Category: News

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – November 1, 2024

By Enya Castañeda,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by ACE Parking.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of November 1, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

Reaching Tomorrow’s Talent

Forward-thinking employers, industry leaders, and educators: Join EDC for Advancing San Diego’s flagship event on Nov. 13. Sign up to shape San Diego’s future of talent recruitment and development, and for a chance to win a round-trip flight on Southwest Airlines!

Learn More and Register

 

Business information and resources page

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Enya Castañeda
Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Study: San Diego’s $47B Manufacturing sector supports 121K jobs, a third of which are in small businesses

By EDC Research Bureau,

This week, San Diego Regional EDC released “Manufacturing in San Diego: Local Impact, Global Reach,” which quantifies the economic impact of the region’s Manufacturing sector and explores the firms, innovation clusters, and talent building and creating the goods and technologies of the future.

While federal priorities shift to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, prioritizing the resilience and competitiveness of San Diego’s Manufacturing sector is key. In fact, over the last five years local manufacturing firm growth has outpaced that of California and the U.S. at large. The Manufacturing sector not only creates jobs and fosters innovation across key industries in our binational region, but it ensures a stable supply of essential goods and technologies.

“As is always our mission, this report aims to provide actionable insight for regional decision makers with data and guidance needed to preserve and enhance San Diego’s competitiveness in the global economy. Manufacturing is core to San Diego’s innovation identity, offering onramps to quality jobs, and will need coordinated support to sustain growth,” said Eduardo Velasquez, Sr. Director of Research & Economic Development at San Diego Regional EDC, the report’s author.

Released as part of National Manufacturing Month, the interactive web report includes a deep dive on the $47 billion Manufacturing sector, and includes company profiles, a metro-by-metro comparison, and a set of recommendations for better supporting manufacturers in a costly and highly regulated environment.

KEY report FINDINGS

  • San Diego’s Manufacturing sector is a significant part of the regional economy. There are 121,027 jobs supported by 4,429 establishments tied to the Manufacturing sector. This means that manufacturing employment accounts for nearly one in 10 private sector jobs across the region. Altogether, this amounts to a $47 billion regional economic impact annually.
  • Manufacturing jobs are high-paying and increasingly accessible. Average annual wages are more than $103,000, which is 31 percent higher than the region’s average. The proportion of manufacturing jobs not requiring higher education continues to rise, opening opportunities to a wider range of candidates.
  • Growth in the sector is driven by small businesses. More than one-third of the manufacturing workforce is employed by a small business, with fewer than 100 employees. Nearly nine in 10 manufacturers employ fewer than 50 employees.
  • Manufacturing is tied to innovation. San Diego manufacturing encompasses industry verticals from Consumer Goods and Craft Beer to Life Sciences, Technology, and Aerospace. Innovation-related industries make up 46 percent of all manufacturing employment in the region.
  • High cost of living and operational challenges hinder the sector’s growth. Success stems from companies finding unique pathways to grow and expand. However, a high cost of living, limited space, and higher operational costs in San Diego pose challenges for attracting and retaining manufacturers and their workers.

Manufacturing in San Diego is made up of world-class brands and consumer goods like Taylor Guitars, Dr. Bronner’s soaps, and Stone Brewing’s IPAs. Yet San Diego’s Manufacturing sector also has a strong tie to the region’s innovation ecosystem—producing everything from satellite navigation equipment to genome sequencers. In fact, San Diego’s innovation manufacturing employment concentration is more than double the national average.

“San Diego brings something special beyond biotech innovation—it’s the collaborative spirit and vibrant energy here that truly enhance what we create,” said David Arida, COO at Biolinq, a San Diego startup focused on developing biowearable sensor devices.

However, the region’s high cost of living, expensive and hard-to-come-by real estate, and higher operational costs pose challenges for attracting and retaining talent and manufactures alike. Even more, San Diego ranks low in ease of doing business compared to competitor regions, which can impact company decisions on where to locate or expand operations.

