JOSÉGALICOTBEHAR

José Galicot Behar was born on October 1, 1937, in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua. He is a prominent Mexican engineer, economist, businessman, philanthropist, and writer, widely recognized as one of the most influential civic and business leaders in the U.S.-Mexico border region. He earned his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and his degree in Economics from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), complemented by advanced management studies at IPADE Business School.

His most emblematic social legacy is the founding and presidency of Tijuana Innovadora, A.C. This movement, which began in 2010 as a major science, art, and technology event, successfully reversed the city's negative international image. Over the years, Galicot transformed this initiative into a robust and permanent platform for social innovation, operating under four fundamental pillars: Art and Culture, Innovation and Leadership, Violence Prevention, and Sustainability.

In the cultural and literary sphere, he boasts a career spanning over two decades as a columnist for publications such as the Semanario Zeta and is the author of 20 books encompassing essays, chronicles, and business development. For his tireless binational and humanitarian work, he has received prestigious awards, including the Keys to the City of Tijuana, the Charles Nathanson Memorial Award, the UCSD Good Neighbor Award, and an Honorary Doctorate from ORT Mexico University. Furthermore, his impact in California has been so significant that the Chula Vista City Council officially proclaimed February 8th as "José Galicot Behar Day," joining in the inauguration of the pavilion bearing his name in Tijuana.

Currently, he continues to promote cutting-edge projects with the conviction that the region's development is only just beginning.