EUTOPIA Health Day 2025 dedicated to skin cancer prevention: ‘early diagnosis can save lives’

18 de December, 2025

Students and researchers gathered at the Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon on 16 December to discuss current research on skin – as part of EUTOPIA Health Day, an initiative of the European project EUTOPIA_HEALTH.

The day before, a Science Café had set the tone: dedicated exclusively to skin cancer, it was in an informal setting that dermatologist and researcher at NOVA Medical School Ana Brasileiro presented the main data known at national level, the signs that should keep us alert and the preventive measures associated with what is considered one of the most common types of cancer in Portugal.

This was followed by a presentation of the various initiatives of the Ciência + Cidadã (Science + Citizen) programme by the programme coordinator at ITQB NOVA, Maria João Leão, which served as a framework for introducing the Sombra para Todxs (Shade for Everyone) project: Magda Fonseca, from the EVITA association – Cancro Hereditário, and Nuno Charneca, from InovLabs, showed not only epidemiological data, but also identified risk factors – leaving the message: ‘if in doubt, consult a dermatologist. Early diagnosis can save lives’.

The session ended with a presentation by the project ambassadors, a group of students from Quinta do Marquês Secondary School in Oeiras, who demonstrated some of the equipment developed to raise awareness of the risks among the population and promote the adoption of effective preventive measures.

Introducing the NOVASkin ® Model!

The opening session of the meeting, which took place on the afternoon of the 16th, featured a speech by the Vice-Rector for Research and Advanced Training, Cecília Roque, who highlighted the diversity of areas of knowledge involved in skin-related research – a moment contextualised with the presentation of past and future initiatives of the EUTOPIA_HEALTH project.

Marco Neves, professor at NOVA FCSH and researcher in the field of languages, literature and cultures, whose series ‘Esta língua que nos une’ (This language that unites us) has gained popularity on Instagram, then explained the origins and evolution of the word ‘skin’, highlighting its multiple meanings, depending on its origin: for example, ‘to divide’ and ‘to cover’.

But that’s not all: Duarte Barral, professor at NOVA Medical School, discussed the architecture of the skin, pigmentation scales and associated diseases, and also presented the NOVASkin® Model, a 3D model of the skin that allows diseases and therapies to be studied; Sofia Satos Costa (IHMT NOVA) addressed the issue of bacteria that cause skin infections; Maria Miragaia (ITQB NOVA) reflected on the immune interactions between commensal skin bacteria and the human host; while Mariana Araújo (ITQB NOVA) spoke about atopic dermatitis and the pathogenic genomic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus, associated with the severity of the disease; and Ana Tomás (NOVA Medical School) explained how biomarkers can be potential prognostic and predictive tools for cutaneous melanoma.

In the field of materials, the highlights were microbial-based biomaterials for drug delivery and skin health, presented by Filomena Freitas (NOVA FCT), as well as flexible electronic and bioelectronic skin devices, such as pressure sensors applied to health, presented by Rui Igreja (NOVA FCT).

EUTOPIA Health Day 2025 thus highlighted the profoundly multidisciplinary nature of skin research, reinforcing the importance of prevention, science and collaboration between different areas of knowledge.

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NOVA University Lisbon awards Honorary Doctorate to Carlos Carreiras: separados” “Knowledge and public service do not belong to separate worlds.”

18 de December, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon has conferred the title of Doctor Honoris Causa upon Carlos Carreiras, in a ceremony that brought together leading figures from academia, politics and civil society at the University’s Rectorate. Among those present was the Minister for Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, who, as Deputy Mayor of Cascais, was closely involved in the early stages of the project that would transform the relationship between NOVA and the municipality.

In his address, Rector Paulo Pereira emphasised that this is “one of the most significant and solemn distinctions in academic life”, reserved for those who embody the University’s values: commitment to science, dedication to public service and a transformative vision. He added a central idea that marked the ceremony: “Knowledge and public service do not belong to separate worlds.” For the Rector, this tribute affirms that universities need leaders who value evidence, reason and science, and that society changes when different institutions work side by side with a shared vision and purpose.

“Under his leadership, Cascais established itself as a territory of innovation, sustainability, social cohesion and talent development – a territory with a vision for the future, of which NOVA is now an integral part,” he stated, highlighting landmark projects such as the NOVA SBE campus in Carcavelos, the installation of NOVA Medical School and NOVA School of Law in the so-called Knowledge Bay, and the forthcoming NOVA School of Science and Technology hub near the Tires Aerodrome, which could make Portugal the first European country with a university airport dedicated to science and training.

The laudatory speech, delivered by Professor José Ferreira Machado, recalled decisive moments in this collaboration, such as the night of the NOVA SBE campus inauguration in 2018, when Carlos Carreiras challenged the University to bring more of NOVA to Cascais. “He revealed himself as a leader whose ambition for his municipality knew no bounds and, above all, as a president with a clear vision of development, where entrepreneurship, innovation and talent enhancement played a central role,” he said, stressing that the former mayor’s contribution directly impacted four of NOVA’s academic units and was crucial in overcoming administrative, financial and legal hurdles.

Visibly moved, Carlos Carreiras expressed his gratitude for the distinction and shared the ambition that always guided him: “I dreamed of a university town in Cascais. That dream found partners as ambitious as we were.” He recalled the motto of his mandates – “Everything begins with people” – and defended the importance of bringing together different forces to achieve transformative results. “When we convene the virtuous triangle of the academies of knowledge, action and care, we neutralise divisions and build more cohesive communities,” he affirmed, highlighting education as a strategic pillar for sustainable development.

By awarding this title, NOVA University Lisbon recognises not only Carlos Carreiras’ political career but also his decisive role in positioning NOVA as a global university and in creating a knowledge ecosystem that projects Cascais and Portugal into the future.

…and a great 2026!

16 de December, 2025

2025 was a year of affirmation for NOVA University Lisbon, marked by solid performance in international rankings, scientific breakthroughs, strengthened internationalisation, a firm commitment to sustainability and an institutional dynamism that inspires confidence in the future.

NOVA led in Portugal in the QS World University Rankings 2026, achieved 5 stars in the QS Stars University Ratings and ranked among the world’s best in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026. Institutional reputation was further recognised with 1st place in the national RepScore ranking, growth of over 20% in the World’s Top 2% Scientists Ranking and showcased in European patent registrations.

In education, excellence was confirmed with ten NOVA programmes leading nationally among candidates entering Higher Education this academic year, while a strong entrepreneurial culture placed the University among the top three most entrepreneurial in the country. The outstanding quality of NOVA’s research units was also recognised in the evaluation by the Foundation for Science and Technology.

Internationally, NOVA’s presence at Expo 2025 in Osaka provided a unique opportunity for global visibility and value creation, fostering deeper partnerships with Asian universities and enabling the launch of the Ocean Innovation Laboratory. The University strengthened, afterwards, ties with Seoul University, signed agreements with the Royal Academy of Science International Trust and the World Bank, and reinforced cooperation in global health with the prestigious Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.

Sustainability was embraced as a strategic priority: NOVA committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, introduced the transversal curricular unit “Sustainability for All”, and mobilised the community through the NIRC Competition. With the arrival of spring, biodiversity flourished once again in the Pollinator Garden at the Campolide Campus. At the Route Zero Conference, we reaffirmed the centrality of sustainability and enhanced monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals by integrating the 1/4 Network into ODSlocal, a platform that mobilises municipalities, public entities and civil society to create a national movement aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Students were, of course, at the heart of our initiatives: we celebrated the talent of first-year undergraduates with the NOVA Young Talent Awards and their entrepreneurial spirit through another edition of NOVA Starters Academy. We recognised distinctive perspectives on diversity in the XVII Photography Competition and supported participation in European challenges such as EUTOPIA’s disinformation project, while NOVA Formula Student continued to drive innovation towards sustainable mobility.

Sporting achievements also stood out: NOVA received the Student-Athlete Seal, celebrated gold at the Grand Slam won by judoka Patrícia Sampaio, a NOVA FCSH student-athlete, shone at the World University Games and “made history” at the National University Judo Championship.

In research and innovation, NOVA teams excelled with an artificial intelligence tool for medical image analysis, two projects selected by the EIC Pathfinder Open 2025, and European Research Council funding to study the impact of algorithms on political information. We closed the year by celebrating research excellence at the NOVA Science and Innovation Day.

Science also drove civic engagement, with NOVA academics securing a €2.7 million grant for science-based investigative journalism. National recognition came with the announcement that the radio programme ‘90 Seconds of Science’, broadcast on Antena 1, won the 2025 Ciência Viva Media Award, granted by the Ciência Viva Agency. To conclude, Cecília Arraiano was elected President of the European Academy of Microbiology, becoming the first woman to hold this position.

In health, we promoted European debate through NOVA Health webinars on EU health policies, advanced the new infrastructure of NOVA Medical School and mobilised the community in initiatives such as Pink October, when the University once again partnered with the Portuguese League Against Cancer to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention.

Culture and inclusion were equally central: we celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, strengthened inclusion with the opening of Café Joyeux at NOVA SBE and the “Lili, the giraffe” initiative in collaboration with the Portuguese Association for Diversity and Inclusion (APPDI). November was dedicated to diversity and inclusion, with activities across NOVA’s schools, and we promoted intergenerational dialogue at the “Narratives of Ageing” conference.

Internally, we once again recognised the most innovative practices across the University at the 3rd ADN Awards Gala — Acting Differently at NOVA. Our engagement with society was reinforced through the participation of NOVA researchers in the programme “Scientists Return to School”, and we signed a protocol with the National Arts Plan.

On the diplomatic front, we welcomed renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass (“We are making incredible discoveries”), marking 50 years of Portugal–Egypt relations, expressed condolences on the passing of Prince Aga Khan IV and reaffirmed ours solidarity with Palestine.

Institutionally, the year was marked by the election and inauguration of Rector Paulo Pereira, the decision to integrate the Estoril Higher School of Hospitality and Tourism, and the announcement of a new Aerospace Engineering hub in Cascais.

Another highlight was NOVA Day 2025, alongside the awarding of honorary degrees to distinguished figures — first to Robert Langer and Maria Damanaki, then to Maria Leptin and José de Sousa e Brito, and finally to Carlos Carreiras.

It was also the year we expanded spaces for dialogue and public engagement around knowledge: following the success of NOVA HealthTalks, launched in summer 2024, we went further by introducing NOVA Talks Sala de Imprensa, a podcast exploring topics such as sustainability, democracy, sustainable cities, inclusion and culture in Higher Education, including a special conversation with the newly elected Rector.

A year of achievements that reinforces NOVA’s mission: to be a university that builds the future. And a great 2026!

Cecília Arraiano is the first female president of the European Academy of Microbiology.

15 de December, 2025

She will be the first woman, as well as the first person from southern Europe, to chair the Academy, 16 years after its foundation, and will take up her duties on 1 January 2026. “It will be a challenge for three years. The Academy brings together high-quality researchers, and I will also give my best,” says Cecília, who currently heads the Gene Expression Control Laboratory at the António Xavier Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology at NOVA University Lisbon (ITQB NOVA) in Oeiras.

Over the years, she has received numerous distinctions highlighting the quality of her research: she is an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO); she served on the Executive Committee of the European Federation of Biochemistry (FEBS) for eleven years, receiving the FEBS “Diplôme D´Honneur”; she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, having been the first in Portugal to receive this distinction; she was ambassador in Portugal for the American Society for Microbiology; she was President of the Portuguese Society of Genetics, and has been a corresponding member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences since 2009, among others.

The European Academy of Microbiology brings together a select group of researchers within the European Federation of Microbiology Societies, with the aim of promoting and recognising excellence in microbiology across Europe. To join this Academy, a researcher must be nominated by one of the members and supported by four other members. After the nomination, an election process takes place to determine the final list of members to be admitted. Cecília Arraiano joined the European Academy of Microbiology in 2016. She was the second Portuguese member to join this prestigious group, and the first Portuguese woman to do so.

‘I am very pleased because this is an important step for Portugal, for our Academy of Sciences, for the Portuguese Society of Microbiology, for NOVA University Lisbon and, of course, for ITQB NOVA. It will be good for more international distinctions and leadership to come to Portugal,’ adds Cecília.

“The appointment of Dr Cecília Arraiano reflects international recognition of the high-quality work that has been carried out by Portuguese researchers, in this particular case by Cecília, and of the institutional effort to support these researchers despite the well-known difficulties in accessing funding,” adds João Crespo, Director of ITQB NOVA.

NOVA Science & Innovation Day 2025: “Commitment to science is not an option; it is the foundation of our mission”

15 de December, 2025

On 12 December, NOVA University Lisbon brought together researchers, students and partners to celebrate excellence in research and innovation at the NOVA Science & Innovation Day 2025, held at the NOVA Rectorate. The event highlighted the role of science in transforming society through the presentation of innovative projects, debates on Open Science, interdisciplinarity, and an Innovation Fair that showcased the strength of NOVA’s scientific and technological ecosystem.

“Commitment to science is not an option; it is the foundation of our mission,” emphasised Rector Paulo Pereira in the opening session, stressing that universities must remain spaces of intellectual freedom and curiosity, where new ideas can emerge. “Producing knowledge that benefits society as a whole is the vision that guides us towards the future we want to build,” he added.

The morning featured presentations of research projects led by NOVA researchers and a session dedicated to Open Science, with a special focus on the projects Re.Data and NOVA.ID-RDM-CC, which reinforce the importance of research data management. This was followed by a moment centred on interdisciplinary research, with the public announcement of the three winning projects of the Ignition Grants, an initiative in partnership with Fundação Santander Portugal.

“At NOVA, we believe we must always think about social impact”

In the afternoon, following the roundtable “FP10 and its implications for the national landscape of the new framework programme”, which brought together leading experts, came the award ceremony for the winners of the “Research Impact Narratives” challenge, which recognized exemplary projects for their contribution to society: 5 Awards and 5 Honorable Mentions, about which you can find more information here.”

The session dedicated to Innovation and Value Creation then showcased projects and spin-offs from the NOVA ecosystem, reinforcing the link between science and social impact – a message reiterated throughout the day.

First, by Cecília Roque, Vice-Rector for Research and Advanced Training, who highlighted “the creation of an empowered research ecosystem” and reminded that “people are our greatest treasure in driving research forward.” Then, by Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs, who stressed: “At NOVA, we believe we must always think about social impact,” underlining the university’s progress: “Ten years ago, we barely had patents; today we are in the European Top 10 and among the Top 3 most entrepreneurial universities.”