“As EDC’s report demonstrates, it is critical that our region commits to cultivating talent and catalyzing innovation, as well as investing in critical infrastructure and easy-to-navigate policy frameworks to better support local manufacturers. In Carlsbad, we are dedicated to strengthening our manufacturing community by fostering collaboration and ensuring businesses have the resources needed to succeed. From streamlining processes to providing access to new opportunities, we are committed to making Carlsbad a hub for innovation and sustainable growth in manufacturing,” said City of Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn.

The report was sponsored by the City of Carlsbad, CMTC, San Diego County Water Authority, and Walmart, and was unveiled October 30 at an industry event together with Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn and San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo.

SEE THE FULL REPORT

LEARN MORE ABOUT MANUFACTURING IN SAN DIEGO

Plus, explore our Spotlight on Manufacturing series

About EDC

San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is an independently-funded economic development organization that mobilizes business, government, and civic leaders around an inclusive economic development strategy in order to connect data to decision making, maximize regional prosperity, enhance global competitiveness, and position San Diego effectively for investment and talent.

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – October 25, 2024

By Enya Castañeda,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by ACE Parking.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of October 25, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

Reaching Tomorrow’s Talent

Work along side forward-thinking employers, industry leaders, and educators to shape San Diego’s future talent recruitment and development. Join EDC for Advancing San Diego’s flagship event on Nov. 13 and enter for a chance to win a round-trip flight on Southwest Airlines!

Learn More and Register

 

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

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Enya Castañeda
Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Harnessing the power of cross-border manufacturing in San Diego

By Lindsey Silvia ,

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector.

READ THE NEW REPORT

Cross-border manufacturing in San Diego has significant untapped potential. With five ports of entry, the Baja California region is one of the most accessible and lucrative for international expansion. While some companies are just beginning to explore it, many of San Diego’s most successful, innovative brands have already established a manufacturing presence in Tijuana and surrounding cities.

According to Tijuana EDC, Baja California already has 960 manufacturing facilities with plenty of room for growth. The manufacturing industry represents 65 percent of Tijuana’s GDP. Just 30 minutes to the south, manufacturing in Mexico offers cost effective products without compromising quality, backed by a steady supply of highly skilled labor.

Here are three common myths about cross-border manufacturing and how San Diego companies have been able to flourish in the binational region.

    1. The myth: Lack of infrastructure makes it more expensive to manufacture in Mexico than advertised.

      The region has made significant strides with modernizing infrastructure including upgrades to many points of entry. For example, major investments in the Otay Mesa II Port of Entry, funded primarily by the US, are set to reduce traffic congestion by up to 50 percent. This improvement will further enhance the cost efficiency of cross-border trade and manufacturing operations, making it even more attractive for San Diego companies to consider these opportunities.

      Taylor Guitars is a prime example of a San Diego company benefiting from cross-border manufacturing. Its operations in Tecate are thriving due to cultural alignment and strategic advantages. A business leader at Taylor Guitars highlights the key benefits and programs it utilizes, such as the IMMEX program, which allows temporary importation of goods that are transformed or repaired and then exported.

      “Manufacturing in both San Diego and Tecate gives Taylor Guitars a competitive advantage. Our Tecate operation allows us to produce quality guitars at accessible price points, reaching a broader audience, while our San Diego facility focuses on more specialized, premium instruments. Together, they enable us to deliver a diverse range of products without compromising on craftsmanship or innovation.”

      – Ed Granero, VP of Product Development, Taylor Guitars

    1. The myth: Mexico doesn’t offer high-quality manufacturing. 

      Many manufacturers in Tijuana work with leading global companies in high tech industries including Medical Devices, Electronics, Automotive and Aerospace. These companies require high quality and rigorous quality control measures to ensure compliance with international standards. For instance, ResMed operates a manufacturing facility in Tijuana, producing advanced medical devices like CPAP machines with stringent quality assurance protocols. Similarly, other high-tech firms like Qualcomm and Medtronic trust local partners to deliver precision-engineered products that comply with their exacting requirements.

