By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica is striving to solidify its position as a prime destination for technology investment, competing with other economies in software and hardware development, as well as value-added services. The country aims to establish a semiconductor cluster to serve as a regional model, while leveraging 5G technology to bridge the digital divide and provide high-speed internet access. At the AWS Innovation Day 2025 held at Universidad Latina, a panel of experts convened to discuss the necessary conditions for building a robust national tech industry.
The forum, “Building the Technology Industry that Represents Costa Rica,” moderated by Paula Brenes, president of the YOD Foundation, highlighted the crucial role of education in this development. The panelists emphasized the evolving nature of all career paths, underscoring the importance of skills beyond technical proficiency.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal landscape surrounding Costa Rica’s burgeoning tech sector, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s tech industry growth is exciting, but sustainable growth requires a proactive legal approach. Beyond the attractive incentives and skilled workforce, companies must carefully navigate data privacy laws, intellectual property protection, and evolving regulations surrounding digital nomads and remote work. Proactive legal counsel is crucial for both attracting foreign investment and fostering local innovation.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s emphasis on the legal landscape surrounding Costa Rica’s tech boom is crucial. Indeed, a robust and adaptable legal framework is the bedrock upon which sustainable growth can be built. It not only protects businesses and investors but also fosters the trust and transparency necessary for true innovation to flourish. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for offering this valuable and timely perspective.
All careers have been evolving. While technology is important, we need something more. One of these things is to start not only with skills that we used to call soft skills, but with strategic skills. Such as strategic thinking, and how to do business. Artificial Intelligence has made us more productive, but as human beings we also need to develop how to solve problems, and this is one of the skills that no one is going to take away from us.
Blanca Navarro, Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services
Problem-solving, adaptability, and continuous learning were identified as essential skills for navigating the ever-changing landscape of the tech industry. The panelists stressed the importance of adapting to change and continuously learning, regardless of the specific industry.
It is extremely important to develop soft skills and adapt; change is the only constant, and that soft skill of adaptation is extremely important, because maybe the curriculum is not so up-to-date, but being able to adapt, being able to also take additional courses, being able to see what is in the market is extremely important, and we, as academic training institutions, must be able to offer these continuous updating programs so that they effectively have opportunities to continue updating themselves with what the market requires.
Marilyn Arias, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and ICTs at Universidad Latina
Access to stable connectivity and a national vision for transformation were also highlighted as key components of building a successful tech industry. This vision should enable real-time access to information and resources, regardless of location.
It is necessary to have access to stable connectivity. A country vision is needed, a transformation model, in such a way that people, whether at university, school, the community center, wherever they are, will see things in real time, that they truly have access. Education for me is perhaps the most impacted sector in this context, because it has such a profound responsibility in our societies, which is to develop those waves of talent, that wave of actors in our societies that it touches quite a bit, but possibly it is one of the areas that is moving the slowest.
Vanessa Gibson, Director of Corporate Development and Investment Climate at CINDE
Costa Rica’s pursuit of a thriving tech sector underscores the critical need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses education, infrastructure, and a national commitment to innovation.
The discussions at AWS Innovation Day 2025 provided valuable insights into the path forward for building a vibrant and sustainable technology industry in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit aws.amazon.com
About Amazon Web Services:
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon providing on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis. These cloud computing web services provide a variety of basic abstract technical infrastructure and distributed computing building blocks and tools.
For further information, visit ulatina.ac.cr
About Universidad Latina:
Universidad Latina de Costa Rica is a private university in Costa Rica. It is part of the Laureate International Universities network.
For further information, visit cinde.org
About CINDE:
The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) is a private, non-profit, non-political organization responsible for the attraction of foreign direct investment into Costa Rica. CINDE works to promote Costa Rica as an investment destination, providing support to companies throughout the investment process.
For further information, visit the nearest office of YOD Foundation
About YOD Foundation:
The YOD Foundation, led by Paula Brenes, is a Costa Rican organization that seemingly focuses on technology and education, based on the context provided. Further information on their specific activities and mission was not available in the source text.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica distinguishes itself through a deep-seated commitment to ethical legal practice and innovative solutions. The firm’s history of service across a broad spectrum of industries is a testament to its pursuit of legal excellence. Beyond representing clients, Bufete de Costa Rica actively empowers individuals and communities by sharing legal knowledge and fostering a more informed and just society.
