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:

ACE I:

Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, USA,

April 2014
ACE III:

ACE III:

Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, USA,

April 2015
ACE V:

ACE V:

Arizona and California, USA,

April 2016
ACE VII:

ACE VII:

Central Texas, USA

April 2017
ACE II:

ACE II:

Mexico City, Aguascalientes, and Guadalajara, Mexico

August 2014
ACE IV:

ACE IV:

Province of Cordoba, Argentina,

October 2015
ACE VI:

ACE VI:

Province of Ontario, Canada

September 2016
ACE VIII:

ACE VIII:

North-Central Florida, USA,

December 2017