    1. The myth: There isn’t a strong talent pipeline present in Mexico.

      The presence of high-quality manufacturing and modernized infrastructure is complemented by access to a highly capable talent pool, supported by top universities in Tijuana and advanced manufacturing capabilities in the region.

      Tijuana provides a hub for a strong pool of high-skilled workers. Baja California is home to many world class universities, 37 of which are in Tijuana. Among these include top-rated schools University of Tijuana and the Tijuana Institute of Technology, which contribute to more than 3,700 annual degrees in STEM fields. Many graduates choose to remain in the region, where they can live at a lower cost and help drive the local economic growth.

Cross-border manufacturing offers San Diego companies a powerful combination of cost efficiency, advanced capabilities, and access to world class talent. By leveraging the benefits of San Diego’s proximity and relationship with Baja California, manufacturing companies not only reduce their costs but also enhance production capabilities and increase competitiveness. As infrastructure investments continue to improve cross-border logistics, and with the support of programs like IMMEX, the future looks bright for San Diego’s cross-border manufacturing landscape.

Resources to explore cross-border trade opportunities

  • World Trade Center San Diego and its Export Specialty Center works directly with companies—free of charge—to help them expand internationally and grow in San Diego.
  • Tijuana EDC provides specialized business consulting and logistics services for companies that are considering choosing contract manufacturing in Mexico to grow.

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month. Click here to look at our previous deep dive on San Diego’s strong manufacturing talent pool. To read our full analytical manufacturing report click here.

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – October 18, 2024

By Enya Castañeda,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by ACE Parking.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of October 18, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

Reaching Tomorrow’s Talent

Register for Advancing San Diego’s flagship event, where forward-thinking employers industry leaders, and educators will collaborate to shape the future of talent recruitment and development. Join EDC on Nov. 13 and enter for a chance to win a round-trip flight on Southwest Airlines!

Learn More and Register

 

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Enya Castañeda
Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

Building a bright future: The faces of San Diego Manufacturing

By Lindsey Silvia ,

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector.

READ THE full REPORT

San Diego’s Manufacturing sector is not just a cornerstone of the local economy; it also provides unique and well-paying career opportunities for San Diegans with great prospects for advancement. With an average wage of $103,000 per year, manufacturing jobs in San Diego pay 31 percent more than non-manufacturing jobs in the region on average. The industry supports approximately 100,000 jobs across a diverse array of industries including Craft Brewing, Life Sciences, Aerospace, and Tech as well as emerging fields like Cleantech.

Talent is a key driver for many manufacturers looking to setup or expand in the region. Companies are actively seeking local graduates, offering summer internships, and creating opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented communities. This proactive approach to talent acquisition ensures that manufacturers in San Diego continue to thrive and innovate—and supports real San Diegans in building meaningful careers.

EDC sat down with a few local manufacturing experts to hear their experiences and insights. The goal is to showcase the diverse range of individuals and companies within the manufacturing sector and highlight the opportunities available to those interested in pursuing a career in this industry.

Employee spotlights: Real stories, real success

ASML: Working at the cutting edge of technology

Austin graduated with a degree in materials physics from UC San Diego in 2021 and holds a master’s in engineering from UC Irvine. After his stint in Orange County, he was determined to build a life in San Diego and returned to the area seeking a career in manufacturing. Although his education opened doors at top companies nationwide, Austin knew San Diego was home and was determined to carve his path here. With experience in research, he pivoted to manufacturing where he could see the direct impact of his work. Now working at local tech giant ASML on the New Product Introduction team, he integrates new products into the manufacturing process and ensures they meet customer expectations. Reflecting on his journey, Austin emphasized the importance of internships for gaining industry exposure and building professional networks. His connection to the San Diego community, formed during his undergraduate studies, has motivated him to pursue a career in the region. Austin is optimistic about the future of the semiconductor industry, noting its growth and increasing demand for chips driven by AI, and computing and electric vehicles.

