Vida Science Park
The Vida Science Park (Martino: Parque de Ciencias de Vida) is a specialized life sciences hub located in the city of Cárdenas, the capital of Nouvelle Alexandrie. It is dedicated to cutting-edge biological and health-related research and development, and is one of the two science parks in Cárdenas, the other being the Máquina Science Park, which is dedicated to engineering and physics.
History
Vida Science Park was established as part of the Cárdenas Plan in 1686 AN, as part of the city's strategic construction of advanced scientific infrastructure. It was conceived to support the growing Department of Social Security and National Solidarity, especially to house several of the centers of the National Health Institute and associated advanced biomedical research institutes. Since its first completion in 1688 AN, it has expanded considerably with the addition of major life-science institutes, drawing talent and government and private investment in areas such as genomics, biotechnology, toxicology, and bioinformatics. Nowadays (as of 1730 AN), it comprises over 120 hectares / 300 acres in size, with housing, research laboratories, and a major faculty of the University of Cárdenas. The major Museum of Agriculture and Nature stands outside the park, but is associated closely with its owners.
Since 1694 AN, the University of Cárdenas has been a major partner of the businesses on Vida Science Park. The collective ownership of the park is shared with the University, the Department of Social Security and National Solidarity, and a total of 18 private companies, combined under the so-called "Vida Scientific Association", which handles the daily administrative and financial affairs of the institutes in the Park.
In 1730 AN, through the funding provided by the National Health Plan (which allocated over €1.6 billion), the Vida Science Park saw an extensive expansion through the creation of no less than 13 new startups, as well as a new national center for research: the Institute for Neuroscience Research.
Education
The University of Cárdenas relocated the Faculty of Biological Sciences to Vida Science Park in 1700 AN. This faculty provides both undergraduate and postgraduate programs across diverse biological disciplines - such as microbiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and ecology. It is part of the University's broader School of Life Sciences, and is one of the largest contributors to research and instruction in life sciences in Nouvelle Alexandrie. In 1712 AN, the University opened the specialized School of Genetics on the site, operating under the Faculty of Biological Sciences, focusing on the study and teaching of genetics - encompassing genetics theory, molecular genetics, applied genetics and biotechnology.
Science and Business
The NHI has a dedicated campus on the southern side of the park, housing a total of seven federal centers:
- Federal Center for Cancer Research - founded in 1685 AN.
- Federal Center for Cardiovasular Disease - founded in 1689 AN.
- Federal Center for Dental and Craniofacial Research - founded in 1689 AN.
- Federal Center for Nutrition, Endocrinology and Urology - founded in 1690 AN.
- Federal Center for Mental Health - founded in 1690 AN.
- Federal Center for Neurology - founded in 1690 AN.
- Federal Library of Medicine - founded in 1692 AN.
There are also five national centers of research:
- National Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics - founded in 1690 AN.
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research - founded in 1696 AN
- Institute for Environmental Health Sciences and Toxicology - founded in 1692 AN.
- Research Institute for Genomic and Proteomics - founded in 1700 AN.
- Institute for Neuroscience Research - founded in 1730 AN.
Beyond this, there are a total of 65 private institutes, with the most prominent being:
- Aureagen, a leading biopharmaceuticals company and one of the largest clinical trial companies.
- Novacode Bioinformatics, an expert in genomic data analysis and AI-assisted protein modeling.
- GreenHelix Environmental Labs, a major biobased technology and environmental research lab.
- ImmunoStel, one of the foremost producers and developers of vaccines and immunotherapies.
- Vitanex Diagnostics, a major developer of medical diagnostics technology.
- Florabionix, a leading developer of GMO technology and biotechnology for agriculture.
- NeuroLumen Technologies, a leading developer of neurotechnology and neural interfaces.
- Helisynth Labs, a specialist in genetics technology and synthetic biology.
- Cylix Bioworks, a major manufacturer for biologics equipment and biotechnology.
- NexCelis Therapeutics, a market leader in regenerative medicine and cellular therapies.
- BioHorizonte, a biobased technology company with a focus on industrial biotechnology.
- Orbis Genomics, a major provider for genetic testing, ancestry mapping, and genomic profiling.
Location
Vida Science Park is located at the northeastern part of the Science District in Cárdenas. It is accessible through the Cárdenas Metro at the Agricultura y Naturaleza metro station, which stands about 300 m from its southern entrance. The park is flanked on both sides by major thoroughfares, respectively the Avenida de Acciones and the Avenida de Santararos. The streets inside the park are all dedicated to notable (life) scientists of Nouvelle Alexandrie, including four of Wechua descent. The main road is simply known as Calle de Vida. The science park also has multiple hospitality facilities, including the major 'Plaza Nutriva' at the heart of the park. There are small sports accommodations on the east side, with an indoor multisport arena, two tennis/padel courts, a gym, and a wellness center.
Vida Science Park has two dedicated green spaces, one in its very centre, and one on the southeast edge: Jardín de la Innovación and Parque de la Vida, respectively. In the former, a major art installation known as 'Árboles de Luz y Códigos' featuring three metal tree-like structures was installed in 1700 AN. In the latter, renown artist Enrique Gaspara created the art piece 'Campo Luminoso', consisting of 300 LED 'stalks' that change colours after dark, lighting up the park.
