Isápolis
City of knowledge
IMPORTANT NOTE 18/07/06: This project has been put on hold as a result of the latest town planning measures affecting the city of Marbella.
CONCEPT. WHAT IS IT?
The Marbella City of Knowledge is an urban space where, using information and communication technology, and in collaboration with experienced centres with proven track records in innovation, productive functions (scientific, technological, business and advanced services) are combined with local functions and complementary services (related facilities and commerce). This creates a varied and complex place that stimulates creativity and innovation, making social interaction easier, allowing on line access to the world and offering collective wellbeing.
The objective of this group economy is that the economic, social and environmental goals of this contemporary city are achieved using competitive, fair and sustainable strategies.
WHERE?
It’s on an estate of around 400 hectares between Marbella and Ojén, directly linked with the Costa del Sol Motorway and the Mediterranean Motorway, 22 minutes from Malaga Airport, and has fantastic landscape and views of the Mediterranean.
WHY?
The entrepreneurial spirit of the Luque family, together with the current diversification and expansion of their hotel activities -the Fuerte Hoteles chain – and their commitment to the city of Marbella and Andalusian society are the main drives for this initiative.
The importance of complementing the productive fabric of the Costa del Sol with compatible activities, and that those activities are oriented towards technological and communication innovation, within the context of fully committed autonomous community, are the impetus for the project.
WHAT FOR?
The effects of a concentration in one area of activities focusing on production, residential and complementary services, encouraging social interaction and information exchange, along with innovation in encouraging new residents – from the scientific, technological, university and business community – with a different profile from the typical Costa del Sol tourist or resident, are the objectives here.
The Tecnopolis’s function is the generation of basic materials for the information economy, along with the creation of spaces for companies to incorporate information into the products they have on the market. This is because technological innovation, the production of technologically advanced equipment and the diffusion of technology are processes that must be linked together.
HOW?
Nanotechnology, advanced material, information and communication technology, process engineering, renewable energy, biotechnology, etc, in the field of technological innovation, the production of discreet physical spaces in pleasant beauty spots for official organisations, universities, scientific organisations and production and advanced service companies; by building residential complexes in different styles and shapes, Mediterranean villages and villas designed mainly for the owners, managers and workers in the Tecnópolis; buildings to house the complementary services such as areas for congresses, meeting places, hotels, hostels, health, offices, etc, all in a complex with infrastructures and state of the art telecommunication services.
WHEN?
The strategic implementation plan is divided into three phases:
First phase (lasting one year): in which the idea is to transmit the business initiative to society and the institutions in order to agree on the terms of development so that it’s a viable business project. Signing of the necessary collaboration agreements with the Administration, University and Research centres.
This phase begins with the presentation to the public of the initiative and the agreement reached with the high technology company PRINCIPIA TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC., spin-off of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), dedicated to the search for technological transference processes for implementing the Fundación Principia and an Innovation Centre.
Initial (lasting two years): After consolidating the agreements with the institutions and putting the marketing plan into action, the town planning and building of the following facilities will begin:
o El Fuerte Group’s main headquarters (Fuerte Hoteles) and their foundation, where approximately one hundred people will be working.
o Headquarters of the FUNDACIÓN PRINCIPIA.
o Congress building.
o Innovation Centre, including a nanotechnology laboratory.
o First business start up centre.
Development phase: Where the different institutions and businesses will be installed, and the residential complexes and complementary services built, depending on the demand of the scientific and production areas.
This phase will begin at the same time as the Initial phase, and it’s estimated that a total of 15 years will be needed to finish the installation and building process.