Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad

What Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad does

The Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad (IMCO) is a Mexico City-based, non-partisan, non-profit public policy research center and citizen action organization founded in 2004 as an Asociación Civil. It generates evidence-based analysis and policy recommendations across four operational areas — Economy, Government, Society, and Analytics — with the stated mission of promoting economic sustainable development, effective government, and an inclusive society. Its core output is a portfolio of annually updated competitiveness indices and continuous monitors: the Índice de Competitividad Estatal (ICE) covering Mexico's 32 states across 72 indicators in 10 sub-indices; the Índice de Competitividad Urbana (ICU) covering 72 metropolitan areas; the Índice de Riesgos de Corrupción (IRC) mapping corruption risk in public procurement; the Radar Económico and Radar Arancelario; the Monitor de Mujer en la Economía; the annual Estados #ConLupaDeGénero gender gaps study; and quarterly monitors of federal public finances and the state-owned enterprises Pemex and CFE (Hacienda/CFE/Pemex en la Mira). All research is produced via an internal data lake and business intelligence stack managed by the Analítica area and is published free of charge.

IMCO serves federal, state, and municipal government agencies (Secretaría de Economía, ASF, IMSS, Inmujeres, and 16 state plus 5 municipal administrations receiving direct technical assistance), civil society organizations, the private sector, and the general public. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: research is disseminated via the imco.org.mx website, a weekly email newsletter, four social channels including a dedicated WhatsApp Channel, press releases, syndicated columns in major Mexican outlets, and a public speakers program. The business model is non-profit: revenue derives from donations and grants from organizations, companies, and individuals who respect IMCO's autonomy, supplemented by paid technical cooperation and advisory services delivered to government entities. No commercial pricing tiers, APIs, or software products are offered.

Name

Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad

Legal name

Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad, A.C.

Website

https://imco.org.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad (IMCO) is a Mexico City-based, non-partisan non-profit public policy research center founded in 2004 that produces annual competitiveness indices for Mexico's 32 states and 72 metropolitan areas, corruption and gender monitors, and policy recommendations for federal, state, and municipal governments, civil society, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Competitiveness indices
• Corruption risk monitoring
• Public finance analysis
• Economic policy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Mexico City

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: IMCO is a non-profit institution (A.C.) that receives financing from organizations, companies, and individuals who respect its autonomy and intellectual independence. The organization publishes annual institutional reports documenting its activities and funding sources.
2. Research Services: Technical collaboration and advisory services provided to government entities and civil society organizations, including cooperation agreements with state development secretariats and government capacity building programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IMCO is a public policy research center that produces evidence-based analysis, competitiveness indices, and monitoring tools covering Mexico's 32 states and 72 metropolitan areas. Its deliverables include the Índice de Competitividad Estatal (ICE), Índice de Competitividad Urbana (ICU), Índice de Riesgos de Corrupción (IRC), economic and tariff radars, quarterly public-finance monitors for Hacienda, CFE, and Pemex, and the annual Estados #ConLupaDeGénero gender research. It also delivers technical advisory services, training programs (public finance diploma), and cooperation agreements to federal, state, and municipal government entities in Mexico. All outputs are made publicly available free of charge.

Product overview

IMCO operates as a public policy research organization rather than a traditional product company. Its 'products' consist of competitive intelligence indices and monitoring tools: the State Competitiveness Index (ICE) evaluating 32 Mexican states, the Urban Competitiveness Index (ICU) measuring 66-72 cities, the Corruption Risk Index (IRC) for public procurement monitoring, the #ConLupaDeGénero gender lens research, and various economic monitors including the Economic Radar, Tariff Radar, and quarterly 'En la Mira' financial monitors for public finances (Hacienda), CFE, and Pemex. These research outputs are published on its website as downloadable reports and data visualizations. An internal Analítica area maintains a data lake and business intelligence infrastructure for research purposes. No commercial software products, APIs, or SDKs are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Índice de Competitividad Estatal (ICE): Annual index evaluating the competitiveness of Mexico's 32 states
• Índice de Competitividad Urbana (ICU)
• Índice de Riesgos de Corrupción (IRC)
• Monitor de Mujer en la Economía
• Radar Arancelario
• Hacienda en la Mira
• CFE en la Mira
• Pemex en la Mira

