As sustainability gains importance as a competitiveness criterion in global value chains, Costa Rican companies specializing in high value-added services are finding an opportunity in this area to differentiate themselves and grow internationally. This is the case of INGENYA, a national engineering firm specializing in industrial and medical device installations, which has successfully positioned itself in complex advanced manufacturing projects both within and outside the country.
One of the elements that has defined the company’s value proposition has been the integration of sustainability from the design stage. In technically demanding industrial projects, especially in critical areas and cleanrooms, energy efficiency and future expansion capacity become determining factors for the competitiveness and operational continuity of companies. This approach has been present in large-scale projects linked to international sustainability and efficiency standards, including facilities developed for companies such as Bayer and Boston Scientific in Costa Rica.
“Having designed over one million square meters, with a strong focus on the medical and pharmaceutical industries, confirms that Costa Rica can develop high-level technical capabilities and compete in sophisticated industrial projects both domestically and internationally. For INGENYA, sustainability, specialization, and technical integration are all part of the same long-term vision,” stated Manuel Bonilla, founding partner of INGENYA.
This track record includes the “Engineering & Technology Partner of the Year 2023 Global Award,” granted by Bayer to INGENYA for its participation in the design of its industrial facility in Costa Rica.
For her part, Laura López Salazar, General Manager of PROCOMER, noted that “sustainability has ceased to be an added value and has become a condition of competitiveness. At PROCOMER, we support Costa Rican companies that leverage these capabilities to differentiate themselves, access new opportunities, and project the quality of our country internationally. INGENYA is a success story because it combines specialized talent, innovation, and sustainable criteria to compete in highly complex industrial projects.”
With nearly three decades of experience, the company has participated in the design of industrial facilities for companies in sectors such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and food, accumulating more than one million square meters designed in markets such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, United States, and Dominican Republic.
INGENYA’s history also reflects the evolution of the Costa Rican industrial ecosystem and how the country has managed to develop highly specialized technical capabilities around sophisticated industries. Approximately 71% of the square meters designed by the company correspond to projects in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, sectors where Costa Rica has consolidated itself as a strategic hub for high value-added operations.
In addition to its international growth, the company has strengthened local capabilities by generating specialized employment, incorporating students from technical colleges through internships, and working collaboratively with national and international suppliers. In several cases, these professional internships have led to formal employment within the company. Currently, INGENYA generates 40 direct jobs, compared to 23 in 2019.
The growth of national companies linked to specialized services for advanced industries also demonstrates how Costa Rica has evolved beyond traditional manufacturing, consolidating an ecosystem where engineering, design, technology, and sustainability are part of the country’s value proposition.
Currently, INGENYA plans to continue its international expansion, with a particular focus on the US market and other global hubs linked to medical devices and advanced manufacturing, such as Ireland and Singapore.