The day concluded with the awarding of prizes for the best flash talks presented by PhD students, showcasing the next generation of scientists and innovators. At the same time, the Innovation Fair brought together proprietary technologies, specialised services and spin-offs, reflecting NOVA’s diversity and impact on the national scientific and economic landscape.

To crown the day, the icing on the cake, it was was also the day of the launch of the NOVA Science: transforming the future 2025. Check the magazine here!

Research Impact Narratives Challenge: meet the winners of the 3rd edition of the competition here

15 de December, 2025

In 2023, NOVA launched the Research Impact Narratives Challenge, inviting professors and researchers affiliated with any of the university’s academic units to translate the impact of their research projects into narratives.

Considering it imperative that society in general understands and appreciates the results of research activities, and given that, both nationally and Europeanly, innovation funding agencies have given increasing importance to measuring the impact of projects under development, this Research Impact Narratives Challenge was the format chosen for NOVA researchers to do so.

Revealed at the NOVA Science and Innovation Day 2025, the 5 projects distinguished in this third edition of the competition come from different scientific areas. In addition, in this third edition, given the quality of the applications, five Honourable Mentions were also awarded.

At the time of receiving the award, Mauro Castelli was represented by Leonardo Vanneschi, Ricardo Henriques by Mário del Rosário, and Ricardo Jardim Gonçalves by Dr. Maria do Carmo Marques.

Winners

Transforming Legislative Impact Assessment: Using AI to Produce Better Regulations for Citizens and Society
Mauro Castelli
NOVA IMS/MagIC

LEGO to Labs: How NanoJ-Fluidics (Pumpy) Democratised Advanced Microscopy from Bench to Classroom
Ricardo Henriques
ITQB NOVA/ MOSTMICRO

Measuring to Transform: The Sustainable Health Index as a Compass for Health Policy
Pedro Simões Coelho
NOVA IMS/MagIC

From Research to Societal Change – NOVA’s Digital Health Model Recognised as a European Lighthouse
Ricardo Jardim Gonçalves
NOVA FCT/ UNINOVA/CTS

Tuna Odyssey: the story of a fishing village and the resource that sustains it
Brígida Baptista
NOVA FCSH/CHAM

Honourable Mentions

Health Literacy: A question of Health that Matters
Ana Rita Pedro
NOVA ENSP/CHRC

Making the Invisible Visible: Transforming Public, Clinical, and Policy Understandings of the Embryo In Vitro
Catarina Delauney
NOVA FCSH/CICS.NOVA

Nature’s Comeback: Rethinking Land Abandonment through Ecological Recovery and Climate Action
Henrique Cerqueira
NOVA FCSH/CICS.NOVA

Conducting Constitutional Reform in a United Kingdom Overseas Territory
Julian Jeremy Sarkin
NOVA School of Law/CEDIS

ImproVITA – Extending the shelf life of food products to decrease food waste
Liane Meneses
NOVA FCT/LAQV REQUIMTE

NOVA mourns the passing of José António Barros Veloso

2 de December, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon expresses its deep sorrow at the passing of Dr José António Barros Veloso, a physician of recognised national and international distinction.

Between 2013 and 2019, Dr Barros Veloso served as a member of the NOVA Medical School Council, actively contributing to the development of the institution.

In 2018, he was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by NOVA, a distinction that acknowledged his exceptional contribution to medicine in Portugal, as well as his versatility in other fields, notably music.

The visitation will take place this tuesday, 2nd december, from 4 p.m. at Carnide Cemetery, in Lisbon, and the funeral will be held tomorrow, 3 December.

NOVA University Lisbon extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, joining in mourning this irreparable loss.

EUTOPIA Week at Ca’ Foscari: NOVA takes part in another edition

2 de December, 2025

During this week, the ten European universities that form the alliance of which NOVA is a member are coming together to work collaboratively on building the European university of the future: more cooperative, more innovative, and more inclusive.

Find out more about EUTOPIA and the meeting taking place in Venice.

NOVA hosts the first in-person meeting of the IDEAS project

2 de December, 2025

It is an international initiative aimed at empowering faculty members and promoting the inclusion of international students.

The meeting took place at the rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon on November 24 and 25, bringing together members of the consortium behind IDEAS (Inclusive Dialogical Education Approach for Instructors), which includes three universities from the EUTOPIA alliance: NOVA, Cergy, and Gothenburg.

The project seeks to equip faculty to better support international students and strengthen their sense of belonging within host institutions, while also providing tools to implement Ideas Club formats.

This model, integrated into the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme – a programme that continues to establish itself as a gateway for international students both at NOVA and its partner institutions – addresses topics such as racism, colonialism, gender equality, and climate change.

Planned actions include a study based on questionnaires for faculty and international students, the drafting of a scientific paper, and the development of training modules for instructors.

NOVA and Portuguese Engineers’ Association sign protocol to strengthen cooperation

27 de November, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon, through its Faculty of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), and the Portuguese Engineers’ Association (Ordem dos Engenheiros – OEng) signed this thursday, 27, a protocol to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two entities, aiming to promote the development of engineering education and practice in Portugal. This agreement establishes a privileged framework for pursuing shared objectives while respecting the statutory missions and legal obligations of each institution.

The partnership foresees joint actions to disseminate activities, foster engineering education and recognise professional practice, as well as initiatives in areas such as education, training, innovation, research, qualification and knowledge. It also includes the creation of the Engineering Observatory, dedicated to studying and monitoring strategic topics for the sector.

Through this collaboration, NOVA FCT and the Portuguese Engineers’ Association reaffirm their commitment to enhancing engineering, supporting national talent and attracting younger generations to this field, which is essential for the country’s development.

ITQB NOVA researcher awarded €500,000 to develop AI-powered smart microscopes

25 de November, 2025

Ricardo Henriques, a Principal Investigator at ITQB NOVA (Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa), has been awarded €500,000 to transform live-cell imaging using artificial intelligence. The funding was granted through the CaixaResearch Health Research Call 2025, which is aimed at advancing the global fight against viral diseases.

The project, entitled “VirusAwareScopes: Machine Learning-Driven Adaptive Microscopy for Long-Term Viral Infection Studies”, will seek to create microscopes that can intelligently adjust their settings in real time. This will enable the observation of viral infection processes over several days without compromising cell viability or image quality. “The idea is for the microscopes to adjust their configurations intelligently and in real time, much like most smartphone cameras already do, but in a far more sophisticated way,” explains Henriques.

Currently, the intense light used by high-resolution microscopes damages live cells, limiting the observation window. This new technology will enable researchers to study in greater detail how viruses interact with cells, paving the way for innovative antiviral strategies. In the first phase of the project, the team will apply this approach to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which continues to raise many questions and is projected to affect millions of people in the coming years.

‘We want this technology to be implementable in any laboratory, contributing to the democratisation of science, the development of new antiviral strategies and the improvement of global public health,’ adds the researcher.

This year, the CaixaResearch Health Research Call, promoted by the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, awarded €26.6 million to 34 biomedical and health research projects, selected from 714 proposals.

Together for Inclusion: NOVA signs protocol with REDI – Network for Diversity and Inclusion LGBTI

24 de November, 2025

It is a commitment that aims to turn into action: NOVA University Lisbon has taken another decisive step in promoting diversity and inclusion by establishing a partnership with the Association Network for LGBTI Diversity and Inclusion (REDI).

The protocol, signed last Friday, the 21st, by the Pro-Rector for Culture, Communities and Social Impact, Elsa Peralta, and the President of REDI, João Mattamouros Resende, marks the beginning of a collaboration that seeks to create more inclusive environments.

This initiative originates within NOVA Cultura and will be integrated into future actions by the Equality and Inclusion Office, reinforcing the University’s commitment to building a diverse and open academic community.

More information about REDI here

NOVA joins the National MetaRed Meeting and launches network dedicated to Sustainability

24 de November, 2025

The Rector of NOVA University Lisbon, Paulo Pereira, and the Pro-Rector responsible for Sustainability, Júlia Seixas, attended the National MetaRed TIC, X and S Portugal 2025 Meeting, held at the University of Évora on the 19th. For the first time, the event brought together the three national networks dedicated to digital transformation, university entrepreneurship, and sustainability and social responsibility.

“Higher education institutions are committed to thinking about the future through the lens of sustainability. It is a way of thinking and acting that permeates all teaching,” said NOVA’s Rector, who opened the event, highlighting the role of institutions in building a sustainable future.

Referring to NOVA’s commitment — to make the university carbon neutral by 2040 — Paulo Pereira stressed that this goal “requires rethinking practices, creating new solutions, integrating scientific knowledge and engaging the entire academic community in this shared purpose.”

The event also marked the launch of MetaRedS, the national network dedicated to social responsibility, coordinated by NOVA University Lisbon. Its aim is to create synergies within university communities, provide tools, and share best practices to achieve high levels of sustainability performance.

“It should be a driver of progress,” emphasised NOVA’s Rector, advocating a shift “from a logic of sharing to a logic of action, with common metrics, cross-cutting training and inter-university projects,” reinforcing that “what we do in the coming years will be decisive for the credibility of the public mission of higher education institutions.”

Present in nine countries, including Portugal, Spain and several Latin American nations, MetaRedS is committed to promoting Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions across its various dimensions: diagnostic indicators, governance models, sustainability culture, academic training, research and innovation aligned with the 2030 Agenda.

The MetaReds are an international initiative of the Universia Foundation, supported by Banco Santander.

NOVA Day 2025: “NOVA will be what we want it to be – and what we manage to achieve for it”

24 de November, 2025

The NOVA Day 2025 ceremony, held last Friday, 21 November, at the Rectorate Auditorium on the Campolide Campus, in front of a full house, was marked by the encouraging words of Rector Paulo Pereira, who made a clear statement: “The university faces a time of change, transformation and uncertainty, but it is precisely in these moments that institutions reveal their true nature.”

Recalling that universities have “resisted wars, pandemics, economic crises and technological revolutions”, the Rector stressed that their mission remains unchanged: “to produce knowledge, educate citizens, promote critical thinking and help build fairer, more prosperous and freer societies.”

Finally, the Rector presented three strategic commitments for the coming years: strengthening NOVA’s identity by promoting greater collaboration between schools; valuing people through fairer careers and creative environments; and preparing the university for the future by investing in emerging areas, interdisciplinary research and technological and social innovation. Change, he assured, will be participatory: “There is no university without participation. There is no change without involvement. There is no future without commitment,” adding: “NOVA will be what we want it to be – and what we manage to achieve for it.”

Healthy mind in a healthy body

But the ceremony offered much more: art and culture – with poetry and philosophy intertwined – talent and sporting achievement, and recognition of pedagogical innovation at the university.

After the Rector, the stage belonged to Paulo Pires do Vale, Commissioner of the National Arts Plan and Visiting Lecturer at NOVA FCSH, who reinforced the importance of culture as a strategic axis for the University: “We believe that the place of culture within the University can be much greater, deeper and more transversal across all disciplinary areas.”

In a speech that quoted both poetry and philosopher Hannah Arendt, Paulo Pires do Vale reminded the audience that “building that common ground which is Culture is, like the university itself, an infinite task.”

Next came Vasco Mendes, a student-athlete from NOVA FCT who has carried NOVA’s name to numerous national and international podiums – and who, shortly afterwards, alongside other colleagues, received the Sports Merit Scholarship. His message to all student-athletes was simple and universal: “Keep studying and be happy!”

Awards for pedagogical innovation and insignia for new PhDs

The ceremony continued with the presentation of the Pedagogical Innovation Awards, which in this 2025 edition recognised projects that promote innovative methodologies in higher education.

The main prize was awarded to NOVA SBE for the project “Gamifying Calculus: The ‘Calculus of Thrones’ Experiment”, which transformed the teaching of calculus through gamification, encouraging collaboration, inclusion and reducing anxiety without compromising academic rigour.

In addition, three honourable mentions were awarded:

NOVA FCT: Thermodynamics for chemical engineers, using team-based learning to foster critical thinking and social skills;

NOVA School of Law: Hands-On Mediation, employing weekly roleplay to develop practical negotiation and mediation skills;

NOVA IMS: Think Like a Hacker to Protect Like a Cyber Engineer, bridging theory and practice in cybersecurity, inspiring new programmes and a Cyber War Room.

To conclude, insignia were presented to the new PhDs from each of NOVA’s schools and institutes.

NOVA celebrates World Philosophy Day with award for doctoral research

20 de November, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon marks a special achievement today: Yolanda Xavier, a student in the Doctoral Programme in Linguistics, has won the 16th Idea Puzzle Prize, which recognises the most coherent doctoral research design created using the Idea Puzzle software during a training session promoted by NOVA Doctoral School.

The award-winning project, entitled “Language attitudes towards non-native speech: The case of employment scenarios in Portugal”, is supervised by Professor Susana Mesquita de Deus Correia, of NOVA FCSH.

The choice of World Philosophy Day, celebrated on the initiative of UNESCO, is symbolic: the Idea Puzzle software is inspired by the philosophy of science, and this date highlights the importance of critical thinking, tolerance and intercultural dialogue – values that also guide scientific research.

NOVA: Portugal’s Leading University and Among the World’s Best in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026

20 de November, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon holds a leading national and competitive international position in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, placing 141st globally out of 2,002 institutions and securing 1st place in Portugal among 14 ranked universities. Within Europe, NOVA ranks 72nd among 621 institutions, and in Southern Europe it stands 5th out of 150. These results highlight NOVA’s consolidated commitment to sustainability across environmental, social, and governance dimensions.

Environmental Impact

This dimension evaluates how universities contribute to environmental sustainability through education, namely the strength of their environmental curricula, the impact of research linked to key SDGs, and institutional practices.

NOVA ranks 191st globally in Environmental Impact, ranking 126th globally in Environmental Education. It demonstrates strong curricular provision and reputation in environmental fields. In Environmental Research, aligned with SDGs 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, NOVA ranks 172nd globally. The comparatively lower performance in institutional practices (418th globally) indicates room for improvement in operational sustainability and climate-focused institutional strategies. These are excellent signs for an even stronger performance in the future, as NOVA has recently approved its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. Despite this, NOVA’s Environmental Impact score (78.3/100) remains significantly above the global median of 46.4, placing the university in the quadrant of higher-than-average environmental performance relative to global peers.

Social Impact

Social Impact assesses how universities advance societal wellbeing through employability, equality, health, education and knowledge exchange. It captures both the institution’s internal commitment and its broader contributions to communities, industry, and global development.

NOVA demonstrates exceptional performance in the Social Impact category, ranking 124th globally. It excels particularly in Knowledge Exchange, with a global rank of 51st, reflecting strong international collaboration, partnership networks, and community engagement. NOVA’s Social Impact score (91.7/100) places it well above the global median of 59.4, securing its position among the strongest performers globally.

