Given the size and age of the universe, it's incredibly likely that at some point, somewhere, intelligent life existed. Enough time has gone by for civilizations to have evolved, risen, reached their apex and even collapse. So in that sense, I think it's extremely likely that intelligent life, or life of any kind, has existed and exists somewhere in the universe right now.
But those two factors--size and age of the universe--that make it so likely life or intelligent life exists and has existed in the universe, also make it extremely unlikely that two intelligent civilizations will exist in the same span of time, in the same sector of the universe, and have the technological capability to communicate with each other. Life could exist right now on the same level of technological development as us--but what does it matter if they're in a different galaxy? Life far older than us could have colonised an entire galaxy--what does that matter if they are on the other side of the universe to us, and haven't yet mastered the kind of technology or capability that could see them leave their own galaxy? The space between galaxies is often far larger than galaxies themselves, after all.
It's scientifically likely life exists out there. The real challenge, and the real excitement, will come from finding proof of life near us. Thankfully, the range of "near us" will increase as we advance, but those same factors that make life likely to exist also mean that the chances of different forms of life coming into contact are very small.
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