TriLink BioTechnologies: Cultivating a culture of quality and inclusion

Jennifer is a dedicated member of the TriLink BioTechnologies team, part of the Maravai LifeSciences parent company, which helps other businesses develop and manufacture products vital for understanding genetic processes and developing biotechnological applications like vaccines and gene therapies. A graduate of UC San Diego, Jennifer started her career as a lab assistant in 2001, and over the years has taken on multiple roles leading to her current role as Associate Director for Quality Product Lifestyle, where she is dedicated to enhancing quality control within the company. Jennifer is passionate about mentoring and advancing female leadership in the Life Sciences industry, aiming to elevate women in executive roles. She values San Diego’s collaborative Life Sciences ecosystem, where companies share knowledge to develop life-saving treatments.

Dr. Bronner’s: Growing up in the culture of care

Blanca has navigated an inspiring career since joining Dr. Bronner’s in 2007. Joining the Vista-based company directly out of high school, she found her niche in manufacturing, driven by passion for the products she helps create. Over the years, Blanca has ascended through various roles, culminating in her current position as Director of Production. She cherishes the culture at Dr. Bronner’s, which prioritizes employee care and work-life balance, and she appreciates the company’s approach to challenges like the high cost of living in San Diego. Blanca’s experience as a woman in a traditionally male dominated industry has equipped her with resilience and determination, and inspired her advocacy for other women. Her passion for San Diego’s vibrant, inclusive culture mirrors her dedication to shaping manufacturing in the region.

Finding skilled talent for your manufacturing facilities

San Diego’s manufacturing sector is not only an economic force but it’s also a community of innovators and skilled technicians where professionals like Austin, Jennifer, and Blanca have built rewarding careers with opportunities for advancement. More than offering a job, this industry can provide fulfilment and a well-balanced and thriving lifestyle in the San Diego region.

If you’re a manufacturer looking for skilled talent like those profiled above, leverage these recruiting tools:

  • Develop an apprenticeship program: In partnership with Apprenti, EDC can assist companies with establishing apprenticeship programs in non-traditional fields like advanced manufacturing, information technology, cybersecurity, and more.
  • Connect with Verified Programs: To strengthen your company’s talent pipeline, EDC can connect employers with local post-secondary training programs that have been vetted and recognized for strong efforts to teach relevant curriculum and serve a diverse student body.

What’s next?

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month. Click here to look at our previous deep dive on San Diego’s unique manufacturing strengths and opportunities. To read our full analytical manufacturing report click here.

Op-ed: Employers can bolster the local talent pipeline. Here’s how.

By Sidd Vivek, Mark Cafferty, and Dr. Sunita Cooke,

Op-ed originally published by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Authored by Sidd Vivek, President and CEO at Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties; Mark Cafferty, President and CEO at San Diego Regional EDC; and Dr. Sunita Cooke, President and Superintendent at MiraCosta College

The success of our regional economy hinges on more than the businesses that power it; it thrives when our community, education systems, and industry come together to create opportunities that benefit all San Diegans. Internships and career-connected learning are key to aligning local students with regional jobs and overcoming the talent shortages threatening our economic competitiveness.

Demand for workers in the innovation economy is set to double over the next few years, making it imperative to connect young people to career pathways and professional networks in San Diego’s leading industries. Talent from historically underserved communities remains heavily underrepresented in the local innovation economy; in fact, Black and Hispanic people comprise 50 percent of the region’s K-12 population but only 24 percent of innovation cluster workers. Supporting these youth in accessing high-growth, sustainable careers is key to addressing San Diego’s socioeconomic disparities and creating a talent surplus.

