Project proposed by

The iNFOMEDIS Foundation, Vevey, Switzerland

12, rue du Clos

1800 Vevey

Tel +41 21 921 65 00

Fax +41 21 921 65 01

Concept

A European biosciences, life & health educational theme park presenting a wide range of entertaining, informative and participatory exhibits on the following themes :

¨ The latest biological and biomedical technology developments contributing to the improvement of health and well-being;

¨ The human body, presented in four, thoroughly original angles;

¨ Life-style choices and how they affect the body s cells.

The exhibition and the related museum-design concepts have been developed by MET Studio Design Ltd, London in conjunction with the Scientific and Creative Committees of the Project.

Why ExploraPark?

Never before has there been such widespread interest in biosciences on the one hand, and in health/wellbeing on the other. Among the reasons for this are :

¨ increasing human longevity; the increasing longevity of human life

¨ the growing awareness of the importance of better-balanced life-styles (nutrition, physical exercise, stress management, etc.)

¨ the extraordinary advances in the biotech sciences and the public s general desire to understand these changes

Scientists and corporations working in these areas increasingly recognise that they must communicate and dialogue with the general public.

The strength and originality of ExploraPark is to bring together Biosciences and Health two fields that are intimately linked, under a single roof. Indeed, understanding the details of how health functions and using this knowledge to improve health is the number one objective of the biosciences and inversely, bioscience knowledge provides the basis for understanding how our daily health behaviours affect our cells.

ExploraPark is both a permanent institution and one whose contents are budgeted to continuously evolve.

Numerous multimedia and interactive tools on the site will enable visitors to gain an understanding of how scientific research proceeds, to learn how to sharpen their critical mind skills - and also to reflect upon the ethical and societal facets of all these themes.

The ExploraPark concept has been created and developed by the iNFOMEDIS Foundation with the aid of expert advice from the eminent members of it s Scientific Committee, various other experts, and the well-known exhibition specialists MET STUDIO DESIGN Ltd., London.

A project unique in Europe

ExploraPark will be unique in providing a forum embracing all aspects of the life sciences, health and wellbeing, and life itself. No other place in the world provides this scope and depth. Competing science museum projects tend to offer what already exists in science museums in other countries and at Switzerland s Technorama in Winterthur.

Not a 'catch-all' approach

ExploraPark differentiates itself from most other science culture projects in that it proposes an in-depth, vertical approach, clearly focused on two major themes - while other large science projects have opted for a more 'catch-all', horizontal approach.

Designed to appeal to the widest of publics

ExploraPark reaches out to all sections of the population not just children, but also adolescents, young couples, family groups and senior citizens. Visitors will discover ExploraPark s contents with the help of a multilingual audioguide, with tailored versions for children and for adults and with more in-depth information at a click.

More than just a science exhibition

ExploraPark differs from museum exhibitions in a number of key ways, by providing:

an experience that will be not only didactic and entertaining, but will encourage personal reflection on one s lifestyles, choices for healthy living, nutrition, illness prevention, aging, new medical techniques, molecular biology, gene technologies and therapies, etc. interactive features designed to stimulate the active participation and emotional involvement of visitors role plays, physical self-tests, quizzes, opinion polls on societal and ethical questions, visitor surveys and frequent events and debates an opportunity for visitors to convivially meet and converse with representatives of health organisations who will be present both in the general exhibition areas and in their own dedicated pavilions multi-language, on-line documentation sourced from many countries and classified by level of complexity a didactic restaurant focusing on nutrition.

An ideal project for Switzerland

ExploraPark is the first European centre on biosciences, biotechnologies and health.

It displays the ongoing developments taking place in and outside Switzerland in the life sciences and in the fields of health promotion, health prevention, nutrition and wellness.

It reinforces the international aura of the many universities, companies and institutions - Swiss and non-Swiss - active in these domains.It represents a coherent, made-to-measure project to the public authorities.

ExploraPark is fully in-line with the aims of the World Health Organisation, the Swiss Health Ministry and the Swiss Foundation for Health Promotion (F19) , to reduce illnesses and the cost of public health by :opening these topics to public debate creating sharper awareness among the public regarding what they can do themselves to achieve these objectives(behaviour changes, empowerment, taking on responsibility for one s own health).

It provides business corporations, institutions, foundations and universities, with an excellent platform: for exchange and dialogue with the general public and for listening to their concerns.

for explaining their work, sharing citizens concerns and demonstrating their social and cultural contribution to society.

Size

Approximately 9'000 m2, of which 2'350 m2 permanent exhibition area, 400m2 for temporary exhibitions and a 1 000m2 conference centre.

Attendance expectation

Based upon a 1997 MIS Trend Study, ExploraPark is expected to attract 190'000 210'000 visitors per annum

Cost of project

$40 Million (CHF 62 Million), of which over 2% already received or pledged

Financing

Expected sources of finance are :

40% from international corporate sponsors

40% from benefactors, foundations and organisations in the fields of education, culture and the promotion of good health

20% from city, cantonal and federal funds