The foundation stone for the BioMalta Life Sciences Centre has been laid by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during a ceremony to mark this major milestone in the construction of the €38 million project, which is being co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund.
Spread over a 35,000 square metre area, the BioMalta Life Sciences Centre is set to provide the infrastructure required by the life sciences industry in Malta to develop further, building up on the success of sectors such as the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical devices and branching out into other niche sectors with a high research component.
The Centre will have four buildings which between them will house 61 units including laboraties equipped up to high standards, ranging in size between 55 sqm to 400 sqm.
Altogether, amongst others there will be 10,000 sqm of laboratory space, 3,500 sqm dedicated to business incubation, as well as other facilities that may be used by all tenants such as meeting rooms, an auditorium, and a child care centre.
Located within walking distance from the University of Malta, Mater Dei Hospital and the new Oncology Hospital currently under construction, the site of the project will make it easier for the various entities to share facilities and resources, thereby leading to the creation of a cluster within the life sciences industry with particular emphasis on R&D processes.
The concept of the project was developed by Malta Enterprise in consultation with other stakeholders in the life sciences industry, including the the Strategic Policy Secreteriat within the Office of the Prime Minister; the Health Ministry and the Mater Dei Hospital; the University of Malta; the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST); as well as a number of companies already operating within this industry in Malta.
Concurrently to the construction works, Malta Enterprise is also working with the other stakeholders on the implementation of a strategy that will ensure the BioMalta Life Sciences Centre leads to the desired results and facilitates the further growth of this industry in Malta.