That’s why, together with key local partners, San Diego Regional EDC is focused on placing students in paid work-based experiences and/or internships across the region. In collaboration with the Border Region Talent Pipeline K-16 Collaborative, Imperial Valley EDC, Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and the County of San Diego led by Chair Nora Vargas, 443 local youth were placed in paid summer internships and/or work-based learning experiences at more than 125 businesses across San Diego and Imperial Counties including Illumina, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton and Cox Communications and many small businesses. Through local industry partners—and supplemented by philanthropy—students were paid more than $2.7 million in collective wages and employer support services, and many are already being hired on for full-time opportunities. This work goes beyond offering students a paycheck—transforming futures and driving long-term economic growth for San Diego.

When employers invest in career-connected learning experiences, they address both immediate staffing needs and strategically build a future workforce pipeline tailored to their skills demands. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, approximately 72 percent of US companies will offer their interns full-time positions, and 80 percent of employers cited their internship programs as the talent acquisition technique with the best return on investment.

It is not just businesses that benefit. Forbes reported that students who completed paid internships receive twice as many job offers and secure a higher first-year salary than students with no internship experience, even when controlling for industry and demographic data.

Work-based learning equips students with industry tools and professional skills while helping them identify career paths aligned with their strengths and build a network of support for the future. Young people’s creativity and diverse perspectives can spark fresh ideas that drive businesses forward. As more students transition from interns to full-time roles, they mentor the next generation, creating a self-sustaining growth cycle that fuels innovation and economic mobility across San Diego and Imperial Counties.

This complex work requires cross-sector collaboration, from K-12 school districts and nonprofits to community colleges, universities, and employers who need the talent to fill critical functions. For our region—we must keep our sights set on fostering innovation, connecting youth to in-demand, sustainable wage career pathways, and building a talent pool that reflects our people.

With students back in school for the fall, we invite our regional businesses to join us in this vital work. From participation in career panels to hosting work-based learning for high school students or post-secondary apprentices and interns, a commitment by San Diego’s companies will be the difference-maker for this region and our youth.

It is only with and through San Diego’s employers that we can meet our Inclusive Growth goals, and ensure our economy remains competitive, innovative, and resilient for years to come. The benefits are clear: stronger businesses empowered students, and a vibrant, accessible economy that works for everyone.

What’s next?

To learn more and get involved in EDC’s work, contact:

Bridgette Coleman
Bridgette Coleman

Manager, Talent Initiatives

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – October 11, 2024

By Enya Castañeda,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by ACE Parking.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of October 11, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

Manufacturing in San Diego: More vital than you think

Celebrating Manufacturing Month, EDC shares the first of a series of blogs exploring key trends in this underrated industry. Join us in celebrating San Diego’s manufacturing strengths and opportunities at EDC and BCG’s Manufacturing Report Launch on Oct. 30.

Read More and Register

 

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Enya Castañeda
Enya Castañeda

Coordinator, Investor Relations & Marketing Communications

From one global gateway to another: Reflections on our 2024 trade mission to Singapore

By Nikia Clarke,

San Diego to Singapore 2024

As we depart Singapore on the heels of World Trade Center San Diego’s seventh international trade mission, it is with a tremendous amount of gratitude for the broad coalition of San Diego leadership that joins us year after year all over the globe to deepen existing partnerships, explore new opportunities, and enthusiastically showcase the breadth and depth of the region’s economy.

Led this year by Congressman Scott Peters—his fourth time at the helm for WTCSD—the 2024 delegation included leadership from the Port, Airport and City of San Diego, UC San Diego and San Diego State University, large global employers like Qualcomm, Illumina, Cubic, ResMed, Austal, and Mitsubishi Electric, as well as small, high-growth innovators like Biolinq and Visaic, tourism powerhouses like the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and ecosystem partners from across the binational region like Connect, the Chamber, the Tourism Authority, Tijuana EDC, and the Prebys Foundation.

