QA/RA Consulting, Auditing & Training
While the global spotlight often shines elsewhere, Costa Rica has been efficiently building itself into a serious player in medical device manufacturing. It turns out that a focus on skilled labor, decent infrastructure, and a government that actually gets it can get you somewhere. Who knew? Major international companies are increasingly seeing the appeal, suggesting that Costa Rica might just be onto something – and they’re not keeping it a secret anymore.
Costa Rica is home to over 80 multinational life sciences companies. That’s a significant number, and many are focused on the high-tech end of the medical device spectrum. What’s more, Costa Rica has quietly become the second-largest medical device exporter in Latin America – not bad for a country often associated with rainforests and coffee. It seems they’re cultivating more than just beans these days – they’re growing a sophisticated industry.
Costa Rica’s participation in various free trade agreements, including CAFTA-DR and those with the EU, provides rather convenient access to key global markets. This, combined with a relatively stable political and economic environment, makes Costa Rica a logical choice for foreign direct investment. It’s almost as if predictability and good trade deals are attractive to businesses. Go figure.
But Costa Rica isn’t just relying on geography and good governance. One of their more understated strengths is their well-educated and increasingly specialized workforce. Recognizing the need for expertise in this highly regulated field, initiatives like those at ELIQUENT Life Sciences (formerly Oriel STAT A MATRIX), discussed below, are actively developing local talent in areas like regulatory affairs and quality assurance. It seems that Costa Rica has realized that you can’t just have factories; you also need people who actually know what they’re doing.
Enter ELIQUENT, which, in a rather sensible move, teamed up with the Costa Rican government to cultivate the next wave of MedTech gurus. Between 2020 and 2021, ELIQUENT (at the time Oriel STAT A MATRIX) rolled out seven certification programs laser-focused on regulatory compliance and quality assurance. And here’s the kicker: the Costa Rican government footed the bill. That’s right, they actually invested in their people. Imagine that!
The result? Over 200 Costa Ricans now possess the skills to not just participate but potentially excel in the medical device world. According to certification impact reports, these graduates are walking away with industry-recognized credentials, making them attractive candidates for leadership roles. Since 2015, ELIQUENT has trained over 700 MedTech folks in Costa Rica, ensuring a steady influx of talent and proving that the Costa Rican government is serious about building a skilled workforce.
Global supply chain hiccups and the possibility of tariff uncertainty have apparently caused some head-scratching among medical device manufacturers. The result? Costa Rica is looking less like a vacation spot and more like a strategically sound production hub for companies suddenly prioritizing things like reliability, predictable costs, and a workforce that knows what it’s doing.
Medical device companies are understandably looking for alternatives, and Costa Rica, conveniently located and surprisingly adept in the MedTech arena, is looking like a rather sensible Plan B (or perhaps even Plan A), especially with a growing pool of qualified professionals ready to step in.
Costa Rica isn’t just relying on its tropical charm or a newly skilled workforce; they’ve also been rather clever in the trade agreement department and have seemingly figured out the secret to relatively painless customs processes. This translates to making it easier to export to major markets, which, for companies trying to get life-saving and life-enhancing devices to people, is kind of a big deal.
Beyond the obvious financial and logistical perks, Costa Rica is also waving the flag for sustainability and a growing culture of innovation. This isn’t just about finding a cheaper place to make things; it’s about tapping into a country that’s thinking about the long haul, both environmentally and technologically, and investing in the very people who will drive that future.
By actively cultivating a highly skilled workforce through initiatives like ELIQUENT’s certification programs, Costa Rica has strategically beefed up its entire MedTech ecosystem. This makes the country even more appealing to investors and manufacturers who, you know, like having access to qualified talent. As the global demand for regulatory expertise keeps climbing, Costa Rica’s well-trained workforce is sitting pretty, ready to meet the challenge.
Costa Rica’s impressive rise in the medical device manufacturing world isn’t some happy accident. It’s the result of deliberate investments in things that actually matter: talent development, smart trade deals, and solid infrastructure. Costa Rica isn’t just aiming to be a destination for life sciences companies – they’re making a strong case for being the premier destination. And frankly, with a government that understands the assignment and a workforce that’s stepping up to the plate, they’re making a pretty compelling argument.
Leverage ELIQUENT’s expertise to build a world-class life sciences workforce in Costa Rica. Reach out to us today for expert training and consulting support, available in both English and Spanish.
Contact Silvia Vásquez at svasquez@eliquent.com or get answers right now by calling +506.8812.6203.
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