Governance

Governance measures the strength and transparency of an institution’s leadership, decision-making, and ethical culture. It considers factors such as student participation or financial transparency.

Governance is NOVA’s highest-performing dimension. With a global rank of 78 and a European rank of 52. Its Governance score (97.9/100) places it in the top tier internationally and significantly above the global median (60.3).

Overall Assessment

With an overall score of 87/100, NOVA University Lisbon positions itself as a national leader and an internationally competitive institution in sustainability practices. Its results highlight strengths in social impact, governance, environmental education, and knowledge exchange.

More information here

Programme “90 Seconds of Science”, produced by ITQB NOVA and NOVA FCSH, wins 2025 Ciência Viva Media Award

18 de November, 2025

The radio programme “90 Seconds of Science”, broadcast on Antena 1, has just won the 2025 Ciência Viva Media Award, granted by the Ciência Viva Agency. The award ceremony will take place on 24 November, National Day of Scientific Culture, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pavilion of Knowledge in Lisbon.

Are there enough scientists in Portugal to sustain a daily radio programme for months, or even years? And can science really be made accessible and engaging in… 90 seconds? The answer from the team behind “90 Seconds of Science”, produced by ITQB NOVA and NOVA FCSH, has been a resounding yes.

The idea was born in 2015 during a class of the Master’s in Science Communication, a joint programme between ITQB NOVA and NOVA FCSH. “The idea became reality because there were people who believed in us – from our directors at the time to Antena 1 – and because we managed to bring together an enthusiastic team that is still going strong,” explains António Granado, co-coordinator of “90 Seconds of Science” and of the Master’s programme, and professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA FCSH).

Nine years and more than 2,100 episodes later, the programme continues to deliver concise (90 seconds!) presentations of all areas of scientific research carried out in Portugal. And it all started on the afternoon of 21 November 2016.

“We believe that, at this point, ‘90 Seconds of Science’ is the largest audio repository of Portuguese science, so this award really belongs to all the scientists who share their projects with us,” says Ana Sanchez, co-coordinator of the programme and the Master’s, and currently Deputy Director of the António Xavier Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA).

The Ciência Viva Media Award adds to several other distinctions the programme has already received, such as the Podes Award in 2023 (Radio category), the Gulbenkian Knowledge Award in 2019, an Honourable Mention in the National Innovation Journalism Award in 2016 (Podcast category), and the Access Culture Award in 2018 (Intellectual Accessibility category).

The programme is the result of teamwork, which also includes Joana Lobo Antunes (now at Instituto Superior Técnico), Paulo Nuno Vicente (NOVA FCSH), and Luís Morgado (ITQB NOVA). Adriano Cerqueira (ITQB NOVA) is responsible for all interviews and works full-time on the programme’s production, while Paulo Castanheiro (NOVA FCSH) handles the final sound design of each episode.

Currently, the programme is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). It can be heard daily, Monday to Friday, on Antena 1 at 10:58 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. – and all episodes are also available online.

NOVA in the top 3 most entrepreneurial Higher Education Institutions in the country

14 de November, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon has secured 3rd place in the Portugal’s Entrepreneurial Universities Ranking 2025, published by Startup Portugal. This ranking assesses higher education institutions most active in promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and the transfer of knowledge to society. Its goal is to highlight the role of universities in driving the national entrepreneurial ecosystem, valuing initiatives that bring academia closer to businesses and startups.

According to the data now released, NOVA recorded the highest investment attraction among all universities, with €4.1 billion in total funding raised by start-ups founded by former students. In addition, companies created by NOVA alumni represent a global economic value of €19 billion, highlighting the university’s role as a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The distinction was announced during the recent Web Summit 2025, Europe’s largest technology conference, held in Lisbon for the 10th consecutive year. The announcement took place in a dedicated session presenting the results and awarding certificates to the three highest-ranked universities.

NOVA was represented by the Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs, Isabel Rocha, who highlighted the importance of this recognition as a reflection of the University’s commitment to transforming knowledge into real impact, demonstrating how academic research can give rise to entrepreneurial initiatives and innovation-oriented start-ups.

More information about the ranking can be found here, and details about the Web Summit session here.

NOVA made history at the National University Judo Championships

10 de November, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon won first place overall at the CNU, held in Aveiro at the end of October – a triumph marking an unprecedented moment for NOVA. The university stood out not only for its result, but also for the participation of the first Olympic medallist to compete in the competition. This athlete is Patrícia Sampaio, a student at NOVA’s Faculty of Social and Human Sciences (NOVA FCSH) who won the gold medal in the +78 kg category.

In total, the NOVA team won seven medals: alongside Patrícia Sampaio’s gold medal, NOVA won three silver and three bronze medals, showcasing the collective strength that secured victory.

The other NOVA medallists were Matilde Gonçalves (under 48 kg, NOVA FCM), António Almeida (under 81 kg, NOVA FCT), Pedro Cavaco (under 90 kg, NOVA FCT), Marta Loureiro (under 63 kg, NOVA SBE), Diogo Caetano (under 73 kg, NOVA SBE) and Nazar Nynyk (under 66 kg, NOVA SBE).

The team also included Carolina Sacavém (NOVA School of Law), Duarte Cabral (NOVA FCT), Francisco Pereira (NOVA IMS), and Nuno Távora (NOVA FCT), reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the academic community.

This achievement reflects NOVA University Lisbon’s commitment to university sports and supporting high-achieving students and promotes a balance between academic excellence and sport.

The competition, organised by FADU Portugal, the Academic Association of the University of Aveiro and the University of Aveiro, saw record participation: A total of 125 student-athletes competed, representing 39 clubs.

November is Diversity and Inclusion Month at NOVA

3 de November, 2025

November 1st – November 30th

Video release “NOVA for Inclusion – Real People, Real Impact” | NOVA’s Equality and Inclusion Office Audiovisual Support Unit

Date to be confirmed (november)

Awareness campaign for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor market |

Nova SBE – Digital channels
More information coming soon

November 4th

Webinar “Promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the leadership of HEI in Europe – the case of ULEAD4ALL” |

10h00
Alessia Lorenzon (Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia) e Frederico Cavazzini (NOVA)
Open to the public. Zoom link here.

November 6 th

Podcast NOVA Talk “inclusion in higher education”

Margarida Lima Rego (Dean NOVA School of Law) and Vanda Nunes (SCML – Valor T) |
Communication and Image Division
NOVA’s Rectorate – Digital channels

Workshop “Careers with Impact” (Undergraduate). DE&I module |

11h00-12h30
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus

Webinar “Mood Disorders”. PIN, Partners In Neuroscience |

11h00-12h30
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus – Online
Open to the public, subject to prior registration.

November 10 th

Workshop “Conversations With Gestures” – Portuguese Sign Language awareness initiative |

NOVA’s Equality and Inclusion Office. Moderated by Filipa Abreu (NOVA’s Strategic Planning Division)
14h00-15h00
NOVA’s Rectorate – Atrium
Open to the public

These tutorials have been developed with the aim of promoting fairer and more inclusive access to the job market. They do this by sharing tips and strategies to support preparation for the various stages of the recruitment process.

Presentation

Complete playlist of tutorials

Meeting of the Inclusive Community Forum (ICF)
17h00-19h00
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus
Open to the public, but subject to prior registration.

Until November 10 th

Project “A Thick Cloud of Love”. Queer theses, antitheses, and syntheses |

Curated by Pedro Faro
NOVA’s Rectorate – Atrium
Open to the public

November 11th

Mobile unit for rapid, anonymous, confidential and free screening of sexually transmitted diseases |

10h30-16h30
NuPRIDE NOVA FCT and Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos (GAT)
NOVA FCT – By the library
Open to the public

November 12 th

Speakers’ Corner “Socioeconomic Background” |

Ana Balcão Reis e Bernardo Escada
10h15-11h15

Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus – KPMG Hall
Open to the public

November 13 th

Workshop “Teach To Include: How To Guide Students In Distress for Professors and TAs” |

11h00-12h30
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus

November 17 th

Workshop “Anxiety Toolbox for Students” |

11h00-12h00
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus – Online
Open to the public, subject to prior registration

Workshop: Communication Blockages |

NOVA FCT and NOVA FCT Theatre Group
16h00-18h00
NOVA FCT Campus – Room TBC
For the NOVA FCT Mentoring Program community

November 18th

Open class: ‘Inclusive legal spaces: Mental Health as a Priority” | Prof. Soraya Schickel (NSL) and Dr Raquel Sampaio (Mental Health Association)

14:00–16:00
NOVA School of Law, Room 7

November 19th

Inclusion Party: Painting workshop, music and snacks | Marta Xavier (NOVA School of Law)

13:00
NOVA School of Law, Room 7 and Human Rights Courtyard
Open to the public, but prior registration required.

Workshop “Recycling DE&I” (Staff & Faculty) |

11h00-12h00
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus

November 20th

Workshop “Careers with Impact” (Undergraduate). DE&I module

11h00-12h30
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus

November 21st

‘Thinking About the Student’ Conference

Promoted by SASNOVA
9:30 a.m.
NOVA FCSH, Auditorium B1
Open to the entire academic community.
More information is available here

Conference “Let’s Talk About The Right For Participation of Children with Disabilities” |

14h00-17h30
NOVA School of Law – Classroom 7
Open to the public

Collaboration protocol with the Association Network for LGBTI Diversity and Inclusion

3:00 pm
University Circle Room

Signed by:
João Mattamouros Resende, President of REDI
Professor Elsa Peralta, Vice-Dean for Culture, Communities and Social Impact

November 24t

Workshop “Anxiety Toolbox for Students” |

11h00-12h00
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus – Online
Open to the public, subject to prior registration

Workshop “Teach To Include: How To Guide Students In Distress for Staff” |

14h30-16h00
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus

November 25th

Awareness Poster on Sexual, Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination |

NOVA Refugee and Migration Clinic and NOVA School of Law
On display until December 10th | Venue TBC

November 26th

Webinar “EU-Turkey Relations on Migration and Asylum: A Decolonial Perspective” [SPEAR]

14h30-16h00
NOVA School of Law

Roundtable “Queertalk”

NuPRIDE NOVA FCT
16h00-18h00
NOVA FCT – Place TBC
Open to the public

November 27th

Workshop: ‘Conscientious Objection in Healthcare: Understanding the Impact of Gender” |NOVA Centre for the Study of Gender, Family and Law and ICON-S Portugal

5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
NOVA School of Law – Room to be announced

Seminar on E-Mentoring and Mental Health of Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

SASNOVA
Venue and time TBC

Conference “50 Years of Foreign Policy of Portuguese-Speaking African Countries” |African and Lusophone Studies Student Association, NOVA FCSH and IPRI-NOVA

10h00-17h00
NOVA FCSH, Avenida de Berna Campus – Classroom TBC
Open to the public

Webinar “Anxiety Disorders”. PIN, Partners In Neuroscience |

11h00-12h30
Nova SBE, Carcavelos Campus – Online
Open to the public, subject to prior registration

Clarification note on the IGEC report

31 de October, 2025

On 20 October, NOVA University Lisbon received a report from the Inspectorate-General for Education and Science (IGEC), resulting from an anonymous complaint, regarding the existence of 31 lecturers from the Faculty of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) who, between 2020 and 2024, accumulated salaries with remuneration arising from their work at UNINOVA – Institute for the Development of New Technologies, a private non-profit association based on the NOVA FCT campus in Almada and owned by NOVA University Lisbon.

This remuneration was associated with scientific research projects funded by international agencies and organisations.

The report concludes that, at least between 2020 and 2024, there were payments made directly by UNINOVA to NOVA FCT lecturers, which, according to IGEC, may violate the legal regime of exclusivity and the Regulations of NOVA University Lisbon, which stipulate that all additional remuneration arising from research projects must be processed by the institution to which the lecturer is affiliated, and not by external entities.

Although a collaboration protocol between UNINOVA and FCT has been in place since 2006, which served as the basis for financing the activities in question, IGEC considers that this framework does not invalidate the application of the exclusivity regime for teachers, reaffirming that any additional remuneration must be previously authorised and processed through the University.

The document, which has already been sent to the Court of Auditors and the Director of NOVA FCT, received the utmost attention from the Rector’s Office.

As soon as he became aware of its conclusions, Rector Paulo Pereira, who took office on 7 October, ordered the immediate adoption of the following measures:

Temporary freeze on all requests for accumulation of functions until clarification of the applicable legal framework and review of internal procedures;
Creation of the Institutional Integrity and Compliance Office, with the aim of strengthening mechanisms for the prevention and control of conflicts of interest;

He also ordered an audit of the associated companies that are outside the University’s perimeter, to investigate any situations that may constitute a breach of the law or the University’s internal regulations.

Within the scope of its autonomy enshrined in law, NOVA is analysing the conclusions and recommendations of the IGEC and will always act to ensure compliance with the law and to ensure that all organisational units comply with the university’s internal regulations.

NOVA University Lisbon reaffirms its commitment to transparency, integrity and rigour in the management of the university, ensuring that all situations identified will be analysed and dealt with in the most responsible manner.

EUTOPIA Digitalisation Incubator: Applications open for Digital Innovation in Higher Education

31 de October, 2025

The EUTOPIA alliance, with the support of the Erasmus+ programme 2021–2027, invites students, lecturers, technicians and administrative staff from partner universities to submit proposals for the EUTOPIA Digitalisation Incubator Platform.

This initiative aims to accelerate digital transformation through the development of innovative digital tools and services with a real impact on education, research, administration, and academic mobility. Projects should be collaborative, scalable, and aligned with the alliance’s objectives, promoting interoperability, inclusion, and community involvement.

Applications will then be evaluated by an international panel based on criteria such as relevance, innovation, feasibility and implementation potential – and selected proposals will receive technical and financial support for development and testing between January and June 2026 and may be considered for wider implementation in a future extension of the project.

Applications are open until 1st December 2025, with the selected projects to be announced on 19th December.

Detailed information here

In addition, for further clarification, an online session will be held on 7th November at 10 a.m. (Lisbon time) via Zoom.

EIC Pathfinder Open 2025: Two NOVA projects among the 44 selected in Europe to support visionary science and disruptive innovation

27 de October, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon once again stands out in research excellence, with two projects funded under the EIC Pathfinder Open 2025 programme, one of the European Commission’s most important initiatives to support visionary science and disruptive innovation.

Out of more than 2,000 applications submitted, only 44 projects were selected across Europe, two of which involve NOVA: one from ITQB NOVA and another from NOVA FCT.

