innovationCAFE El Paso: Cross-Border Innovation & Advanced Manufacturing

Policy and Commercialization strategies for manufacturing and cross-border trade innovation. Featuring Damian Smyth & Cherie Jones. innovationCAFE El Paso: Nearshoring Strategy & Binational Productivity Event Overview Join us for the final and geographically unique session, innovationCAFE El Paso 2026. This event is designed for leaders in the Borderplex region, specifically those managing binational manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain operations. El Paso is the definitive North American Nearshoring Gateway. The global industrial shift is demanding faster, more resilient supply chains, turning the border into a critical competitive asset. This session focuses on how to leverage the USMCA framework to upgrade the binational manufacturing base (Juarez/El Paso) and achieve operational superiority through policy-smart strategies. The Focus: Binational Productivity, Commercialisation, & Nearshoring Strategy This session addresses the dual challenge of turning the complexities of the binational environment into a decisive competitive advantage, leveraging all three core pillars. • Keynote and Policy Discussion: Hear from Cherie Jones (Commercialisation/Funding Strategist) and Damian Smyth (Productivity Expert). They will provide a clear analysis of the impact of USMCA and nearshoring, focusing on two areas: • Funding: How to use policy and R&D incentives to finance the upgrade of binational facilities to advanced manufacturing (Industry 4.0). • Efficiency: How to analyze and improve cross-border logistics and operational productivity under complex trade rules. • The Workshop: The workshop culminates in a strategic session led by Adam Rogers (Innovation Culture Facilitator), centered on the most critical question for Borderplex executives:"The nearshoring wave is here. How do leaders in the Borderplex rapidly upgrade binational manufacturing operations to achieve superior Productivity and leverage USMCA and Commercialisation strategies to become the competitive alternative to Asian supply chains?" The discussion will explore policy-smart strategies for utilizing the binational talent pool for higher-value production, not just assembly. The innovationCAFE Model This high-impact, two-and-a-half-hour event provides unique insights into the cross-border economy. Your collaboration will directly contribute to a key policy paper submitted to Government, ensuring the perspective of the Borderplex's complex economic engine and its role in the new North American supply chain is heard. Location: Hilton Garden Inn El Paso/University Speakers: Cherie Jones, Damian Smyth, Adam Rogers Duration: 2.5 hours Action: Develop the nearshoring blueprint to upgrade binational manufacturing and achieve supply chain superiority.