Explore How 18 Years of Vision and Innovation Turned Coyol Free Zone into a World-Leading Cluster for Life Sciences and Smart Manufacturing  

April 2025, Since its foundation in 2007, Coyol Free Zone has aimed to develop a world-class industrial Park that provides innovative solutions for companies while creating value for stakeholders and employees of those businesses installed in the Park. Over the past 18 years, we have emerged as a pivotal hub for the Life Sciences and Smart Manufacturing sectors in Costa Rica and the Americas. 

The idea for the Free Zone originated in 2005, when a local entity approached our president Álvaro Carballo Pinto. Carballo, a seasoned lawyer and expert in free trade legislation, had previously played a crucial role in drafting Costa Rica’s first Free Zone Law in 1979 and recognized the immense potential of the site.  

Under Carballo’s leadership, Coyol Free Zone established itself as a leading hub for Medical Device manufacturing in the Americas.  

With its strategic location facilitates logistics due to its proximity to key transportation hubs, including the Juan Santamaría International Airport, and major highways with access to both Costa Rican seaports, providing a strong foundation for rapid growth and success of Coyol Free Zone.

Additionally, the availability of a highly skilled workforce has established us as a powerhouse and a valuable partner for numerous national and international companies in the Life Sciences and Smart Manufacturing sectors. 

The Key Companies that Shaped Coyol Free Zone 

The track record of our Park has been significantly influenced by the establishment of several pioneering companies. Their presence has greatly contributed to the Costa Rican economy and our own development: 

  • 2007
    Hologic: As Coyol Free Zone anchor tenant, it has set a precedent for excellence. Specializing in women’s health products, the company has grown substantially now, exporting thousands of devices directly from our country every year. 
  • 2011
    STERIS: As a global leader in sterilization and surgical products, STERIS has enhanced the reputation of Coyol Free Zone in the Medical Device sector by being the first sterilization company to establish operations in the country. Since then, companies in Costa Rica no longer need to send their products abroad for sterilization. 
  • 2020
    Teradyne: A leading supplier of automation equipment for test and industrial applications, it has highlighted Coyol Free Zone’s appeal to Smart Manufacturing enterprises and paved the way for the semiconductor industry in the Western region of our country. 
  • 2021
    Bayer: The inclusion of pharmaceutical giant Bayer further solidified our status as a premier destination for Life Sciences companies. Furthermore, the arrival of this company has reinforced our capacity to offer the necessary conditions to produce groundbreaking products. 

These companies, along with others, have collectively contributed to Coyol Free Zone stature. Out of the 34 world-class firms, seven feature in the Top 30 Global Medical Device manufacturers, such as Abbott, Cardinal Health, Hologic,Medtronic, Microvention – Terumo, Philips and  Smith & Nephew 

Our Actions Lead us to be a Better Park Everyday  

Thanks to 18 years of hard work alongside the companies based in our Park, we have grown to become the best Free Trade Zone in the Americas acclaimed for 4 consecutive years (2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024).  

Our success is attributed to our strategic business expansion, efficiency, and commitment to being leaders in the industry through high-quality complementary services. These services enable major players in the Life Sciences industry to operate smoothly and efficiently.  

Our dedication has been recognized over the years by various entities and the awards we have received reflect our constant pursuit of maintaining high standards in everything we do. This includes creating structures that maximize efficiency, optimize resources, and accelerate delivery times for all companies based in the Coyol Free Zone. 

Coyol Free Zone’s track record:  

Since 2016, Coyol Free Zone has been consistently recognized on the international stage for its outstanding performance, innovation, and specialized focus in the Life Sciences and Smart Manufacturing sectors.

What began with a prestigious award for Specialty in Pharmaceutical Companies and Life Sciences by fDi Intelligence, quickly evolved into a series of achievements that positioned Coyol Free Zone as a global benchmark for excellence. 

From becoming the Top Free Zone in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2017 by Site Selection, to receiving multiple accolades in Medical Devices, Academic Collaborations, Sustainability, and ESG Practices, each year has added to a growing legacy of leadership and impact. 

2024 was no exception. Thanks to our commitment to being a smart business hub and always seek sustainable development, Coyol Free Zone was: 

  • Named Best Free Zone of the Year for the Americas by fDi Intelligence. 
  • Recognized as the Sustainable Zones Winner for the Americas by fDi Intelligence. 
  • Part of Giants of Central America and Dominican Republic: Outstanding Company in Services Sector by Summa. 
  • Part of the Top 15 Leading Companies in Costa Rica: “Learning Agility” by Summa. 
  • Awarded the title of Excellence in Corporate Reputation by Vida y Éxito Magazine. 
  • Chosen as the leading company in attracting talent for the Free Trade Zone and Real Estate Development sectors in the first edition of the corporate ranking MERCO Talento Costa Rica 2024 by Merco Talento. 
  • Ranked 37th place in Merco’s reputation ranking (under CODE Development Group’s umbrella) by Merco Reputación. 

For over 18 years, we have been developing an ecosystem that extends beyond the infrastructure of our Park. Since 2007, we have nurtured relationships with local businesses, nearby communities, the environment, and the country as a whole. On April 24th, we would like to acknowledge all the individuals who have contributed to making Coyol Free Zone a world-renowned Life Sciences cluster.  We look forward to growing alongside our clients and continue to accompany them in their innovative journey.  

To discover the full timeline of awards and recognitions Coyol Free Zone has received over the years, we invite you to visit our website. Explore how we’ve become the best business hub in the Americas.