Champalimaud Foundation and NOVA sign partnership to accelerate health research

Today, 28 July 2026, the Champalimaud Foundation and the NOVA University Lisbon signed a five-year strategic partnership agreement focused on scientific research, advanced training and technological innovation, further strengthening collaboration between the two institutions.

The agreement establishes the foundations for joint research and development projects in the areas of health, life sciences and innovation. The aim is to share knowledge, expertise and specialised resources between the two institutions, accelerating the development of new solutions. 

The partnership includes collaborative research and development projects, joint applications for national and international funding programmes, exchanges of researchers and academic staff, co-supervision of PhD students and joint scientific publications. It also includes the shared use of equipment and infrastructure, the organisation of conferences, seminars and other science communication and outreach initiatives, as well as specialised training programmes, scientific literacy projects and professional internships.

“This partnership brings together two institutions with converging missions and a shared goal: to put science at the service of people’s health,” said Leonor Beleza, President of the Champalimaud Foundation. “By sharing teams, knowledge and infrastructure, we are creating the conditions for research to reach those who need it more quickly, while ensuring that Portugal continues to train the next generations of researchers.”

Paulo Pereira, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon, emphasises that “NOVA is a public and global university and an international reference in the fields of health and life sciences.” He added: “This collaboration with the Champalimaud Foundation strengthens this ambition in emerging and high-impact areas such as health, precision medicine and systems biology,” reaffirming “the University’s strong commitment to building bridges between science and society.”

Through this partnership, the Champalimaud Foundation and the NOVA University Lisbon aim to foster new synergies, stimulate innovation and contribute to the advancement of scientific research in Portugal, further strengthening the international standing of both institutions.