What Happened
Ciudad del Saber is marking 25 years since its creation, celebrating a transformation that turned the former Clayton military base into a Panamanian campus focused on science, entrepreneurship and international cooperation.
What was once a military installation is now a hub where talent, research and companies work together on solutions for Panama and the wider region. The project has become one of the country’s most visible ecosystems for innovation and knowledge-based development.
Economic and Social Impact
The campus currently hosts more than 260 organizations, generates 11,378 jobs and contributes an estimated $314 million a year in economic activity. That footprint has made Ciudad del Saber an important part of Panama’s development agenda, especially in areas tied to competitiveness, education and sustainable growth.
An impact study carried out by Ipsos found that in 2024 the organizations based at the campus recorded B/. 783.6 million in gross production, B/. 469.7 million in intermediate consumption and B/. 314 million in value added to Panama’s national GDP.
Innovation, Education and Entrepreneurship
Within the campus, 34 international organizations and 135 groups dedicated to innovation, technology, education and science are active, alongside more than 25 academic programs that help train new talent.
The ecosystem has also become a launchpad for startups. Over the last five years, more than 300 startups have been incubated there, producing more than $21 million in revenue. More than 13,000 entrepreneurs have taken part in incubation and acceleration programs, and more than 8,000 women have received training.
A National Hub With Environmental Value
Ciudad del Saber receives more than 4 million visits each year, reflecting its role not only as an institutional center but also as a public space linked to education, business and research.
Beyond its economic reach, the campus also protects a 21-hectare forest reserve used for scientific research and environmental education. That balance of development and conservation has helped shape its identity as a model for sustainable urban innovation in Panama.
Jorge Arosemena R., executive president of the Ciudad del Saber Foundation, said the 25-year milestone was an opportunity to measure the project’s broader impact and подтвердed its role in building a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable future for Panama.