National Instruments Opens Shared Operations Center in Costa Rica

National Instruments, a global technology company that provides integrated hardware and software tools that help engineers and scientists accelerate innovation, celebrated the official opening of its shared operations center in San José, Costa Rica on Thursday, September 1. The new operations center, which is expected to be a $700,000 USD investment by the end of 2011, is a part of the company’s ongoing plan to optimize global operations to support its growth and further expand service to customers in North, Central and South America.

In attendance was Laura Chinchilla Miranda, president of Costa Rica; Anabel González, minister of foreign trade; Dr. Keilor Rojas, vice minister of science and technology; Dr. Olman Segura, executive president of the National Institute of Learning (INA); Jason McInerney, economic officer for the U.S. Embassy of Costa Rica; and Gabriela Llobet, director general for the Costa Rica Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE). They were among the first to tour the new facility and show their continued support of the National Instruments investment in the country’s growth. Representatives from National Instruments included Alex Davern, executive vice president, COO and CFO; John Graff, vice president for Americas; Arleene Porterfield, vice president of global information technology; Giuseppe Cirigioni, general manager of the NI Costa Rica shared operations center; and Adriana Gamboa, operations manager and site leader of the NI Costa Rica shared operations center.

“I am pleased that NI chose our country only two months after participating in the business event we held in New York in 2010,” said President Laura Chinchilla Miranda. “The company selected us because Costa Rica offers the stability, the ideal business climate and human resources to ensure that their operations will be a success. Costa Rica allows the company to think big and to know that this symbolic act of an inauguration only marks the beginning of expanding its presence in Costa Rica and, from here, in the rest of the world.”

Since the initial announcement of plans for the shared operations center last November, the NI Costa Rica project has executed ahead of plan and by the end of the year expects to have more than 70 employees. Over the next five years, the new center is expected to employ 200 people in customer relationship management, financial services, IT and sales operations focused on supporting customers in North, Central and South America. National Instruments has been recognized as a “100 Best Places to Work” company for the past 12 years and NI Costa Rica will continue to maintain this unique and innovative work culture.

“National Instruments is very pleased with the great success in attracting quality talent in Costa Rica and we are excited about the role our shared operations center will play in supporting further growth for NI in North, Central and South America,” said Alex Davern, executive vice president, COO and CFO at National Instruments. “We strategically selected Costa Rica as the site of our new center because of its competitive business infrastructure as well as its focus and commitment toward education and continuous learning, which directly aligns with our company culture.”

National Instruments is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and dedicated to actively engaging and making an impact in the Costa Rican community through efforts to improve technical literacy programs and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. NI Costa Rica has joined efforts with Aldeas Infantiles, an institution that helps local orphans by providing access to medical care and educational opportunities. NI also is working with Colegio Técnico Don Bosco, a local technical high school that supports the Centro de Educación Salesiana Don Bosco, a project for educating and training individuals from low-income areas on the outskirts of San José. This marks the beginning of ongoing relationships that will drive NI volunteer efforts in Costa Rica.

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