This year we headed for another innovative, binational region by the sea, which is also the world’s premier gateway to Asia: Singapore. In a moment for the global economy characterized by geopolitical uncertainty, rapidly shifting supply chains in advanced industries, and climate action and energy transition, this city state of only six million people is partnering with industry to create solutions for today’s challenges.

  • Despite being a high-cost destination with limited land and natural resources, advanced manufacturing makes up 20 percent of Singapore’s GDP—almost double San Diego’s numbers—due to world-class vertical manufacturing facilities co-designed by the government and companies including San Diego firms Illumina and ResMed.
  • Nearly 400,000 people cross into Singapore from Malaysia to work every day—almost double the volume of our busy border with Tijuana—and the border authority is piloting new, fully automated clearance technology to increase efficiency as well as partnering with Malaysia on a new rapid transit system that will open in 2026.
  • From rooftop greenery and food production, water desalination and underground cooling systems, to engineering the bayfront to naturally protect the city from future sea level rise, Singapore’s intentional regional planning efforts have created a city that is simultaneously one of the densest in the world as well as one of the smartest and one of the greenest.

Our goals for these trade missions are threefold:

    1. To facilitate transactional wins that bring jobs and investment to San Diego.
    1. To enable best practice sharing to help us address our biggest regional challenges.
    1. To share San Diego’s innovation story in a market that matters for our economic future.

Over a whirlwind three days filled with more than 15 meetings and events, our delegation hit all of these goals and then some.

Jobs and investment:

  • We held our Spotlight on San Diego event, in which 70 Singaporean investors and business leaders interested in investing in California heard from our delegates about big projects and opportunities in both San Diego and Tijuana in life sciences, strategic technology, and SDSU’s innovation district.
  • Small, high-growth San Diego companies pitched to Singapore’s institutional investment firm that funds innovation worldwide.
  • Port of San Diego called on a number of shipping companies in order to attract more liner service to San Diego.
  • MELIC Ventures—the venture arm of Mitsubishi Electric—established a proof-of-concept agreement with a maritime drone company. 

Partnerships:

  • San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Group exchanged knowledge on strategic planning and critical global wildlife conservation, all financed by visitor income.
  • The Port authorities of San Diego and Singapore began discussions on an MOU focused on green and sustainable shipping corridors.
  • The City of San Diego explored housing policy and infrastructure with the Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore’s Ministry of National Development, and the developer firms that partner together to house every Singaporean.
  • UC San Diego and National University Singapore deepened a recent MOU on digital health, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship with plans to establish a soft landing exchange for entrepreneurs.

Global identity:

  • We met with Singaporean leadership from the Deputy Prime Minister, the Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore, A*Star and dozens of others in order to share what makes San Diego so special.
  • Companies with big Singapore operations—like Illumina, ResMed, and Qualcomm—shared their successes and reminded our hosts that they represent San Diego technology and innovation.
  • Our final reception—held at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador per WTCSD trade mission tradition—brought together 100 partners and stakeholders from across the region to cement bonds and celebrate a productive and successful week.

As is always the case with our trade missions, the nonstop few days in the market get most of the attention. However, the bulk of the work happens in the months before—when the WTCSD team works diligently with and through so many of you to identify opportunities and priorities—and even more importantly in those that follow—when deals get inked, investments and expansions are confirmed, and partnerships deepen.

So, as we return home to San Diego—where the sun is shining and the Padres are in the playoffs—we thank our delegates again for taking the time from very busy calendars to travel with us and represent San Diego. And we also invite all of you to watch this space closely in the weeks and months ahead, because we are just getting started.

EXPLORE OUR TRADE MISSIONS →

Nikia Clarke
Nikia Clarke

Senior Vice President; Executive Director, World Trade Center San Diego

Manufacturing in San Diego: More vital than you think

By Lindsey Silvia and Emily Irion,

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector.