Products and services

• Índice de Competitividad Estatal (ICE) An annual index evaluating the competitiveness of Mexico's 32 states based on 72 indicators across 10 sub-indices, measuring each state's capacity to attract and retain talent and investment. Aimed at federal, state, and municipal government entities, business associations, investors, and civil society organizations seeking comparable longitudinal state-level competitiveness data.
• Índice de Competitividad Urbana (ICU) An annual index evaluating 72 metropolitan areas in Mexico across approximately 72 indicators in 10 sub-indices, measuring urban competitiveness including security, innovation, connectivity, and labor conditions. Targets policymakers, urban planners, investors, and civil society comparing the 72 metros that represent 80–90% of national GDP.
• Índice de Riesgos de Corrupción (IRC) A platform mapping corruption risks in public procurement and government contracting, designed to identify and monitor corruption vulnerabilities across Mexican government institutions. Used by federal, state, and municipal government entities as well as civil society organizations for transparency and accountability analysis.
• Estados #ConLupaDeGénero An annual research publication analyzing gender gaps across Mexico's states, evaluating conditions for women's participation in the labor market and economic autonomy. The 2026 (fifth) edition ranks states with Baja California Sur leading and Oaxaca last; it is targeted at policymakers, civil society, business associations, and media.
• Radar Económico A monthly economic monitoring tool visualizing and analyzing 12 key economic topics including foreign trade, investment, consumption, growth, employment, poverty, and prices in the Mexican economy. Targeted at government entities, investors, business associations, and journalists needing current macro-level data.
• Radar Arancelario A monitoring tool tracking tariff developments and trade policy changes affecting Mexico's commercial relations. Used by trade policymakers, business associations, exporters, and importers needing near-real-time visibility into tariff changes.
• Hacienda en la Mira Quarterly monitoring of federal public finances analyzing government revenue, expenditure, deficits, and debt developments. Targeted at federal and state policymakers, legislators, investors, and journalists tracking Mexico's fiscal trajectory.
• CFE en la Mira Quarterly monitoring of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) financial and operational results, tracking the state-owned electricity company's performance and challenges. Targeted at energy policymakers, regulators, investors, and journalists analyzing the Mexican electricity sector.
• Pemex en la Mira Quarterly monitoring of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) financial and operational results, analyzing the state-owned oil company's performance. Targeted at energy policymakers, regulators, investors, and journalists tracking the Mexican hydrocarbons sector.
• Compara Carreras A career comparison tool helping students make informed educational and career decisions by providing data on career outcomes and employment prospects. Used by prospective higher-education students, with dissemination through Laureate Educación (UNITEC, UVM) and other educational partners.
• Public Finance Diploma and Government Training Program A diploma and capacity-building program that has trained 1,233+ government officials across Mexican states and municipalities in public finance, budget transparency, and accountability practices, delivered through technical cooperation agreements. Targeted at officials in state finance secretariats, legislative staff, and municipal administrators.

Quantifiable outcome

• If Mexico achieves OECD average female labor participation, GDP could be 15% higher by 2030, adding 8.2 million women to the economy and generating 3.5 trillion pesos in cumulative growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Fundación Friedrich Naumann (FNF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration on analysis of Mexico's commercial position facing US protectionist trade policy and potential outcomes of the T-MEC review. Joint research on Europe-Mexico trade relations and strategic opportunities.
• Fundación Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to analyze necessary actions for attracting and retaining female talent in the private sector through interviews with HR executives from 13 companies and conversations with women in mid-level management positions.
• AMSDE (Asociación Mexicana de Secretarías de Desarrollo Económico)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration agreement signed to technically support productivity and economic competitiveness in all 32 Mexican states. Joint efforts on state-level economic development policy.
• Laureate Educación (UNITEC y UVM)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Alliance to inform high school students about career decision-making through the Compara Carreras tool, helping students make more informed educational choices.
• CIMAD IPADE (Centro de Investigación de la mujer en Alta Dirección)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Alliance to develop 2022 analysis of women's participation in Mexican stock exchange listed companies, working with 50/50 Women on Boards and the 30% Club.
• 50/50 Women on BoardsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021International alliance for gender equality in corporate governance, participating in annual analysis of women's representation on Mexican stock exchange boards.
• Club del 30%majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Alliance for increasing women's representation in corporate leadership, collaborating on annual tracking of board diversity in Mexican companies.
• Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020International organization collaboration on gender data analysis and public policy formulation. BID supported IMCO's research on women's economic participation and gender gaps.
• ONU MujerescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaboration on gender data analysis and policy formulation. IMCO participated in developing the first Care Map identifying care infrastructure across Mexico.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CIDE (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas): Larger, academic-affiliated Mexican economic and social science research institution. Broad incumbent covering similar economic competitiveness and public policy research topics but operating as an academic center rather than a focused civil association.
• CEPAL/ECLAC (Mexico subregional office): United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, which produces regional economic research including country-level Mexico analyses. Broad incumbent with overlapping mandate on economic development and public policy research.
• OECD (Mexico desk / Going for Growth reviews): International organization producing comparative competitiveness and economic policy analysis including for Mexico. Broad incumbent that competes for policymaker attention with substantially greater resources and global benchmarking capabilities.

Direct peers

• Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación: Mexican civil society research organization focused on public finance accountability, human rights, and transparency. Direct peer in the Mexican policy research NGO ecosystem with similar non-profit funding model and advocacy orientation.
• Transparencia Mexicana: Mexican chapter of Transparency International focused on corruption monitoring and accountability research. Direct peer given overlapping anti-corruption measurement work and shared positioning as a non-partisan civil society accountability actor in Mexico.
• CIDAC (Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo, A.C.): Independent Mexican think tank producing economic, regulatory, and governance research. Direct peer to IMCO as a fellow Mexico-based civil association conducting evidence-based policy research and publishing indices/reports for public and policymaker consumption.
• México, ¿cómo vamos?: Mexican civil association that monitors economic growth, competitiveness indicators, and quality-of-life metrics across Mexican states and cities. Closest direct peer to IMCO given overlapping focus on sub-national competitiveness benchmarking and policy advocacy.

Emerging players

• Data Cívica: Mexican civil society organization using data analysis and technology to address public-interest issues. Emerging player comparable to IMCO in the use of data infrastructure for accountability and policy research, though smaller and more technically oriented.
• WRI México (World Resources Institute): International research organization with active Mexico operations focused on sustainable development, climate, and economic policy. Emerging player with partial thematic overlap to IMCO's economy and government work, especially around ESG-adjacent policy questions.
• Ethos Public Policy Lab: Mexico-based public policy research lab focused on innovative, data-driven policy analysis. Emerging player with partial overlap to IMCO's evidence-based policy work but a younger organization and narrower topical focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/imcomx
• Facebookfacebook.com/imcomx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imcomx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad