Back to the roots … from the quarantine house to the high class biocluster
Although it took a long time to establish what is now known as the heart of biotechnology in the Central European Region, Austria and Vienna, a connection between the area of St. Marx and the life sciences can be traced far back in history.
In the Middle Ages pests represented an enormous problem for public health. To prevent imminent danger, infected people were quarantined and treated in this very area which at that time was far outside the city. The quarantine house of the Lazarus order dedicated a chapel to Saint Marcus, which subsequently gave the hospital and the area its name. Over the centuries Marc’s became Marx. In the 18th century a meat market developed in the area, but in 1850 it was transformed by another public health measure, the creation of a central slaughterhouse for Vienna.
Since 1988, the Campus Vienna Biocenter (CVBC) has developed into one of the most outstanding and prominent life sciences hubs not only in Austria but also in the Central European Region. With the foundation of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) the nucleus for the Campus was established in 1988. Very quickly a University building went up next door and five departments were relocated there. In 1998 Austria’s first modern biotech start-up Intercell was spun off the University and the IMP. Subsequently, the Austrian Academy of Sciences founded two new research institutes, IMBA and GMI, situated next door to the IMP.
The Campus has continued to develop rapidly and now includes more than 15 complementary players in the life sciences. Since access to state of the art infrastructure has become an important and decisive element for cutting edge research, the CVBC developed a vision for communal use of infrastructure. As a result in 2010, new campus science services facilities (CSF GmbH) with a comprehensive range of new technologies were set up with substantial financial support from the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research and the City of Vienna. The Campus continues the Viennese tradition of diversity and will strive to continue its impressive development by building on its most prized assets: the ingenuity of its people by providing them with an attractive work place.
The Campus Vienna Biocenter at a glance
1988
Founding of IMP
1992
Relocation of five university departments to the Campus
1998
Founding of Intercell as a spin-off of the University of Vienna and IMP
2001
Establishment of the Department of Structural Biology
Relocation of seven biotech companies to the Campus (e.g. Bender MedSystems, Genosense, VBC Genomics)
Completion of a new laboratory building (CVBC 6)
Foundation of the Campus Vienna Biocenter Association
2002
Foundation of University of Applied Sciences (FH Campus Wien) in Biotechnology at the Campus
2003
Establishment of two institutes of the Austrian Academy of Sciences on the Campus (IMBA and GMI),
Foundation of Affiris
2004
Completion of another laboratory building (CVBC 2)
2005
Foundation of the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL)
IPO of Intercell at the Viennese stock exchange
Diagnostics company Bender MedSystems opened an office in the US
2006
Opening of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Life Sciences Centre Vienna hosting IMBA and GMI
2007
Start of construction work for another laboratory building (CVBC 3)
2008
Completion of the Solaris building (lab and office area á 9000qm2)
Relocation of the Biotech Company Affiris to Solaris
AFFiRiS GmbH concluded mega-deal with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
Start of construction work of the Marx Box
2009
Establishment of the international day care center for campus kids
Organisation of the EU-project “European Researchers Night” in the Rinderhallen
2010
Foundation of the Campus Science Support Facilities (CSF) as a new legal entity
Apeiron Biologics concluded deal with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
2011
Establishment of a new joint infrastructure on the Campus (CSF)
Relocation of the University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) to the Marx Box
…currently, around 1.400 scientists are working and 700 students are studying on the Campus?