Asal Kiazadeh and Emanuel Carlos, researchers at NOVA FCT – CENIMAT|i3N, are part of the GAIA project, which proposes a new generation of Internet of Things (IoT) based on biodegradable electronics and ambient communication. GAIA aims to develop a new class of transient microelectronic systems, characterised by low energy consumption and simple integration into existing IoT infrastructures. The team intends to develop sustainable, battery-free devices with zero environmental impact, responding to one of today’s biggest concerns: sustainability in the technology sector. NOVA FCT coordinates the work package dedicated to energy, detection and communication principles, focusing on the development of low-power, high-energy-efficiency electronic components manufactured on biodegradable substrates, with funding of €522,000.

James Yates, a researcher at ITQB NOVA, is part of the RamanProSeq project. The consortium will develop technology capable of reading and sequencing individual proteins with an accuracy of over 99.9%, even in very small quantities. This approach could, in the future, enable the detection of changes in proteins associated with diseases, opening up new possibilities for biomedical diagnosis and transforming personalised medicine. The funding for ITQB NOVA is €261,000.

EIC Pathfinder, part of the European Innovation Council, funds scientific research projects that explore pioneering ideas with the potential to transform European science and the economy. In the 2025 edition, the programme awarded €140 million to projects across Europe, with €4.2 million going to Portuguese institutions, representing a national success rate of 2.22%, higher than the global average.

‘These results confirm NOVA’s high level of competitiveness and scientific excellence, distinguished by its ability to develop creative and visionary research. These scientific foundations for revolutionary technologies will contribute to creating solutions with a global impact on society,’ says Cecília Roque, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Research and Advanced Training.

With these two grants, NOVA strengthens its presence in the European research and innovation space, consolidating its leading role in cutting-edge science and international collaboration.

NOVA and University of Seoul reinforce academic collaboration through institutional visit

24 de October, 2025

On 23 October, NOVA University Lisbon hosted a delegation from University of Seoul, led by its President, Yongkul Won, with the aim of deepening academic and scientific cooperation between the two universities and identifying new opportunities for collaboration. The meeting followed the umbrella agreement signed in April 2025, during NOVA’s institutional visit to University of Seoul.

The delegation was received by NOVA’s Rector, Paulo Pereira, the Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs, Isabel Rocha, and the Deputy Director for Internationalisation at the School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), Madalena Meyer Resende. During the meeting, the university leaders signed a specific agreement that will enable student exchange between NOVA FCSH and University of Seoul, fostering academic mobility and promoting intercultural enrichment among students from both institutions.

On the same day, the South Korean delegation also visited NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS), where new possibilities for cooperation were explored in the fields of information management, data science and digital transformation, under the umbrella agreement.

This institutional visit reinforces NOVA’s commitment to consolidating strategic international partnerships, promoting academic excellence, innovation and the global impact of its teaching and research activities.

Pink October at NOVA

23 de October, 2025

Like it did a year ago, NOVA University Lisbon is once again joining forces with the Portuguese League Against Cancer to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

At nightfall, the top floor of the Rectorate building lights up in shades of pink, casting a glow over the Campolide campus — a symbolic gesture that reinforces NOVA’s commitment to raising awareness about breast cancer prevention and early diagnosis.

In addition, NOVA partnered with the Portuguese Association for the Support of Women with Breast Cancer by taking part in the run/walk, held on the 19th at Parque das Nações. More than just a sporting event, it was an act of solidarity and support for all those affected by this disease. A team that, quite literally, wore the shirt!

NOVA mourns the passing of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, our Doctor Honoris Causa since 2010

22 de October, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon expresses its deep sorrow at the passing of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, to whom it had the honour of awarding the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in 2010.

A key figure in Portugal’s recent history, Francisco Pinto Balsemão distinguished himself as a journalist, businessman, politician and prime minister, playing a decisive role in the establishment and maturity of Portuguese democracy.

His profoundly transformative work in the media and communications landscape marked several generations and contributed decisively to the development of a more informed and pluralistic society.

Francisco Pinto Balsemão always maintained a connection with the University, having been president of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at NOVA and a visiting associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences.

NOVA remembers with admiration the career of a statesman and man of culture, whose vision left a lasting mark on Portuguese public life.

NOVA 2024 Sustainability Report: “Leading change for people and the planet”

21 de October, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon has just released its Sustainability Report for 2024, under the slogan “Leading change for people and the planet”. The document presents the University’s main advances in the field of sustainability, highlighting the active role it has been playing in promoting responsible, inclusive and environmentally conscious practices.

On the environmental front, it is worth highlighting the strengthening of greenhouse gas emissions monitoring through the NOVA Route Zero project and the InNOVA digital platform, which allows data to be tracked across all the University’s organisational units.

This measure represents a decisive step towards carbon neutrality, which is planned for 2040. Since 2019, electricity consumption at NOVA has decreased by 14%, benefiting from a more sustainable national energy matrix, with 71% of renewable energy in the Portuguese electricity grid. This development contributed to a 15% reduction in direct emissions in 2024, compared to the previous year.

Although the NOVA Zero Waste was very active along 2024, including bringing together municipalities and waste entities to co-design better recycling and composting systems, NOVA global recycling rate decrease which challenge us to take more effective and bolder actions, and make this a top priority to act with the community, as FCT has doing with NUDGE, a start-up focusing on students’ behaviour.

On a social level, in 2024 the University launched Rede 1/4, an innovative initiative that aims to respond to the housing crisis affecting university students in Portugal. The programme connects people with available rooms and students looking for affordable accommodation, promoting a collaborative and supportive response to a structural problem.

The report also presents how these initiatives are linked to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the contribution of NOVA’s different Schools to building a fairer, greener and more resilient future — from eradicating poverty to promoting clean energy and climate action.

The full report is available online and offers a comprehensive overview of the impact of research, teaching and innovation developed at NOVA on the sustainable transformation of society.

Check out the document here

NOVA awarded 5 Stars in the QS Stars University Ratings

13 de October, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon has been awarded 5 Stars (“Excellent”) by the QS Stars University Ratings, one of the most recognized and prestigious international systems for evaluating higher education institutions.

NOVA achieved the maximum score in eight out of nine assessed dimensions — Teaching, Facilities, Employability, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Impact, Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, and Global Engagement — reflecting the University’s strong commitment to quality, excellence, and impact of its activities.

According to the official QS Stars website, NOVA now joins an elite circle of universities worldwide holding this seal of international excellence — one of only two in Portugal and among just over twenty across the European Union to achieve this global distinction.

In the QS Stars system, a 5-Star university is recognized for its global reputation, its ability to attract international students, and its state-of-the-art facilities that enable cutting-edge research projects of great national and international relevance. Such institutions also boast a highly qualified faculty, with academics from around the world, and innovative programmes that prepare students for successful careers across multiple sectors. For this reason, graduates from 5-Star universities are among the most sought-after by employers.

Earning the 5-Star distinction in the QS Stars University Ratings is a testament to NOVA’s overall quality, consistency, and international impact, as well as to the success of the academic projects developed by each of its Schools. Ultimately, it reaffirms NOVA’s position as a university of excellence dedicated to serving education, science, and society.

Unlike rankings, which order institutions according to their relative performance, QS Stars University Ratings is a rating system that assesses each university independently, based on international standards of excellence. This voluntary and auditable process allows institutions to demonstrate objective evidence of their performance in areas such as teaching, research, employability, innovation, social impact and sustainability. The rating does not establish a hierarchy among universities, but rather recognises specific merits, allowing any institution — regardless of its size or notoriety — to achieve the highest rating.

NOVA Formula Student accelerates towards the future of mobility

10 de October, 2025

This summer of 2025 will forever be remembered by the NOVA Formula Student team. With the support of the NOVA Route Zero – project that is laying the foundations for the university’s carbon neutrality – NOVA students achieved remarkable results in two of the most prestigious international university automotive engineering competitions: Formula Student Portugal and Formula Student Spain.

At the national competition, held in August, the team presented the concept for their future electric car and secured 1st place overall in Class 2. This achievement was further strengthened by top rankings in the static events, where they won 1st place in the Business Plan Presentation, 3rd place in Cost and Manufacturing, and 1st place in Engineering Design.

In Spain, competing with their combustion car, the team made their debut in the dynamic events and achieved 9th place overall, with solid results that reflect their progress: 2nd place in the Business Plan Presentation, 5th place in both Cost and Manufacturing and Engineering Design, 6th place in Acceleration, and 8th place in Autocross.

More than the awards, these competitions represented moments of learning, resilience, and confidence in the future. They also marked a symbolic transition: the team’s final participation with a combustion vehicle. Now, the team is fully embracing the challenge of electric mobility.

The NOVA Formula Student project, whose history and other achievements we have already recounted here, is developed by over 60 students from NOVA FCT, NOVA FCSH, and NOVA IMS, who dedicate their free time to the design, construction, and optimisation of competition vehicles. The team is multidisciplinary and includes around ten female students, reflecting the inclusive and collaborative spirit of the University.

Created in the United States and adopted by Europe since 1998, Formula Student coffers students a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical and competitive environment.

Well-being and Mental Health at NOVA – Results of the Bandua Programme Survey: “There are days that just don’t go well. And that’s also part of life.”

10 de October, 2025

“One of the functions of academia is to encourage people to think about how it welcomes and responds to issues in its community,” emphasised Joaquim Gago, professor at NOVA Medical School and also responsible for the Mental Health Promotion Programme in Higher Education, at the beginning of the meeting in the auditorium of the NOVA University Lisbon Rectory on Monday, 6th, during which the results of the Well-being and Mental Health at NOVA survey, promoted by the Bandua programme, were presented. This involvement, added Olga Cunha of NOVA FCSH, who has been working on the ground to put this vision into practice, ‘must be on a daily basis and consider both mental and physical aspects.’

It was with this in mind that a survey was launched among the NOVA student community to better understand the situation. According to the data now available, which included responses from 1,778 students with an average age of 24, 43% do little or no physical exercise, less than 28% say they have good quality sleep, and 65% have felt concern or panic in the last week. In addition, the data indicate that women and undergraduate students are more vulnerable. In conclusion, it is widely agreed that sleep and academic satisfaction are key factors for well-being.

In the round table discussion that followed, and given the surprise expressed by those responsible for the results regarding sleep quality, it was also emphasised that ‘it is also important not to convey a sense of catastrophe and to prepare young people to seek answers,’ as Joaquim Gago insisted, recalling the importance of repeating the survey in the future. ‘A positive attitude, purpose and connections are some of the skills that the university should promote,’ added Olga Cunha.

Bandua is a programme run by NOVA University Lisbon that promotes mental health and well-being in the academic community. Part of the National Programme for the Promotion of Mental Health in Higher Education, it is developed by the NOVA Health Platform and funded by the Directorate-General for Higher Education. As an initiative that cuts across the entire NOVA community, it aims to contribute to a healthier, more inclusive and tolerant university environment – and is managed by a team composed of representatives from all the University’s schools, as well as the Rectorate and Social Action Services.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from NOVA’s psychology services (Carolina Champalimaud – Nova SBE; Sandra Ferro – NOVA FCT; and Sandra Mateus – Social Action Services /SASNOVA) and the testimony of an undergraduate student – who shared some of the anxieties felt by her and her network of contacts, largely motivated by social media: “from the constant Tik Toks that we don’t fail to see, for fear of missing out on something, to the point of needing to have a LinkedIn account and lots of achievements to tell the world about!‘

In the end, everyone agreed that there are some important messages to pass on to them: ’Not everyone around us knows exactly what they want. They just hide it better!‘ And also: ’There are days that just don’t go well. And that’s also part of life.”

NOVA mourns the passing of Catarina de Albuquerque

8 de October, 2025

It is with deep sadness and consternation that NOVA School of Law announces the passing of Catarina de Albuquerque, Chair of the Faculty Council.

Throughout her career, Catarina de Albuquerque stood out internationally in the defence of human rights, with particular emphasis on the right to water and sanitation. With a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon and a Master’s degree in International Law from the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Études Internationales (Geneva, Switzerland), in 2008 she became the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on Water and Sanitation, leading the enshrinement of access to drinking water as a universal human right. Since 2014, she has served as CEO of the UN Global Partnership Sanitation and Water for All, strengthening its global impact.

She has been a visiting professor at the Law Faculties of the University of Minho and the University of Coimbra, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of North Carolina.

Among other distinctions, she received the Gold Medal for Human Rights from the Portuguese Parliament, the Order of Merit from the President of the Republic, and the IWA Global Water Award. Recently, in 2025, she was recognised by Forbes Portugal as one of the 50 most powerful women in the country.

As Chair of the Board of NOVA School of Law, Catarina de Albuquerque inspired the entire academic community with her example of leadership, integrity and commitment to human rights. Her work, vision and dedication leave a lasting legacy that will continue to guide the Faculty and all of us.

The Rector of NOVA, Doctor Paulo Pereira, and the Director of NOVA School of Law, Professor Margarida Lima Rego, offer their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Catarina de Albuquerque.

Full house at the inauguration of the Rector of NOVA

8 de October, 2025

It was a sold-out day on Tuesday, 7 October, in the auditorium of the Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon, on the Campolide campus, where the inauguration ceremony of the Rector, Paulo Pereira, took place. He is the tenth to hold the position in the (just over) 50-year history of the institution. ‘NOVA is a young university, and our journey has only just begun. (…) But NOVA is not built on isolated leaps or solitary gestures. It is built as it has always been built by the collective strength of its community,’ he emphasised in his speech.

As the first researcher to take on the highest position at NOVA, Paulo Pereira made a point of reminding everyone that ‘the university is much more than a place where people teach and learn. It is a space where we are entrusted with the extraordinary responsibility of educating free citizens. Not just good professionals, but women and men committed to building a better world. This is perhaps our greatest challenge.’

In addition to the Rector, the new rectoral team also took office at an event open to the academic community and institutional partners, which began, as usual, with the Academic Procession, followed by a speech by the President of the University’s General Council, Luísa Ferreira.

‘As we begin a new cycle in the life of this University, we are challenged not only to preserve what we have built, but to design what we can still become, always in pursuit of excellence. The University is, by nature, a space for transformation: of ideas, of people, of societies,’ she said, before concluding: “Today is a day of celebration and renewed hope. As a former student and assistant at this institution and current President of the General Council, I am reassured to know that NOVA is in good hands and that its future will continue to be built by those who know it, respect it and want to see it grow.”

Accompanying Paulo Pereira at an event also marked by the music of the Beatles – living up to the fact, already acknowledged in NOVA Talks Sala de Imprensa, that the band’s hit Come Together serves as the motto for his term of office – the new rectorial team took office, composed of: Cecília Roque, Vice-Rector for Research and Advanced Training; Emília Monteiro, Vice-Rector for Teaching, Academic Life, Health and Quality; Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs; Manuela Aparício, Pro-Rector for Educational Innovation; Elsa Peralta, Pro-Rector for Culture, Social Impact and Communities; Catarina Fortuna, Pro-Rector for Heritage, Infrastructure and University Campuses; João Dias, Pro-Rector for Administrative Innovation, Digital Transformation and Communication; José Branco, Pro-Rector for Institutional Development and Fundraising; Júlia Seixas, Pro-Rector for Sustainability; and Ana Rita Marante, Administrator.

NOVA grows by over 20% with 105 researchers among the most cited

3 de October, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon has once again stood out on the global research stage, with a record 105 researchers included in the latest edition of the prestigious World’s Top 2% Scientists Ranking, published annually by Stanford University.

This ranking, based on the Scopus database, identifies the 2% of the most cited scientists worldwide across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields. It is published in two separate lists: one accounting for citations over the researcher’s entire career, and another focusing on citations from the past year (2024). Both use standardised metrics to ensure accuracy and to minimise practices such as excessive self-citation.

This year, NOVA has recorded a 22% increase compared with last year’s results (86 researchers were included in 2024), consolidating a growth trend over the past five years. Never before have so many NOVA researchers been recognised in this ranking, strengthening the University’s position as an international scientific reference.

In the career list, NOVA features 55 researchers (up from 47 in 2023). In the one-year list, there are 82 researchers (70 in 2023).

Source: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/8

View the official list here

Name – Affiliation (Career)

Miguel C. Seabra – NMS*

Rodrigo Ferrão Paiva Martins – NOVA FCT*

Luis M. Camarinha-Matos – NOVA FCT *

Elvira M. C. Fortunato – NOVA FCT*

Sónia A. C. Carabineiro – NOVA FCT*

Douglas W. McKee – FCT NOVA* (sem link indicado)

Miguel Pina e Cunha – Nova SBE*

Luís P. N. Rebelo – NOVA FCT*

Hartmut F. Lüecke – NOVA FCT

Pedro R. Póvoa – NMS*

Manuel D. Ortigueira – NOVA FCT *

Pedro V. Baptista – NOVA FCT *

Fernando S. Pina – NOVA FCT *

Tiago André Gonçalves Félix De Oliveira – NOVA IMS*

José Paulo Sampaio – NOVA FCT *

Marcelo Urbano Ferreira – IHMT NOVA*

J. L. Capelo-Martínez – NOVA FCT

Pedro Pita Barros – Nova SBE

Fernando Cebola Lidon – NOVA FCT *

Maria João Romão – NOVA FCT

Marcos Raydan – NOVA FCT *

Maria A. M. Reis – NOVA FCT *

João Conde – NMS*

Ana Rita Cruz Duarte – FCT NOVA*

Carlos C. Romão – ITQB NOVA B

Winchil L. C. Vaz – NMS

J. P. Oliveira – NOVA FCT *

Tomás Barros Ramos – NOVA FCT *

Rita Almeida Ribeiro – NOVA FCT

Inês A. C. Pereira – ITQB NOVA *

João Goulão Crespo – NOVA FCT

Svetlozar G. Velizarov – NOVA FCT

Helena Santos – ITQB NOVA

Cecïlia Maria Arraiano – ITQB NOVA

Ricardo Nuno Vigário – NOVA FCT

R. M. Miranda – NOVA FCT*

Manuel A. G. Silva – NOVA FCT *

José Paulo B. Mota – NOVA FCT

Leonardo Vanneschi – NOVA IMS*

R. R. Oliveira – NOVA FCT *

Ana B. Pereiro – NOVA FCT

João Aires-de-Sousa – NOVA FCT

Paula M. Alves – ITQB NOVA /IBET

Hugo C. Biscaia – NOVA FCT *

Rodrigo M. Gonçalves – NOVA FCT

Manuel J. T. Carrondo – ITQB NOVA/IBET

L. M. Pereira – NOVA FCT

T. Mertens – IHMT NOVA

Ana Luisa Fernando – NOVA FCT *

Ricardo L. R. Jardim-Gonçalves – NOVA FCT

Mauro Castelli – NOVA IMS*

Florbela B. M. Pereira – NOVA FCT *

Marko Beko – NOVA FCT

Rui Miguel Henriques Dias Morgado Dinis – NOVA FCT

João F. A. Martins – NOVA FCT *

*32 autores que se repetem em ambas as listas;

“Name – Affiliation (Single Year)”

Tiago André Gonçalves Félix De Oliveira – NOVA IMS*

M. Manuela Chaves – ITQB NOVA

J. P. Oliveira – NOVA FCT *

Sónia A. C. Carabineiro – NOVA FCT *

Rodrigo Ferrão Paiva Martins – NOVA FCT *

Elvira M. C. Fortunato – NOVA FCT *

João Conde – NMS*

Paulo Miguel Ferreira Rita – NOVA IMS

Miguel Pina e Cunha – Nova SBE*

Pedro R. Póvoa – NMS*

Luis M. Camarinha-Matos – NOVA FCT *

Manuel D. Ortigueira – NOVA FCT *

Pedro V. Baptista – NOVA FCT *

Miguel A. Ferreira – Nova SBE

Chrysi Rapanta – NOVA FCSH

Ana Rita Cruz Duarte – NOVA FCT *

Maria A. M. Reis – NOVA FCT *

Alexandre Paiva – NOVA FCT

Mauro Castelli – NOVA IMS*

Tomás Barros Ramos – NOVA FCT *

Pedro Neves – NOVA SBE

Helena Carvalho – FCT NOVA

Carlos Tam – NOVA IMS

Laura Helena Silveira Guerra Andrade – NMS (sem link indicado)

José M. Caldas-de-Almeida – NMS

Jenny M. Hoobler – Nova SBE

Christopher J. Millett – ENSP NOVA

Fernando Cebola Lidon – NOVA FCT *

Radu Godina – NOVA FCT

Hugo C. Biscaia – NOVA FCT *

Telmo Gomes Santos – NOVA FCT

Ana Lúcia Leitão – NOVA FCT

Leonardo Vanneschi – NOVA IMS*

Fernando Lucas Bação – NOVA IMS

Victor G. L. Souza – NOVA FCT

Carla Maia – IHMT NOVA

Fernando S. Pina – NOVA FCT *

Filomena Freitas – NOVA FCT

Miguel C. Seabra – NMS*

Jiajia Shen – NOVA FCT

Marcos Raydan – NOVA FCT *

José Paulo Sampaio – NOVA FCT *

Inês A. C. Pereira – ITQB NOVA*

Maria João Melo – NOVA FCT

Frederico Cruz-Jesus – NOVA IMS

R. R. Oliveira – NOVA FCT *

Ana Luisa Fernando – NOVA FCT *

Susana Viegas – ENSP NOVA

Alexandra R. Fernandes – NOVA FCT

R. M. Miranda – NOVA FCT *

Manuela Aparicio – NOVA IMS

L. C. Branco – NOVA FCT

Cândida Fonseca – NMS

Florbela B. M. Pereira – NOVA FCT *

Miguel Viveiros – IHMT NOVA

Filomena Gomes – NMS

Manuel A. G. Silva – NOVA FCT *

Luís P. N. Rebelo – NOVA FCT *

Frederico M. V. Bastos Gonçalves – NMS

Pedro M. C. Barquinha – NOVA FCT

Otilia V. Vieira – NMS

Nuno Miguel Cardim – NMS

Ellen C. Kuhlmann – IHMT NOVA

Georgios Douzas – NOVA IMS

Karina Bivar Xavier – ITQB NOVA

Júlia Costa – IQTB NOVA

Marcelo Urbano Ferreira – IHMT NOVA*

Douglas W. McKee – NOVA FCT*

Maria João Cardoso – NMS

João Manuel Braz Gonçalves – NMS

Susana P. Gaudêncio – NOVA FCT

Luís Velez Lapão – NOVA FCT | IHMT NOVA

Raffaella Gozzelino – NMS

Ana Cecília Afonso Roque – NOVA FCT

Catarina M. Paquete – ITQB NOVA

Luis M. N. P. Pereira – NOVA FCT

Carla Costa Lança – ENSP NOVA

Luisa B. Maia – NOVA FCT

Carla Sofia e Sá Farinha – NOVA FCT

Pedro M. Costa – NOVA FCT

João F. A. Martins – NOVA FCT *

Dawei Liang – NOVA FCT

NOVA receives Higher Education Student-Athlete Seal

participantes no palco durante o evento com o certificado do selo estudante-atleta

2 de October, 2025

On 30 September, NOVA University Lisbon received the Higher Education Student-Athlete Seal, awarded by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ), at a ceremony held at the Constantino Nery Theatre in Matosinhos.

The Student-Athlete Seal, created in 2022, distinguishes Higher Education Institutions or Organic Units that promote sports participation in higher education, recognising good practices and encouraging the compatibility between sports representation and academic requirements.

The award of the seal, valid for the 2024-2026 biennium, is an incentive for the ongoing work of all those who promote sport in higher education, in particular student-athletes, whose dedication and effort are fundamental to building a more inclusive, dynamic and balanced university.

NOVA welcomes five young professionals under European intellectual property excellence programme

1 de October, 2025

Until the end of 2025, NOVA University Lisbon will host five young professionals under the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme, promoted by the European Patent Office (EPO). This initiative aims to provide practical, high-level experience to young European talents in the fields of intellectual property (IP) and knowledge transfer.

NOVA has been actively involved in this programme, contributing not only as a host institution but also by supporting the pre-selection of its own students, who join this European network of excellence every year.

The five professionals now seconded to NOVA will be placed across different units: two at the Rectorate, through the NOVA Impact office, one at FCT NOVA, one at ITQB NOVA and another at NMS. During their secondment, which is set to run from October to December 2025, these young professionals will engage in various activities related to IP management, innovation, and the valorisation of the knowledge generated at NOVA.

Their work will include identifying projects and researchers with potential for IP protection, supporting the management and valorisation of NOVA’s IP portfolio, strengthening connections between researchers and industry, assisting in the creation of spin-offs and the negotiation of technologies, and contributing to the optimisation of internal processes and the refinement of performance indicators in the field of knowledge transfer.

This collaboration reinforces NOVA’s commitment to creating social and economic value through scientific research, while also strengthening its internal capacity in innovation and entrepreneurship and deepening its ties with leading organisations in the field of intellectual property. Through this initiative, NOVA consolidates its position as a European reference university in knowledge valorisation and in supporting young talents who seek to expand their skills and transform ideas into real societal impact.

SECURE2: NOVA reinforces its commitment to promoting research careers

1 de October, 2025

Following the success of the European SECURE project, NOVA University Lisbon is reinforcing its commitment to promoting research careers by participating as a pilot institution in the SECURE2 – Sustainable Careers for Research Empowerment project. This project aims to test and implement the recommendations of the European Research Career Framework (RCF), supporting the career progression and mobility of researchers.

The project kick-off meeting took place on 15 and 16 September in Sarajevo, bringing together the eighteen members of the consortium to discuss and define the next stages of work.

Like its predecessor, SECURE 2’s main objectives are to reduce precariousness and improve research careers. SECURE identified obstacles (national, institutional or cultural) in the policies and processes of recruitment, mobility, training, development and career progression of researchers, and developed an RCF based on these findings.

By fostering dialogue, testing concrete interventions and sharing results across Europe, SECURE2 aims to turn ideas into action, contributing to a more sustainable, attractive and empowered research ecosystem.

NOVA is proud to be part of this network and, in the initial phase of the project, will focus on identifying areas for intervention in order to implement an institutional action plan in line with the main recommendations of the RCF. Collective institutional efforts should contribute to obtaining the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research label and to developing a more attractive scientific research ecosystem at NOVA, in line with the best practices of leading institutions and the latest European policies.

You can find out more about the SECURE2 project here!

Towards decarbonisation: NOVA strengthens strategic partnership with Cleantech for Iberia

29 de September, 2025

Last Friday, NOVA University Lisbon’s rectorate hosted a high-level meeting of Cleantech for Iberia, a strategic initiative that aims to establish the Iberian Peninsula as a European leader in clean technologies and green reindustrialisation. As the only Portuguese higher education institution involved in the coalition, alongside IE University in Spain, NOVA reinforced its role as a key academic partner.

The meeting brought together key figures from the Portuguese government, including Minister for State Reform Gonçalo Matias and Secretary of State for Energy Jean Barroca, as well as representatives from the industry, investment and innovation sectors.

Launched at Web Summit 2023, Cleantech for Iberia aims to accelerate decarbonisation and foster a sustainable and competitive industrial ecosystem across the region. The coalition comprises universities, incubators, banks, family offices, and technology companies that are committed to developing local value chains and ensuring that renewable energy is produced, transformed, and consumed within the region, thereby creating qualified jobs and driving technological innovation.

NOVA University Lisbon has played an active role in this initiative. In 2023, it took part in the official launch in Madrid, thereby strengthening its dedication to devising novel solutions to Europe’s energy and environmental issues.

Inauguration Ceremony of the Rector

26 de September, 2025

On 7 October at 16:00, NOVA University Lisbon will mark an important occasion with the Inauguration of the new Rector, Doctor Paulo Pereira, and his Rectoral Team.

The ceremony will take place in the Rectorate Auditorium, at the Campolide Campus, and signifies the beginning of a new chapter in NOVA’s journey, with renewed leadership for the coming years.

The event is open to the academic community and institutional partners. Formal dark attire or academic dress with insignia is recommended.

Registrations are open until 5 October – sign up here and be part of this symbolic and inspiring moment for NOVA!

PROGRAMME

Opening of the Ceremony with the Academic Procession
Address by the President of the General Council
Investiture of the Rector
Address by the Rector
Musical Interlude
Inauguration of the Rector’s Team
Musical interlude by the NOVA Choir
Greetings in the Atrium

RECTOR’S TEAM

Vice-Rectors

Cecília Roque – Vice-Rector for Research and Advanced Training
Emília Monteiro – Vice-Rector for Teaching, Academic Life, Health and Quality
Isabel Rocha – Vice-Rector for Innovation, Value Creation and Global Affairs

Pro-Rectors

Manuela Aparício – Pro-Rector for Pedagogical Innovation
Elsa Peralta – Pro-Rector for Culture, Social Impact and Communities
Catarina Fortuna – Pro-Rector for Heritage, Infrastructure and University Campuses
João Dias – Vice-Rector for Administrative Innovation, Digital Transformation and Communication
José Branco – Vice-Rector for Institutional Development and Fundraising
Júlia Seixas – Vice-Rector for Sustainability

Administrator
Ana Rita Marante

ULEAD4ALL: NOVA hosts final meeting on inclusive leadership in higher education

26 de September, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon hosted the Lisbon Assembly, the final in-person meeting of the Erasmus+ ULEAD4ALL project — a European initiative dedicated to promoting inclusive leadership in higher education. This significant event brought together international partners, educators and aspiring leaders to celebrate their shared journey and reaffirm their dedication to creating more diverse, equitable and transformative academic communities.

Coordinated by UIIN (University Industry Innovation Network), the project involved Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (NOVA’s partner in the EUTOPIA Alliance), Trinity College Dublin, ADVANCIS and NOVA itself. NOVA played an active role in implementing a pilot Inclusive Leadership Training programme. Participants developed Personal Journey Projects (PJPs) that reflected their personal growth aspirations and a collective commitment to inclusion and diversity in universities.

One of the most remarkable moments of the gathering was the intervention of Teresa Pizarro Beleza, Full Professor at NOVA School of Law, who delivered the keynote“The Right to Belong: Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education (Leadership)”). In her critical reflection, enriched with personal notes and insights on the national context, Professor Beleza highlighted the persistent gap between institutional discourse and lived reality, underlining the urgency of concrete actions to make Higher Education truly inclusive.

Rede 1/4 is now available on the ODSlocal platform

23 de September, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon’s initiative, which connects people with spare rooms with people looking for somewhere to live and study, has officially been integrated into the ODSlocal platform. Rede 1/4‘s application was approved for meeting all the pre-established criteria, demonstrating its high relevance and positive impact on the region.

This integration is an important step in establishing Rede 1/4 as an innovative, sustainable solution to the housing crisis with economic, ecological and social benefits.

The ODSlocal platform aims to mobilise municipalities, public entities and civil society to create a national movement committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. By showcasing initiatives such as Rede 1/4, the platform enhances the visibility of transformative projects and fosters the development of an active and collaborative community.

With the support of partners such as CNADS, OBSERVA, MARE and 2Adapt, the ODSlocal platform provides a dynamic portal through which you can view and monitor municipalities’ contributions to the SDGs, ensuring quality information and a strong focus on communication.

Rede 1/4’s presence on the ODSlocal platform highlights its direct contribution to global sustainable development goals, thereby reinforcing NOVA University Lisbon’s role in developing inclusive and effective solutions to contemporary social challenges.

Fundação Santander Portugal and NOVA award 3 innovative projects centered on interdisciplinarity research

22 de September, 2025

The 1st edition of the Ignition Grants for Interdisciplinary Research, supported by Fundação Santander Portugal, selected 3 scientific projects for funding, each awarded with 30.000€.

The Ignition Grants for Interdisciplinary Research replaced the previous “Santander/NOVA Collaborative Research Award”. The call features two main new aspects: it was open to all fields of knowledge and had a significant increase in its grant amount. The initiative aims to develop new collaborative and interdisciplinary research ideas that address societal and scientific challenges.

The initiative is aligned with NOVA’s strategic goal of promoting collaborative and interdisciplinary research with great scientific and societal impact.

One of the awarded projects is NOVACryoSkin, which proposes a new paradigm in the cryopreservation of biological materials, suggesting the use of cryoprotective agents based on natural compounds for the preservation of reconstructed human epidermis. This is particularly innovative because currently long-term preservation of biological material requires extremely low temperatures combined with highly toxic cryoprotectants.

In this project, Principal Investigator (PI) Filipe Oliveira, from NOVA FCT, teams up with Professor Duarte Barral, from NMS, to combine two emerging and highly successful technologies developed at NOVA – Eutectic Systems and NOVA Skin®, respectively. This innovative approach may allow the use of low-toxicity cryoprotectants and enable preservation at milder temperatures, eliminating the need for extreme cold. As a result, it could significantly reduce the ecological footprint and technical complexity associated with cryopreservation processes, representing a major step forward in regenerative medicine.

Toy Story, on the other hand, is the winning project proposed by Isabel Tissot as Principal Investigator (NOVA FCT) that will explore tinplate toys produced in Portugal between 1920 and 1960, analysing them as both cultural and material artefacts. These toys reflect the industrial, technological, and social dynamics of the time, including gender roles and educational approaches. Despite the significance of the Portuguese toy industry—known for creatively reusing materials and adapting international techniques—its history remains underexplored. The interdisciplinary team, includes Maria Fernanda Rollo (NOVA FCSH), as co-principal investigator, as well as Marta Manso, Paula Urze, and Tiago Silva (NOVA FCT), bringing together conservation, history, sociology, physics, and engineering. The project focuses on four main areas: preservation, industrial context, socio-cultural impact, and sustainable innovation. By connecting materials, production methods, aesthetics, and societal context, Toy Story will reveal the role of toys in inspiring sustainability, fostering creativity, and enriching our understanding of material culture.

Lastly, INSUBIO is the awarded project led by principal investigator Tomás Pinheiro, from NOVA FCT through the associated laboratory CENIMAT|i3N, and co-principal investigator Tatiana Burrinha, from NOVA Medical School. This young, interdisciplinary team proposes the development of an innovative insulin biosensor, designed to complement the current methods of glycemic control used in diabetes monitoring, promoting a more personalized and effective approach to the treatment of this disease.

The project stands out for its low environmental impact, combining technological innovation with ecological responsibility. It also seeks to democratize access to healthcare by developing more affordable and reliable solutions for monitoring diabetes. INSUBIO exemplifies the strategic collaboration between two research centers of excellence, bringing together engineering, materials science and biomedicine to respond to challenges with an impact on quality of life.

Through this initiative, NOVA and Fundação Santander Portugal reinforce their commitment to promoting collaborative and interdisciplinary science, opening doors for new ideas to flourish and contribute to meaningful scientific and societal progress.

NOVA and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation strengthen strategic partnership in global health

18 de September, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon hosted a meeting with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) to strengthen international cooperation in critical areas such as public health and global health. Held at the Rectorate last 11th, the meeting was attended by Fiocruz President Mário Moreira, accompanied by Fernando Bozza, the researcher responsible for the Cooperation Agreement with NOVA and the Institute of Molecular Biology of Paraná (IBMP), as well as Camille Giaretta Sachetti, Advisor to the President.

The main objectives were to prepare for the renewal of the memorandum of understanding that unites the institutions in 2026 and to identify new opportunities for collaboration, with a special focus on the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

Led by João Amaro de Matos, Vice-Rector for International Education and Development, the session included representatives from ENSP, Nova Medical School, and IHMT, highlighting the cross-cutting nature of this strategic partnership.

NOVA and the National Arts Plan sign cooperation agreement

17 de September, 2025

A new stage of collaboration has been formalised between NOVA University Lisbon and the National Arts Plan (PNA) in the form of a cooperation agreement that strengthens their shared dedication to culture and education.

Attending the ceremony were NOVA’s Provost for Culture, Clara Rowland, and PNA representatives Paulo Pires do Vale and Sara Brighenti

This agreement marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that aims to promote the connection between education, research and artistic creation. Through this collaboration, NOVA and the PNA intend to develop innovative initiatives that will transform access to the arts and recognise the important role that culture plays in academic education and in fostering active and critical citizenship.

Paulo Pereira elected as rector of NOVA University Lisbon

16 de September, 2025

The General Council of NOVA University Lisbon elected Paulo Pereira as Rector of the institution this tuesday, 16, following a public hearing, reproduced at NOVA Youtube Channel.

The electoral process’s minutes can be consulted here.

Paulo Pereira is Research Coordinator at NOVA Medical School (NMS) | NOVA University Lisbon, where he leads a research group dedicated to the study of degenerative retinal diseases. He was Vice-President of the Foundation for Science and Technology (2012-2015) and Director of the Center for Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Coimbra.

Currently, coordinates the iNOVA4Health unit, focused on biomedical research. As a professor, founded and coordinates the international master’s program NBR – NOVA Biomedical Research, recognized for its pedagogical model, participated in the creation of doctoral programs, and is the director of several curricular units.

At NMS, he led high-impact national and European projects and coordinated the COVID-19 task force, strengthening the University’s response to the pandemic. He has also held several executive and collegiate positions in academic bodies. Internationally recognized, he promotes scientific and cultural cooperation, bringing science, art, and society closer together.

Curriculum Vitae
Action Plan

Application for the Position of Rector – Public Hearing Rectorate

15 de September, 2025

The public hearing will take place on 16 September 2025.
It will be broadcast live to the Rectorate Auditorium and via the NOVA YouTube channel.
Schedule:

08:50 – Public draw to determine the order in which candidates will present their applications
09:00 – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 1
10:10 – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 2
11:20 – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 3
12:30 to 13:30 – Lunch break
13:40 – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 4
14:50 – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 5
16:00 – General Council meeting and voting

More information here

SUPERNOVA is welcoming 100 more international students and announcing new undergraduate programmes for the 2026/27 academic year

15 de September, 2025

The fall semester of the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme officially began on Monday 15 September at NOVA Medical School in Lisbon. The programme continues to establish itself as a gateway to international higher education in Portugal and welcomes around 100 students from approximately 78 different countries this semester.

To mark the arrival of the new students, a Welcome Week took place from 8th to 12th September. During this integration week, participants had the opportunity to get to know each other better through an online Meet & Greet session, which included icebreaker activities and strategies to help them adapt to academic life more easily. There was also a presentation by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) about the support services available to international students.

The highlight of the week was the Welcome Session, held on Friday morning, 12 September, at NOVA Medical School. This featured a welcome address by Vice-Rector João Amaro de Matos, followed by a detailed presentation of the SUPERNOVA programme with an opportunity to ask questions about academic management. The team responsible for the programme was introduced, as were various NOVA University Lisbon resources and initiatives, such as NOVA Sports, the Bandua project and other extracurricular opportunities available to students.

At the end of the session, students participated in a guided tour of NOVA Medical School led by alumni of the institution. The tour covered the main spaces and other areas useful for academic life, enabling new students to familiarise themselves with the campus where they will study throughout the semester.

Important news was also announced this semester: new undergraduate programmes will be available to apply for starting in the 2026/27 academic year. These include courses in areas such as Cognitive and Behavioural Sciences, and Ocean Sciences.

More info at the SUPERNOVA website

Fulbright Commission awards scholarships to NOVA again

15 de September, 2025

Responsible for awarding scholarships that provide Portuguese students and researchers with the opportunity to continue their work in the US, the Fulbright Commission has just announced the results of the scholarships awarded for the 2025/26 academic year. Among the winners are three students and one professor from NOVA University Lisbon.

Joana Condesso – research grant supported by FLAD (NOVA FCSH).

João Pedro Franco – doctoral grant supported by FCT (former Nova SBE student). Ricardo Louro – Grant for professors and researchers (ITQB).

Ricardo Louro: Grant for professors and researchers (ITQB). Estela Lopes – Fulbright-Schuman grant (administered by the Fulbright Commission in Belgium) (former Nova School of Law student).

Estela Lopes: Fulbright-Schuman grant (administered by the Fulbright Commission in Belgium – former Nova School of Law student).

The Fulbright Program, administered in more than 150 countries, was created in the United States in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright. The programme’s goal is to promote the sharing of ideas and the search for solutions to global problems through the international exchange of students and professors.

In Portugal, the programme is administered by the Fulbright Commission, which has awarded grants to Portuguese and American students and researchers in various fields every year since its inception in 1960.

NOVA FCT researcher awarded ERC Grant to revive historical textile dyeing techniques

5 de September, 2025

Paula Nabais, researcher and lecturer at the Department of Conservation and Restoration at NOVA FCT, and integrated member of the Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), has been awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant worth €1.49 million to lead the SCARLET project — a five-year investigation that bridges science, history, and sustainability to address the environmental challenges of the textile industry.

SCARLET focuses on the study and recovery of historical dyeing techniques used between the 15th and 18th centuries. Drawing on recipes from the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, England, and France, the project aims to reinterpret traditional practices — particularly the use of natural dyes — to develop sustainable solutions for contemporary textile production.

“This study recovers and values past knowledge on natural dyes used in historical textiles. By bringing together science, history, and art, the project opens new perspectives on our cultural heritage while offering sustainable solutions for the future of the textile community,” explains Paula Nabais.

A key outcome of the project will be the creation of a digital platform that makes these historical recipes accessible and applicable to modern methods, empowering textile professionals — from companies to artists — to explore the potential of natural dyes and traditional techniques.

In Portugal, the project will focus on the application of colour to three types of Portuguese wool — Merino, Bordaleira, and Churra — aiming to promote the value of this national resource and contribute to the revitalisation of the local textile sector.

SCARLET directly addresses the European Union’s Sustainable Development Goals, offering natural alternatives that can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of textile production.

This is Paula Nabais’s first ERC Grant. She is a former student of NOVA FCT, where she completed her undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. The ERC Starting Grants support early-career researchers with innovative projects and are funded by the European Commission through the European Research Council.

Ten programmes at NOVA University Lisbon lead nationally with the highest entry grades

23 de August, 2025

In 2025, NOVA University Lisbon ranks first nationwide in 10 programmes in the National Higher Education Access Competition (CNAES), positioning itself as one of the country’s most attractive and competitive institutions. All these programmes registered the highest minimum entry grade (general contingent) at national level, reinforcing the quality and demand for the education offered across NOVA’s schools. The programmes in which NOVA leads are Cell and Molecular Biology, Conservation – Restoration, Mathematics, Political Science and International Relations, Philosophy, History, Nutrition Sciences, Law, Economics, and the new programme in Maritime Studies.

In total, these programmes represent 23% of NOVA’s offer in the National Access Competition, a result that confirms the diversity of the institution’s academic excellence.

“The data from the National Higher Education Access Competition demonstrate the strong demand for NOVA, which continues to be at the top of students’ preferences. We remain a benchmark for those who see NOVA as an innovative institution that prepares them for the challenges of the future,” said João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon.

In the first phase of the 2025/2026 CNAES, NOVA filled 2,768 of the 2,872 places available, achieving an occupancy rate of 96.38%. These figures place the institution third among all Portuguese universities.

“This is the moment to congratulate all students and to wish them every success in the academic year that is now beginning. It is for each one of them that we work every day,” added João Sàágua.

‘Sustainability for Research’: The NOVA Doctoral School is launching a pioneering course on responsible science

8 de August, 2025

The debut is set for October, with a focus on integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into scientific practice. This marks the first edition of Sustainability for Research, an innovative and interdisciplinary course designed to support doctoral students, researchers, and academic staff in embedding the SDGs into their research projects.

