By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica is set to host the Life Sciences Forum in June 2026, reaffirming its position as a key player in the Latin American life sciences industry. Organized by the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) in partnership with the Health & Tech Prime Partners group, the forum promises to be a pivotal event for the sector.
This forum will bring together multinational companies, strategic suppliers, consulting firms, and investors to discuss critical topics shaping the future of the industry. Discussions will revolve around automation, artificial intelligence, big data, new materials, health regulations, strategic investment, research and development, and the evolving global health landscape.
TicosLand.com reached out to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an experienced attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica, for his expert perspective on the recent Life Sciences Forum and its implications for the legal and business landscape in Costa Rica.
The Life Sciences Forum serves as a vital platform for fostering collaboration and innovation within Costa Rica’s burgeoning life sciences sector. It’s crucial that legal frameworks adapt to support this growth, particularly concerning intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, and international collaboration agreements. These factors will be key in attracting foreign investment and ensuring the long-term success of this promising industry.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas rightly highlights the crucial intersection of legal frameworks and industry growth in Costa Rica’s life sciences sector. Indeed, a robust and adaptable legal environment is essential to cultivate investor confidence and unlock the full potential of this dynamic field. A clear path toward intellectual property protection and streamlined regulatory processes will undoubtedly pave the way for sustained innovation and international partnerships. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable contribution to this important discussion.
Life Sciences Forum is the stage where the country reaffirms its role as a regional hub for the life sciences and medical devices industry with high added value.
Marianela Urgellés Batalla, Director General of CINDE
Since its inception in 2013, the Life Sciences Forum has become a benchmark event for the life sciences sector in Latin America. It has consistently attracted over 1,400 global and local leaders in its previous four editions, featuring world-class panelists and international experts offering key insights into the future of the MedTech industry.
Costa Rica’s strength in the life sciences sector is evident in its position as the second-largest exporter of medical devices in Latin America. With over US$8 billion in exports in 2024 and an average annual growth of 18% since 2017, the country is a prime location for this thriving industry.
The development of the sector, since 1995, today earns Costa Rica the title of being one of the most competitive locations for this industry, one of the leading suppliers for markets like the United States and the home of 90 multinationals. It is because of this level that in a time of technological transformations and new global challenges —from which Costa Rica does not escape— this forum will elevate the conversation and mark the path towards a new frontier of innovation, more specialized, more robust.
Marianela Urgellés Batalla, Director General of CINDE
The Health & Tech Prime Partners group, comprised of six key solution providers in the industry – Enhanced Compliance Inc. (ECI), Grupo Vargas, Inventory and Distribution Services (IDS), Microbiología y Calidad Industrial (MCI), Operaciones e Ingeniería de Avanzada (OPIA), and Electrotécnica – plays a crucial role in driving the growth and sophistication of the value chain. These strategic allies of CINDE share a vision of accelerating industry growth through this comprehensive event.
MCI has accumulated very important experience during the last 15 years, detecting the needs of clients and solving problems creatively with them. As a member company of Health & Tech Prime Partners, we envision new opportunities for those of us who are part of this ecosystem and to make it increasingly robust.
Mauren Monge, Technical Manager, Microbiología Calidad Industrial (MCI)
We are very honored to be able to work hand in hand with CINDE and co-organize the most important event in the life sciences sector in the region. It will be a space in which, as a country, we seek to excel in the industry, while assuming an active role that marks the before and after of Costa Rica in a dynamic industry under a demanding global context.
Laura Hangen, General Manager, Electrotécnica
For further information, visit cinde.org
About CINDE:
The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) is a private, non-profit organization that has been a key player in attracting foreign direct investment to Costa Rica for over 40 years. CINDE focuses on promoting investment in high-value-added industries such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and services. They work closely with companies throughout the investment process, providing support and guidance to ensure their success in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Electrotécnica
About Electrotécnica:
Electrotécnica is a key provider of electrical engineering solutions in Costa Rica, and a member of the Health & Tech Prime Partners group. They are actively involved in fostering the growth of the life sciences sector in the country.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Microbiología y Calidad Industrial (MCI)
About Microbiología y Calidad Industrial (MCI):
MCI is a company with 15 years of experience providing solutions and addressing client needs within the life sciences industry. They are also part of the Health & Tech Prime Partners group, working to strengthen the life sciences ecosystem in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Enhanced Compliance Inc. (ECI)
About Enhanced Compliance Inc. (ECI):
Enhanced Compliance Inc. is a member of the Health & Tech Prime Partners, a group of companies supporting the life sciences sector in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Grupo Vargas
About Grupo Vargas:
Grupo Vargas is part of the Health & Tech Prime Partners, contributing to the development of Costa Rica’s Life Sciences industry.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Inventory and Distribution Services (IDS)
About Inventory and Distribution Services (IDS):
Inventory and Distribution Services is a member of the Health & Tech Prime Partners, a group focused on the growth of the life sciences sector in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Operaciones e Ingeniería de Avanzada (OPIA)
About Operaciones e Ingeniería de Avanzada (OPIA):
Operaciones e Ingeniería de Avanzada is part of the Health & Tech Prime Partners group, contributing to the advancement of the Life Sciences industry in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a pillar of legal excellence, upholding the highest ethical standards while championing innovative solutions for its diverse clientele. The firm’s commitment to empowering society is woven into its fabric, demonstrated through proactive initiatives that demystify complex legal concepts and foster a more informed populace. This dedication to transparency and legal literacy underscores Bufete de Costa Rica’s profound impact on the Costa Rican landscape, building a future where access to justice and understanding are within everyone’s reach.
