• The Medical Devices Sector began its development in Costa Rica in 1987, when Baxter Healthcare decided to establish a manufacturing operation
  
• Today this industry employs 9,376 people in Costa Rica and has 31 companies including world leaders such as Hospira, Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical, Hologic, Arthrocare, Allergan and Amoena.
• The Medical Devices Sector is the 4th biggest exporter in the country, its exports have grown 3 times faster than the rest of free trade zone exports
• In 2008 it exported US$960 million and attracted US$166.2 million in Foreign Direct Investment

The subsectors in the Medical Devices industry in Costa Rica are: Medical Device Companies, Medical Device Contract Manufacturers, Suppliers, Sterilization, and others.

Advantages

• Costa Rica has one of the highest literacy rates of the American Continent (95.8%)
• Education is mandatory until the 9th grade and makes strong emphasis on computers and English since early grades
• The National Training Institute (INA) offers free technical training in many fields. A total of 95 technical schools and 60 universities prepare professionals with the highest international standards.
• In 2008, INA trained over 50,000 people in specialized technical areas such as electronic, electric, mechanical, and processing engineering
• The country has an abundant and well qualified supplier base for the Medical Devices Sector
• The government has programs geared towards the establishment of productive linkages between local suppliers and the multinational companies
• Costa Rica has an abundant water supply, reliable hydroelectric power, and an advanced telecommunications system
• The country’s energy sources are clean and redundant: 93% is generated from renewable sources (hydroelectric, geothermic and wind)
• The industrial cost of electricity ranges from $0.07 to $0.10 per Kwh

• According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009 published by the World Economic Forum, Costa Rica ranks first in Latin America in Quality of Electricity Supply
• Costa Rica has an extensive highway system, a total of 7,890 km per 1,000,000 inhabitants (4,902 miles per 1,000,000 inhabitants)
• Two major international airports (one located in the capital city of San José the other one in Liberia, Guanacaste) and three seaport terminals (two located in the Caribbean coast and one in the Pacific)

Companies in the Medical Devices Sector

Medical Device Companies

• Allergan
• Arthrocare
• Baxter Healthcare
• Boston Scientific
• De Royal
• Establishment Biotech
• Hospira
• Hologic
• Horizons Intl.
• Koros USA
• Moog Medical
• St. Jude Medical

Medical Device Contract Manufacturers

• Atek Medical
• MedTech
• Oberg Industries
• Precision Concepts

Suppliers

• Advanced Thermoforming
• Bentec
• International Precision Molds
• MedConx
• Merril´s Packaging
• PPC Ind.
• Precision Wire Components
• Specialty Coating Systems
• Veridiam Medical

Sterilization

• BeamOne

Others

• Smith Sterling
• Amoena