With a total workload of 28 hours (1 ECTS), the course will be held in person on 8, 9 and 16 October, and is limited to 25 places. It is open to doctoral candidates from NOVA University Lisbon, researchers and lecturers, as well as students from partner universities and external applicants.

The programme covers key topics such as core concepts of sustainability, the relationship between research and the SDGs, sustainable practices in scientific research, and strategies to maximise the social and environmental impact of research projects – and over three intensive days, participants will engage in theoretical sessions, individual and group work, dedicated mentoring, and final presentations.

The academic faculty, led by Paula Antunes (NOVA FCT), comprises Júlia Seixas (Pro-Rector of Sustainability at the University), Isabel Maurício (IHMT NOVA) and Graham Miller (Nova SBE), and will guide participants in creating practical plans to increase the impact of their research and communicate their societal contributions effectively.

More information

Course page

Register here!

SUPERNOVA: academic excellence without borders

1 de August, 2025

There are moments that change everything. For many young people around the world, the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme is that turning point: a unique opportunity to discover new paths, gain confidence and start designing their academic future with ambition and purpose.

Inspired by the cosmic phenomenon that transforms the universe around it, NOVA University Lisbon’s pre-university programme offers international students a transformative experience and solid preparation for higher education in Europe. Spanning two semesters (spring and fall), it combines academic excellence, career guidance and intercultural experience.

Since 2023, SUPERNOVA has opened doors to direct admission at NOVA and partner universities upon meeting the progression criteria. Students who successfully complete the programme can apply for their first year of studies at institutions such as Ca’ Foscari University (Venice), CY Cergy Paris Université, Lancaster University (UK), the University of Algarve or NOVA’s new campus in Cairo.

And long live the summer!

As a complement to the annual academic programme, NOVA launched the SUPERNOVA Summer School in 2022: an intensive, immersive programme for students wishing to experience the European university environment over a shorter period.

The most recent edition took place from 6th to 19th July 2025 in Lisbon and brought together thirteen students from seven different countries. During this time, they visited seven NOVA schools — ITQB NOVA, NOVA Medical School, ENSP NOVA, Nova SBE, IHMT NOVA, NOVA FCT and NOVA School of Law — gaining first-hand experience of the university’s academic diversity and reflecting on their own interests and aspirations.

However, SUPERNOVA’s Summer School extends beyond the classroom. Based at the Livensa Living – University City residence, participants shared cultural experiences and took part in activities such as surfing and paintballing.

Applications are open!

Now that the summer edition has concluded, the SUPERNOVA team is preparing for the next stages: the Fall Semester 2025, which is about to begin, and the spring 2026 semester, for which applications are open until 31 October.

With a flexible duration of between six months and one year, and courses taught in Portuguese and/or English by NOVA professors, the programme attracts students from an increasingly diverse range of countries (PALOP, Brazil, the USA, Russia, Morocco, Tunisia, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom), confirming with each new edition that academic excellence knows no borders.

NOVA Startup Competition 2025: GeoCura shines again and will represent the university at STAGE Two

1 de August, 2025

The Rectorate of NOVA University Lisbon celebrated innovation once again this Wednesday, the 30th, by hosting the final of the NOVA Startup Competition 2025, an initiative that brought together nine finalist startups in an environment marked by innovation and a competitive spirit.

In total, 20 applications were submitted, demonstrating the growing dynamism of NOVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The overall winner was GeoCura, comprised of Huseyin Cetinkaya, Mavis Olorunyomi, Fabiola Dodaj, and Shah Saud. The team had already won an award this year at ImpACT! Challenges and once again stood out for its innovative proposal and the potential impact of its project.

The competition’s jury was comprised of three leading experts in the innovation and investment sector: Inês de Macedo Santos (Armilar Venture Partners), Pedro Telhado (Olisipo Way), and Sofia Jacob Soares (Lisboa Innovation). They evaluated the projects based on criteria such as feasibility, degree of innovation, and growth potential.

With this distinction, GeoCura secured access to the STAGE Two program, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. This represents a unique opportunity for international recognition and investment from venture capital funds.

Scientist Back to School: The program that inspires children across the country is now accepting applications for the next school year

30 de July, 2025

Five years on, scientists from a variety of research fields have once again accepted the challenge of inspiring future generations by spending a day at their former schools and sharing their passion for science with current pupils. As part of the ‘Scientist Returns to School’ programme, promoted by Native Scientists, creative and interactive workshops have been held for primary school children across the country. These workshops demonstrate that a passion for science can develop anywhere — even in the classroom where children learn to read and write.

Conceived by Joana Bordalo, a former student of NOVA FCSH and NOVA Impact’s Starters Academy, the initiative has attracted participants and schools from across the country, with significant involvement from NOVA’s research scientists.

This school year alone, participants included Lucas Sousa (Nova SBE), who visited his former school in Albufeira; António Granado (NOVA FCSH), who returned to his old school in Fundão; Inês Gomes (NOVA Medical School), who went back to her old school in Sintra; and Tiago Faria (NOVA FCSH), who visited his old school in Fafe. ; Ana Carolina Buga, a doctoral student at ITQB NOVA, who brought science to Sintra; Ana Raquel Barbosa (NOVA Medical School), who led a session in Ponta Delgada in the Azores; Filipa da Silva Lopes (NOVA FCSH), who debuted in Bagunte in Vila do Conde; and Raquel Viveiros (NOVA FCT), who brought science to Braga.

Since 2022, more than 160 researchers have participated, including those from beyond NOVA!

Call for applications for 2025/26

The Native Scientists team is currently preparing for the next academic year and has already opened applications for 2025/2026. Scientists and students who have attended public primary school in Portugal are eligible to apply, regardless of their field of study. Additionally, the program offers science communication training for children, support in designing workshops, and coverage of travel and materials expenses.

This time, and in the interest of being as inclusive as possible, we are particularly interested in participants who have studied in the following locations: Azores, Alentejo, and Algarve (all municipalities), Cartaxo, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Idanha-a-Nova, Lagoa (Algarve), Mesão Frio, Murça, Pampilhosa da Serra, Peso da Régua, Ribeira de Pena, Sabrosa, and Vila Nova de Foz Côa.

Registration is simple and can be completed through the program’s official website. Participation is subject to school availability and funding raised; therefore, registration does not automatically guarantee the workshop.

NOVA IMS and the Municipality of Oeiras launch Ocean Innovation Lab at Expo Osaka 2025

Diretor da NOVA IMS, Professor Miguel de Castro Neto durante a apresentação oficial do NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab, um laboratório de investigação e inovação que visa aplicar Ciência de Dados e Inteligência Artificial (IA) à gestão sustentável dos oceanos.

28 de July, 2025

Using the latest developments in data science and artificial intelligence, the NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab puts Portugal at the forefront of analytics applied to the blue economy and ocean sustainability. This directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

The Portuguese Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025, whose motto is ‘The Ocean as a Global Dialogue’, hosted the official launch of the NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab on Sunday 27th. This research and innovation laboratory aims to apply data science and artificial intelligence to sustainable ocean management.

This initiative is the result of a partnership between NOVA Information Management School (NOVA IMS) and the Municipality of Oeiras within the scope of the Oeiras Mar 2030 programme. It already has the support of the Ocean Forum, the Port of Lisbon Administration and the Infante D. Henrique Higher Nautical School, and is currently expanding to include other national and international entities.

Based at NOVA IMS — the only higher education institution in Portugal dedicated solely to data science and AI — the laboratory is provided with scientific coordination and its mission is to develop advanced technological solutions to address critical challenges in the maritime domain, including:

– Environmental monitoring: conservation and health of ecosystems;
– Digital twins of the ocean: modelling and scenario simulation;
– Predictive risk analysis: safety in navigation and on beaches;
– Smart ports: logistics and operational optimisation;
– Sustainable fishing: monitoring and management of marine resources;
– Combating illegal activities: the detection and prevention of maritime crimes.

The laboratory also aims to foster collaboration between academia, government and industry, particularly with regard to training qualified talent, bringing academia and industry closer together, and promoting applied research.

Signing this protocol in Osaka, at an Expo dedicated to building the society of the future, is deeply symbolic. Portugal now has its first data analytics laboratory for the oceans, uniting data science, AI, and ocean sustainability. The NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab embodies our commitment to transforming data into knowledge with global impact and providing practical solutions to today’s major challenges,” says Miguel de Castro Neto, Director of NOVA IMS.

The Mayor of Oeiras, Isaltino Morais, says that this initiative “is further proof of the Municipality’s strategy to establish the region as a centre of innovation and excellence”.

‘It had to be a project bearing the stamp of the Oeiras Valley because our goal is to be at the forefront of major technological and scientific projects, promoting innovation and sustainability,’ the mayor emphasised.

This initiative reinforces Portugal’s position at the forefront of ocean innovation, promoting sustainable solutions with global relevance.

NOVA at Expo Osaka 2025: strengthening strategic partnerships with Asian universities

26 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon took part in Expo 2025 Osaka with a strong focus on international cooperation and the promotion of academic excellence. At the Portuguese Pavilion, the Memorandum of Understanding with Nagasaki University was renewed, reinforcing a partnership centred on the fields of History and Art History, as well as Global Health and Tropical Medicine. “This collaboration is not only about shared knowledge—it is about building bridges between cultures and turning research into real-world impact,” said the Rector of NOVA, João Sàágua, during the ceremony. The partnership involves NOVA’s School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) and the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT NOVA), and aims to deepen joint research, academic mobility, and cultural initiatives between Portugal and Japan.

NOVA also formalised a new agreement with Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, consolidating an existing relationship through student exchange programmes and Erasmus+ cooperation. The new Memorandum of Understanding expands the scope of collaboration to include cultural and literary studies, with a particular focus on the historical interactions between the two countries. The initiative foresees student and staff mobility, the organisation of joint workshops, and collaborative research projects, further strengthening academic and cultural ties between Portugal and Japan.

At Osaka University, a new agreement was signed, marking the beginning of a more dynamic phase in the partnership between the two institutions. Following mutual institutional visits, NOVA and Osaka University committed to developing projects in the areas of Portuguese cultural studies, life sciences, and data science. NOVA expressed its enthusiasm for working with the university’s new leadership, highlighting the importance of an active, dynamic, and impactful collaboration that promotes academic exchange, joint events, and applied research.

As part of its visit to Asia, NOVA will also take part this Sunday in the inauguration of the Sino-European Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (SEAM), at Nanjing University of Information, Science and Technology, in China. This new research facility results from a partnership between LIBPhys-NOVA and IMIC and aims to drive innovation in artificial intelligence applied to medicine.

Also on Sunday, at the Osaka Expo, NOVA IMS and the Municipality of Oeiras officially launched an ocean innovation laboratory.: NOVA Oeiras Ocean Analytics Lab.

NOVA University Lisbon officially launches its participation in Expo 2025 in Osaka.

26 de July, 2025

This Saturday, 26 July, NOVA University Lisbon marks the official start of its participation in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan – a significant milestone in affirming its international presence.

The opening ceremony took place this morning and was attended by the Rector of NOVA, João Sàágua, Vice-Rector João Amaro de Matos, and Pro-Rector José Branco. The occasion was highlighted by the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), further strengthening ties between Portugal and Japan.

As the Rector emphasised, “this moment symbolises a new chapter in Portuguese-Japanese academic cooperation, paving the way for research networks, student exchanges, and joint projects that will benefit the entire academic community.”

Also present at the ceremony were the Portuguese Ambassador to Japan, Gilberto Jerónimo, the Commissioner-General for Portugal’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Joana Gomes Cardoso, and the Director of the Portugal Pavilion, Bernardo Amaral.

Through this participation, NOVA reaffirms its role as a global and civic university, committed to knowledge, innovation, and the future.

Follow NOVA and Portugal on this journey into the future!
More information at expo2025.unl.pt

NOVA student-athletes shine at the 2025 World University Games

25 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon returned to the World University Games in 2025, with four of its student-athletes representing Portugal in various sports. Their performances filled the academic community with pride, including an historic medal win in university tennis.

Pedro Araújo won bronze in mixed doubles tennis

Pedro Araújo, a Business Administration student at Nova SBE, was the standout performer among the NOVA delegation. As a member of the National University Tennis Team (SNU), he placed 17th in both men’s singles and doubles. However, it was in the mixed doubles event, alongside Maria Garcia of Auburn University in the USA, that he won the bronze medal — only the third in the history of Portuguese university tennis, following Nuno Borges’s achievement in 2017.

Clara Judas Paiva delivered a promising performance in rhythmic gymnastics

The 19-year-old bachelor’s degree in Agroindustrial Technology student at NOVA FCT participated in the individual all-around event, finishing 40th out of 49 athletes. Her best result was 34th in the ribbon event, demonstrating her great potential for future international competitions.

Rafaela Gomes Azevedo competed in the swimming semifinals

A master’s student in Medicine at NOVA Medical School, Rafaela competed in the 100-metre and 50-metre backstroke events. She achieved her best result in the latter, reaching the semifinals and finishing 10th out of 33 swimmers — a high-level performance in a demanding competition.

Filipe Almeida contributed to the team’s artistic gymnastics results

Undergraduate student on the Business Administration programme at Nova SBE, Filipe Almeida performed well in artistic gymnastics. His individual results included 49^(th) place on the horizontal bar, 60^(th) on the parallel bars, 19^(th) on the vault, 49^(th) on the rings and 53^(rd) on the floor. His performance helped Portugal achieve 16th place in the team standings.

These appearances bring the total number of NOVA students who have competed in the World University Games to 35, which further reinforces the university’s commitment to academic and athletic excellence.

More information here!

EUTOPIA Doctoral Summer School 2025: Sustainability and Innovation in an International Context

grupo de participantes na edição de 2025 na escadaria no exterior da reitoria da Universidade

24 de July, 2025

Imagine a week dedicated to international collaboration, critical reflection, and the development of solutions to global challenges — all within an inspiring and unconventional environment. This was the spirit of the 3rd edition of the EUTOPIA Doctoral Summer School, organised by the NOVA Doctoral School of NOVA University Lisbon, which took place from 18 to 22 July 2025, with sustainability as its central theme.

The initiative brought together 27 doctoral students from 14 universities, representing 15 nationalities and 27 research programmes. The aim was to bring together different fields of knowledge to collectively reflect on current scientific challenges and develop solutions as a team.

Paradise, just around the corner!

The programme began, just like in previous editions, with four residential days at the Convento da Arrábida, a site of great historical and natural value, which inspired group project development, working sessions and debates, all within a co-creation dynamic — a format widely praised by the students, who highlighted the setting as a key element of the experience.

