Coyol Free Zone has expertise in developing infrastructure that complies with United States regulations
Coyol Free Zone provides numerous benefits for semiconductor companies. Our Park offers the optimal infrastructure required to meet the demands of this industry, including:
- clean rooms
- electrostatic-free environments
- adaptable spaces
- redundancy in power and telecommunications
“Every company has its own specific needs in the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Each part of the ecosystem serves a different function and has distinct requirements. For manufacturing, clean rooms are essential. In electronics manufacturing and testing, electrostatic-free environments are necessary,” explains Carlos Esquivel, Site Manager and Pilot Manager at Teradyne Costa Rica.
“It is also important to maintain appropriate relative humidity levels in workspaces and to have flexible spaces that allow for constant equipment movement. Furthermore, for companies operating 24/7, having power and telecommunication redundancy is crucial,” he adds.
We also enhance the excellent conditions of a Costa Rican Free Zone for this type of investment, as we do have expertise in developing infrastructure that complies with regulations from the United States, a highly skilled workforce, and a strategic location for exporting.
Additionally, we provide the ideal environment for high-level smart manufacturing. A prime example of successful operation in the Park is Teradyne, a company that provides manufacturing automation across various industries and applications worldwide.
A rapidly growing sector
The semiconductor industry is rapidly growing and requires specialized talent and high-technology laboratories, which are not easy to find. With chip demand soaring and outpacing supply, more companies will need to establish operations in places where they can be efficient and grow their businesses.
This sector was unaffected by the pandemic, with its annual revenue increasing by 9% in 2020 and by 23% in 2021, far above the 5% reported in 2019, according to McKinsey & Company.
The rapid advancement of digital technology has led to a significant surge in semiconductor markets, with sales growing by over 20 percent and reaching an estimated US$600 billion by 2021. According to McKinsey’s analysis, assuming various macroeconomic factors, the overall annual growth in the sector could average between 6 to 8 percent per year up to 2030.
In fact, the Costa Rican government has recently partnered with the United States to enhance the regulatory framework, workforce, and infrastructure of the local semiconductor industry. This partnership may encourage companies to invest in the country.
The cooperation agreement will open new opportunities for improving New Product Introduction (NPI), expansion of customer support, and talent training.
Esquivel recognizes that there are many ways in which this alliance can benefit us, but he thinks that the United States should support us mainly in the training of that talent. “This support will allow us to access advanced educational institutions that can help us bridge the training gap that we currently face.”
To attract investment opportunities, efforts are needed in several areas, particularly in developing the talent required by multinational companies.
Read: Coyol Free Zone: The Best Option to Relocate your Company or to Invest in
Talent development for the semiconductor industry
It is pivotal to move from theoretical study to practical application and ensure well-trained teachers and advanced semiconductor industry laboratories.
- International approach
Leverage work with international entities to import best practices, train teachers, and improve technical English.
- Cooperation and joint efforts between educational centers and companies
Formalizing and maintaining alliances between companies and educational institutions is crucial for bridging the gap between theory and practice in the labor market.
- Exchange of best practices
The exchange of experiences is proposed to bring opportunities closer to the daily dynamics. It would mean exchanging practices and technical assistance, as well as replicating the progress that has been made in areas such as teaching. Community colleges in the U.S. are a good example of accelerators of professional training that could be learned and implemented in Costa Rica.
- Addressing systemic/structural opportunities
Attention to the social and personal skills of students is essential, encompassing leadership, teamwork, and the level of English proficiency required to meet business demands.
Costa Rica has a unique opportunity to lead the semiconductor industry in Latin America by leveraging its partnerships, highly skilled talent, and robust educational system.
With advanced education programs in areas relevant to the semiconductor industry, the country will be able to endow talent to big players from the semiconductor industry.