The Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) is a regional initiative of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC). Ministers and High-Level Authorities of the countries of the Americas approved ACE as one of the main activities of the 2017- 2019 RIAC’s Work Plan.
The objective of the Exchange is to showcase successful examples of entrepreneurship, innovation, strategic investments and public-private partnerships from a specific region/country that contribute to the economic development at the local, national, and regional levels. The event brings 50 decision makers from across the Americas and beyond for a five to six-day tour of innovative hubs, leading firms, and educational and research institutions to explore local and regional economic development models, share experiences and knowledge, and build networks among the local and visiting stakeholders to enhance innovation and competitiveness of the Americas.
The ACE was originally created in 2014 by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, and the Organization of American States (OAS) as RIAC Technical Secretariat.
The host regions / countries have been:
ACE I:
Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, USA,
ACE III:
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, USA,
ACE V:
Arizona and California, USA,
ACE VII:
Central Texas, USA
ACE II:
Mexico City, Aguascalientes, and Guadalajara, Mexico
ACE IV:
Province of Cordoba, Argentina,
ACE VI:
Province of Ontario, Canada
ACE VIII:
North-Central Florida, USA,