With over two decades of experience in the sector, Costa Rica has emerged as the ideal location for establishing semiconductor operations. The country hosts globally renowned companies like Intel, Teradyne, Qorvo, NI, HPE, and R&D Altanova (a division of ADVANTEST Corporation), engaged in a wide spectrum of highly complex activities —from assembly and testing to integrated circuit design, research, and development.
Thanks to this robust record and its commitment to innovation, Costa Rica stands out as a reference point in Latin America’s semiconductor industry. It provides a favorable environment for multinational companies to establish and thrive.
Is This the Silicon Valley of Latin America?
“A stable democracy that is vying to become the Silicon Valley of Latin America — with active support from the United States.”
Competitive Advantages for Semiconductor Companies in Costa Rica:
Beyond the experience, Costa Rica offers a set of unmatched conditions for semiconductor companies:
Human Talent
We have a highly specialized bilingual workforce, trained at the country’s top universities and with extensive industry experience.
Strategic Location
Situated in the heart of the Americas, with access to the continent’s main markets, Costa Rica offers an ideal geographical position for distribution and logistics.
Strong Supplier Network
Costa Rica has developed a solid network of local and international suppliers, making it easier to access the necessary inputs for production.
Renewable Energy
Incentives and Benefits
Epicenter of Innovation in the Global Semiconductor Industry
Costa Rica stands out as a strategic partner in the semiconductor industry, offering a broad spectrum of strengths across the value chain.
- Highly skilled and experienced workforce.
- Modern infrastructure adaptable to industry needs.
- Strong network of local and international suppliers.
- Competitive costs.
- Extensive experience in testing various types of chips.
- State-of-the-art laboratories.
- Capability to perform customized testing.
- World-class cleanrooms.
- High-quality processes with strict quality controls.
- Ability to meet specific customer requirements.
- Highly qualified talent in chip design.
- Extensive experience in designing various types of integrated circuits.
- Cutting-edge design centers.
- Access to the latest design tools.
- Strategically located in the heart of the Americas, with access to major markets.
- Robust and efficient logistics platform.
- Well-established global distribution network.
- Expertise in handling temperature- and humidity-sensitive products.
- Growing semiconductor research and development ecosystem.
- Collaboration between universities, companies, and government institutions.
- Investment incentives for R&D.
Costa Rica: Global Reference in Semiconductor Supply Chain Resiliency and Security
Costa Rica takes the lead as the first Latin America country to implement concrete actions to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem.
Our approach focuses on four pillars: Talent, Incentives 2.0, Investment Attraction, and Regulatory Improvement.
Pillar 1
Talent
Objective: Expand the pool of specialized talent in semiconductors.
Pillar 2
Incentives 2.0
Objective: Strengthen and modernize incentives for FDI.
Pillar 3
Investment Attraction
Objective: Position Costa Rica as an appealing destination for semiconductor companies.
Pillar 4
Regulatory Improvement
Objective: Optimize regulatory processes for the semiconductor industry.
Roadmap to Strengthen the Semiconductor Ecosystem in Costa Rica
This pioneering initiative in Latin America aims to position Costa Rica as a regional leader in the development of this critical industry. This strategic plan, resulting from consultations with over twenty governmental entities, outlines concrete and phased actions for short, medium, and long term. By focusing on strategies that include talent development, attractive incentives, foreign investment promotion, and regulatory improvements, Costa Rica strives to become a strategic destination for semiconductor investments.
Semiconductor Ecosystem in Costa Rica
Discover some of the leading companies that work with our talent:
Pre-Investment Phase
- Informed Decision Assistance: reports, analyses, financial models, and customized presentations.
- Decision-Making Support: Location selection, legal requirements, recruitment, and contact with key stakeholders.
Aftercare Service
- Inconvenience Mitigation: Follow-up on cases with public institutions.
Pre-Human Talent Development
- Collaboration with academia, training programs, job fairs, and funding for professional development.
Free Trade Zone Regime
- Tax incentives and streamlined processes.
Offices in Costa Rica and worldwide
- Promoting Costa Rica as an attractive destination for the industry.