READ THE full REPORT

San Diego is known for its sunny coastlines, vibrant tourism, and thriving biotech industry, but its Manufacturing sector is equally as diverse and dynamic. Manufacturing in the region is done using the most cutting-edge technology as well as traditional craftsmanship. This diversity reflects the region’s ability to adapt and evolve while creating a robust economic landscape with opportunities across a variety of industries.

The impact of the Manufacturing sector on San Diego’s economy may go unnoticed, but it’s a crucial contributor to the region, generating more than $47 billion annually when accounting for direct, indirect, and induced effects on the economy.

By the Numbers

 

With significant job concentration in Life Sciences, Technology, and Aerospace and Navigation technologies industries, manufacturing in San Diego is both sophisticated and advanced.

Why San Diego stands out

Three key factors set San Diego apart as a Manufacturing hub: talent, innovation, and proximity to key customers. See how local companies are taking advantage of all three below:

    1. Staying close to key customer base

      Stone Brewing is a unique story and part of a larger narrative of the region’s diverse Manufacturing landscape. A homegrown brewery, Stone Brewing was founded in San Diego County in 1996, playing a key role in establishing the region as a thriving craft beer hub. Its strategic location keeps it close to target customers and suppliers, while the vibrant brewing community attracts top talent. Now the largest craft brewery in California and the ninth-largest overall in the U.S., Stone continues to expand, reinforcing its presence in San Diego. Acquired by Japanese brewery Sapporo in 2022, Stone invested $20 million to expand its Escondido brewery. Now branded Sapporo-Stone Brewing, the brewer makes Sapporo’s beers in addition to its own, doubling output and expanding the Japanese brewery’s reach into the U.S. market. Its San Diego presence remains a strategic asset, benefiting from the region’s collaborative brewing community and loyal customer base.

    1. A hub for cutting-edge ideas

      San Diego consistently ranks in the top three Life Sciences markets in the U.S., often recognized as a hub for research and development (R&D). However, the region’s strength in manufacturing frequently goes overlooked.

      Founded in San Diego in 2017 by former Illumina leadership, Element Biosciences develops genetic analysis tools and human genome sequencing, reflecting the region’s cutting-edge genomics work. One of the key advantages to San Diego is the robust biotech ecosystem, specifically within Genomics, which fosters continuous innovation and cutting-edge ideas, creating an environment where a startup like Element can thrive. Element’s rapid growth in under seven years is partly due to the decision to continue manufacturing key components in San Diego, driven by proximity to critical R&D activities, access to top talent and reliable industry partners, and collaboration with local universities and industry giants. Like many Life Sciences companies in the region, Element stands out as both an R&D innovator and precision manufacturer, solidifying its role in San Diego’s innovation Manufacturing landscape.

    1. Driving San Diego’s next innovation cluster

      When people think of Manufacturing, they often picture large-scale assembly lines. In San Diego, smaller-scale Manufacturing with a greater emphasis on quality and precision is the region’s sweet spot.

      Aptera launched in 2019 out of co-CEO Steve Fambro’s garage. The solar electric vehicle company embodies the region’s burgeoning Cleantech hub, utilizing a micro-factory model. Aptera opts for smaller-scale operations and strategically selects markets close to its customer base. California’s environmental goals made the state an ideal fit for its innovative product. San Diego was also a natural choice for its founders, who had prior experience launching companies in the region.

      Beyond being a key market for customers, San Diego’s innovation ecosystem continues to provide access to top-tier talent for high-tech, cutting-edge roles. It also offers strategic supply chain advantages due to proximity to Los Angeles and, more importantly, to Tijuana, Mexico.

Supporting the ecosystem

Manufacturing in San Diego is a vital sector that supports more than 100,000 jobs, contributes significantly to local GDP, and fosters a thriving environment for innovation and growth. By focusing on nurturing talent, fueling innovation, and leveraging its strategic location, San Diego is well-positioned to sustain and grow its manufacturing expertise.

Local industry resources:

To read our full analytical manufacturing report click here.