ME paves the way for Life Sciences Park

Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks will be moving to the former Institute of Health Care within St Luke’s Hospital, Guardamanġa, later this year.

The move was dictated by the need to make way for the Life Sciences Park, an innovative project with an investment of over €20 million, which will provide space for researchers and companies operating in all fields related to the biotechnology and medical sciences.

The immediate vicinity to Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta was necessary for the success and viability of the project, as the Life Sciences Park will be seeking to develop close collaboration with the two entities and create a clustered environment, with the possibility of sharing facilities.

Facilities at the park will include labs, offices and conference rooms which cover an area of over 10,000 square metres, while a further 3,500 square metres will be used for incubation facilities.

“With the construction of the Life Sciences Park, as well as that of other projects we are working on, we are seeking to provide the infrastructure that will enable the country to move towards a knowledge-based and higher value-added economy,” said Alan Camilleri, chairman of Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks.

Similarly to their previous location at San Ġwann Industrial Estate, the new premises will be more accessible for clients.

This move is part of a larger plan that studies the investment potential of the area vacated following the hospital’s migration to Mater Dei and long-term plans for Karin Grech and its migration.

Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks will occupy the Institute of Health Care building, which is still in good structural state but which will have to undergo some kind of refurbishment.

Moreover, a plan for the strategic development of the enclave, previously occupied by St Luke’s Hospital, will be articulated to maximise investment possibilities.