Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada

What Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada does

Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA) is a public research center (Centro Público) under Mexico's Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación (Secihti), headquartered in Saltillo, Coahuila, with a secondary unit in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Its core mission is the research and development of polymeric materials for plastic applications, spanning polymer science, macromolecular chemistry, and nanomaterial technologies. CIQA operates three specialized national laboratories — LNMG for graphene materials, LANIAUTO for automotive polymer applications, and LABMYN for micro and nanofluidics — which function as both research platforms and commercial service lines.

The institution generates revenue through three streams: industrial services (R&D, product and process development, training, failure analysis, material substitution, technical assistance, and characterization), graduate education (one specialization, two master's, and one doctorate in applied chemistry and polymer technology, supported by Secihti maintenance scholarships), and technology transfer of patented solutions into engineering, health, energy, and agriculture sectors. CIQA serves more than 800 companies annually, primarily in the chemical, plastics, and agronomic industries, through direct service engagements. Distribution is direct-to-enterprise, supplemented by digital marketing through its institutional website and social media channels, science outreach programs (Ciencia para Todos), and participation in industry events such as InnovaFest Monterrey 2026.

The institution is government-owned and federally funded, with strategic partnerships with FONCYT (funding), ECOSUR (agroecology doctoral program), and ITCM (academic collaboration). As a Centro Público, CIQA is not privately held or venture-backed; its commercial activity is a complement to its public mandate rather than a venture-stage growth story. Leadership is headed by Director General Julieta Torres González, with functional directors overseeing administration, graduate programs, research, and industry liaison.

Name

Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada

Legal name

Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada

Website

https://ciqa.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CIQA is a Mexican government public research center under Secihti that develops polymeric materials and serves 800+ industrial clients annually in chemical, plastics, and agronomic sectors through R&D services, graduate education, and technology transfer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saltillo

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Industrial Services Revenue: Services to industry including R&D, product and process development, training, failure analysis, material substitution, technical assistance, and characterization services
2. Graduate Education: Full-time graduate programs (specialization, master's, doctorate) with maintenance scholarships from Secihti
3. Technology Transfer: Transfer of patented technologies to market in engineering, health, energy, and agriculture sectors

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CIQA is a public research center that conducts R&D in polymeric materials and provides industrial services (product and process R&D, training, failure analysis, material substitution, technical assistance, and characterization) to more than 800 companies per year. It operates three national laboratories (LNMG for graphene, LANIAUTO for automotive polymers, and LABMYN for micro/nanofluidics) and offers four graduate programs in applied chemistry and polymer technology. It also licenses patented technologies to industry in engineering, health, energy, and agriculture.

Product overview

CIQA is a public research center under Mexico's Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), comprising a unified portfolio of research services, graduate education, and technology transfer. The core offerings include: research and development in polymeric materials (its primary focus), industry services serving 800+ companies annually, four graduate programs (one specialization, two Master's, one Doctorate in applied chemistry and polymer technology), three national laboratories (LNMG for graphene, LANIAUTO for automotive applications, and LABMYN for micro/nanofluidics), and technology transfer of patented solutions in engineering, health, energy, and agriculture. The institution also operates science outreach programs including guided visits, conferences, and experimental workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Especialización en Química Aplicada Full-time graduate specialization program in applied chemistry offered by CIQA with maintenance scholarships from Secihti, designed for professionals seeking advanced training in applied chemistry.
• Maestría en Ciencias en Agroplasticultura Master's degree program focused on agroplastics, covering agricultural applications of polymeric materials and technologies.
• Maestría en Tecnología de Polímeros Master's degree program in polymer technology focusing on the development and characterization of polymeric materials.
• Doctorado en Tecnología de Polímeros Doctoral program in polymer technology for advanced research in polymeric materials science.
• Programa Nacional de Doctorado en Ciencias en Agroecología National doctoral program in agroecology coordinated with ECOSUR, providing advanced training in agroecological sciences.
• LNMG - Laboratorio Nacional de Materiales Grafénicos National laboratory specializing in graphene research and development of graphene-based materials and applications.
• LANIAUTO - Laboratorio Nacional de Automotriz National laboratory serving the automotive sector with polymer testing, characterization, and development services.
• LABMYN - Laboratorio Nacional de Micro y Nanofluídica National laboratory for micro and nanofluidics research and applications.
• Servicios para la Industria Industry services including product and process R&D, training, failure analysis, material substitution, technical assistance, and characterization services for industrial clients in chemical, plastics, and agronomic sectors.
• Transferencia de Tecnología Technology transfer services featuring patented technologies for applications in engineering, health, energy, and agriculture sectors.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero (ITCM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026General collaboration agreement signed between CIQA and ITCM to strengthen institutional ties through joint academic and research initiatives
• Secretaría de Economía / CINTERMEXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2026CIQA participated in InnovaFest Monterrey 2026 organized by Secretaría de Economía at CINTERMEX within Parque Fundidora
• ECOSURminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for the National Doctoral Program in Sciences in Agroecology

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ciqa_mx
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/difusionciqa/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/CiqaMx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciqa
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciqa.mx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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