key U.S. firms, we’ll miss the chance to plug in while the window is open.

Why This Matters Now

Coordination isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the difference between strategy and drift.

The regions that are moving fastest — in the U.S., Asia, and Europe — all have one thing in common: they’ve put together focused, multi-actor groups that lead from the center. Groups that meet regularly. That update plans. That solve problems between meetings. That know how to build trust, not just decks.

If Sonora doesn’t do the same, we risk showing up late — or worse, showing up scattered.

The world doesn’t need another fragmented ecosystem with big ambition and no coordination. It needs regions that can work like systems — and show they’re ready.

This Task Force is how we begin.

Want to help lead Sonora’s ATP transformation?

We’re organizing the core actors to launch a multisector Task Force.
If you’re in government, academia, or industry and want to be part of this early coordination effort, let us know.

Express Interest →