The final day took place at the Rectorate of NOVA, where the groups publicly presented their final projects. The session was attended by Vice-Rector João Amaro de Matos, responsible for Education and International Development, who awarded the participation certificates.

On the road to Brussels

The highlight of this last session was the announcement of the winning project: “CertifAI – Sustainable LLMs in Healthcare”, an innovative proposal applying state-of-the-art language models (LLMs) to the healthcare sector.

The project explores the potential of artificial intelligence to interpret, understand and generate text that meets sustainability goals while improving the quality of care provided.

The team, composed of students from Vilnius Tech, Göteborgs Universitet, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, NOVA IMS and NMS, secured a place at the upcoming edition of the Responsible Internationalisation Summit, an event focused on promoting ethical, sustainable and socially responsible internationalisation practices in higher education, to be held in Brussels.

Celebrating diversity

This edition also stood out for its institutional and geographical diversity, with participants from eight academic units of NOVA, four partner universities of the EUTOPIA Alliance, one European university outside the network, and one Brazilian university.

The programme was further enriched by contributions from distinguished speakers:

Antonio Luna García (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), who discussed success and failure cases in urban sustainability;
Karen François (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), who reflected on the challenges of interdisciplinarity and the use of artificial intelligence in doctoral research;
Júlia Seixas, NOVA’s Pro-Rector for Sustainability, who offered a broad perspective on the topic;
António Granado (NOVA FCSH), who explored effective strategies for science communication.

Organised by Professors Paula Macedo (ENSP-NOVA), Iva Miranda Pires (NOVA FCSH) and Kevin Gallagher (FCT NOVA), the Summer School also benefited from the guidance of three mentors: Ana Nuno, Luísa Santos and Tomás Pinheiro.

NOVA and the Royal Academy of Science International Trust have signed a collaboration agreement

23 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon and the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) signed, on Tuesday 22nd, a general cooperation agreement, reinforcing their shared commitment to science, education, and sustainable development.

The signing ceremony was attended by NOVA’s Rector, João Sàágua, and Her Highness Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director of RASIT, laying the groundwork for future collaborative initiatives between the two institutions.

RASIT is an international non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the United Nations, dedicated to promoting science, education, culture, equity, social justice, and sustainable development. It is particularly recognised for supporting the empowerment of women in academia and research, and for the global initiative Science In Braille, which fosters the inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals in STEMM (acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) fields through equitable and sustainable programmes.

Founder of the Women in Science International League and driving force behind the UN resolution establishing the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (celebrated on 11 February), Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite is an internationally acclaimed scientist and activist, with a background in human genetics and academic experience at institutions such as University College London and Harvard Medical School.

The newly signed agreement aims to promote synergies in areas such as entrepreneurship, peace through culture, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups, further aligning NOVA’s mission with the Sustainable Development Goals.

NOVA approves commitment to net-zero target by 2040

22 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon has officially approved its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. In practice, this commitment involves making decisions, taking action and arranging financing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (scopes 1 and 2), so that by 2040 at the latest, NOVA will no longer contribute to the increase in atmospheric emissions. This decision follows two years of collaborative work between NOVA’s various schools, the Rector’s Office and Social Action Services, and has been co-financed by the Environmental Fund.

This decision comes at a time when the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, and the associated costs are rising. NOVA recognises the essential role of universities in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, whether through the scientific research it promotes, its teaching and training activities, or above all, the example it sets for its community and society.

The newly adopted commitment establishes concrete targets for 2030 and 2040 to reduce greenhouse gases, based on the Science-Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) best practices. One of the main mechanisms developed is the InNOVA system, which enables the institution’s emissions to be monitored annually.

Priorities include establishing a team dedicated to NOVA’s energy transition, with the aim of eliminating the use of fossil fuels, maximising the potential for generating its own electricity (with a particular focus on solar energy) and exploring financing models and options for purchasing zero-emission electricity. Measures are underway to incorporate environmental criteria, including CO₂ emissions, into public procurement procedures, as well as to encourage more sustainable commuting and community service options.

InNOVA: NOVA’s new tool for evidence-based sustainability

21 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon introduces InNOVA, the Environmental and Sustainability Information System, developed under the NOVA Route Zero project. This digital platform consolidates, in a structured way, a set of environmental and sustainability indicators across the university.

Currently, InNOVA is responsible for producing the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories for Universidade NOVA, as well as disaggregated data for its organisational units. The implementation process involved active collaboration from NOVA’s nine Schools, the Welfare Services, and several Rectorate divisions. In the medium term, the system is expected to expand to include additional environmental indicators.

The platform offers two levels of access: one for the general public, providing access to the latest inventory data and the methodology used; and another for the NOVA community, granting access to disaggregated data by School, emission types, indicators, emission factors, and supporting files.

With this initiative, NOVA strengthens its commitment to sustainability, ensuring the annual monitoring of its carbon footprint and enabling more informed decision-making.

Find out more at the platform website

Pedagogical Innovation Award 2025: Applications open until 26 September

18 de July, 2025

The NOVA Pedagogical Innovation Award is back – celebrating and recognising transformative, creative teaching practices that make a real impact on learning. Created with the mission of promoting excellence in teaching across all study cycles, the award now enters its fourth edition, continuing to value pedagogical approaches that challenge convention and inspire the academic community.

Previous editions have highlighted projects that reimagined the way we teach and learn from participatory models in science education, to the creation of mock trials as a method of assessment in undergraduate courses, and the use of flipped classroom methodology to make bioenergy teaching more engaging and effective.

This year, applications are open until 26 September and are open to career-track teaching staff and researchers at NOVA University Lisbon, as set out in the Award Regulations.

The evaluation criteria include, among others, the relevance and originality of the practices implemented (compared to conventional approaches), as well as teaching excellence, considering the impact and reach of the pedagogical practices.

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted electronically to nova.inov.ped@unl.pt.

Required documentation:

(a) A completed application form, including a justification for the application, and supporting documents demonstrating the information provided in Article 3(3) (items a and b) and the evidence required in Article 5(2).
(b) A declaration of consent from the proposed professor(s) or researcher(s), which can be downloaded via the link in the announcement;
(c) A simplified CV of the candidate(s);
(d) The email address of the person responsible for the application, to which appropriate electronic notifications will be sent.

For more information, please consult the Pedagogical Innovation Award Regulations.

NOVA FCSH: Professor Alexandra Curvelo takes office as Head of the Faculty

Diretora da Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Alexandra Curvelo, na tomada de posse.

17 de July, 2025

“The inauguration of a new director is always a festive and expectant moment, and it is with particular satisfaction that we witness the renewal of leadership”, said João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon. Congratulating the newly appointed director, he highlighted the symbolic milestone of her becoming the first woman to lead the institution, and expressed hope that, “with everyone’s commitment, she will be able to take the school to a new level of excellence.”

Elected on 24 June, Alexandra Curvelo is now beginning a four-year term (2025–2029) during which she will prioritise strengthening the connection between teaching and research, promoting critical thinking and implementing a governance model guided by transparency and ongoing dialogue with the entire NOVA FCSH academic community.

At the ceremony held on Thursday, the 17th, at the Avenida de Berna campus, she emphasised, “We will do everything we can to ensure that NOVA FCSH becomes an even more socially committed and responsible faculty, with a national and international strategy, attentive to the debates and divisive issues of our times, inclusive and proactive.”

This was also the occasion when she presented her team: José Viegas Neves (Planning and Infrastructure), Carla Baptista (Culture), Helena Serra (Teaching and Students), Sónia de Almeida (Research), Madalena Resende (Internationalisation), Ricardo Campos (Communication and Society), and Leonor Medeiros (Curriculum Management).

A Full Professor in the Department of Art History, Alexandra Curvelo is a researcher at the Institute of Art History (IHA), which she directed from 2023 to 2025. Her research focuses on museology and modern art history, particularly the Portuguese presence in Asia, especially Japan.

NOVA student-athletes at the World University Games

16 de July, 2025

Taking place in Germany until 27th July, the event is led by Olympic runner-up Patrícia Mamona and boasts the largest ever contingent of Portuguese participants.

A total of 82 Portuguese student-athletes are participating in the World University Games, which began on Wednesday, 16th July, in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.

Four students from NOVA University Lisbon are among them:

Filipe Almeida is an undergraduate student on the Administration programme at Nova SBE and an artistic gymnast.

Clara Judas Paiva, an Agroindustrial Technology student at NOVA FCT, will represent Portugal in rhythmic gymnastics.

Pedro Vasconcelos Araújo, a Management student at Nova SBE, is competing in tennis.

Rafaela Gomes Azevedo is also a Master’s student in Medicine at NOVA Medical School, in swimming.

“As the head of the mission, I want to apply some pressure, but as an athlete, I want to alleviate that same pressure, which is not good for athletes. The only thing I ask of them is to do their best,” said Patrícia Mamona, who was a NOVA student before going to the USA, emphasising that “expectations are quite high.”

Following their historic participation in Chengdu, China, in 2023, where Portugal won seven medals, the Portuguese delegation is seeking to repeat or surpass that achievement in Germany.

Composed of 125 members, including athletes, coaches, officials and medical staff, the Portuguese delegation will be distributed across six host cities: Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Mülheim, Berlin and Hagen. Competitions are planned in 18 sports, with approximately 8,500 participants from over 150 countries.

Portugal will compete in individual events like athletics, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, judo, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, and archery. They will also participate in team events such as women’s basketball and men’s volleyball. In the group stage, the women’s basketball team will play against Chile, China, and Romania, while the men’s volleyball team will face Chinese Taipei, Brazil, and Australia.

Demo Day NOVA impACT! Challenges: Meet the winning teams with ideas aiming to change the world

vencedores do impact challenges 2025. grupo vencedor com o diploma no auditório da reitoria

15 de July, 2025

The future, or at least a glimpse of it, made its way through the Rectorate of NOVA this Monday, the 14th, during the Demo Day of NOVA impACT! Challenges. This initiative, led by the NOVA Impact Office, supports innovative projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the set of 17 global targets designed to ensure a fairer and more sustainable future to all by 2030.

After three weeks of workshops, mentoring and prototype development, 10 finalist teams pitched their solutions to a jury composed of Hélder Lopes (NOVA), Manuel Gaspar (Casa do Impacto) and Inês Petrucci (3xP Global).

Among the standout projects was GeoCura, a team of four Erasmus Mundus students from NOVA FCT — Huseyin Cetinkaya, Mavis Olorunyomi, Fabiola Dodaj and Shah Saud — who secured first place with a proposal combining environmental impact and social relevance.

GeoCura developed a self-healing concrete capable of autonomously repairing cracks and structural damage over time. Designed for the construction sector, this solution aims to reduce CO₂ emissions linked to cement production and maintenance, cut repair costs, and extend the lifespan of infrastructure.

Targeting a market valued at €14 billion, GeoCura contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), promoting more resilient and eco-friendly construction.

The project was awarded € 2,000 to support its development and was mentored by Professor Fernanda Lussá. It also received technical support from Luís Baltazar, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering. His contribution was particularly crucial in granting access to the NOVA FCT Civil Engineering Department’s laboratory facilities and ensuring technical and scientific monitoring throughout the project’s development.

The jury also awarded an honourable mention to the team EcoSeal, composed of Afonso Mendes (NOVA FCT), Selina Hartmann and Paula Reimold (Nova SBE), who presented a DIY Energy Saving Kit designed to help households identify and address energy inefficiencies.

Available for free two-week loans through community partnerships, the kit includes tools and educational materials that enable users to monitor energy use, reduce waste, improve thermal comfort, and lower energy bills.

Guided by mentor Rafael Rodrigues, the project encourages sustainable habits and energy literacy, contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13.

In total, 33 students took part, organised into 10 multidisciplinary teams, and over the course of three weeks benefited from specialised training, dedicated mentoring, and an initial grant of €500 to support prototype development.

Demo Day NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025 10

Demo Day NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025 11

Demo Day NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025 12

Demo Day NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025 13

Demo Day NOVA impACT! Challenges 2025 14

Application process for the position of Rector of NOVA

15 de July, 2025

Information on the agenda of the General Council meeting, 16 September 2025:

8:50 am – Public draw to determine the order of the public presentations by the candidates of their respective applications
9:00 am – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 1
10:10 am – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 2
11:20 am – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 3
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm – Lunch break
1:40 pm – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 4
2:50 pm – Public presentation and discussion of Candidate 5
4:00 pm – General Council meeting and voting

The public hearing will be broadcast live to the Rectorate’s Auditorium as well as NOVA’s YouTube channel.

Call: General Council meeting

On 24 June, NOVA University Lisbon was notified of a lawsuit and a precautionary measure relating to the rejection of a rectorial candidacy due to failure to meet statutory requirements. Following notification of the precautionary measure, the rectorial election process was suspended.

On 30 June, the university filed a reasoned resolution and opposition to the precautionary measure, as well as a response to the lawsuit.

According to doctoral and case law, submitting a reasoned resolution has the effect of lifting the suspension imposed by the precautionary measure, allowing the electoral process to resume before a final court decision is reached.

The Electoral Commission proceeded with the process and the General Council approved a new electoral calendar setting 16 September 2025 as the election date.

More information

Minutes No. 1
Minutes No. 2
Minutes No. 3

Applications accepted

NOVA University Lisbon announces the opening of the application process for the position of Rector, which will take place between 1 April and 2 May 2025.

Call: Electoral Commission meeting

For more information, please see:

SUPERNOVA Spring 2026: Applications open until 31 October!

grupo de estudantes de uma edição anterior do SUPERNOVA, junto ao edificio da NOVA IMS, no campus de campolide

14 de July, 2025

As it prepares to welcome students for the Fall Semester of 2025 in September, the SUPERNOVA Foundation Program team announces that applications are now open for the February edition and will be accepted until 31 October.

SUPERNOVA is a unique programme in Portugal, designed to support international students in their transition to European higher education. It provides a solid academic and linguistic foundation, with courses taught in Portuguese and/or English by various NOVA University Lisbon schools. The programme can be completed in six months to a year.

Beyond academic preparation, SUPERNOVA opens doors to higher education: students who successfully complete the programme can apply to NOVA and its partner universities, including Ca’ Foscari (Venice), CY Cergy (Paris), Lancaster University (UK), the University of Algarve and NOVA’s new campus in Cairo.

The most recent edition (Spring Semester) had 87 students from 31 different countries, with participants from Iran, the USA, China, Russia and Angola particularly well represented – reflecting the programme’s diversity and global reach.

Find out more about the programme on the brand-new SUPERNOVA website

Application form available here!

The European Research Council has granted funding to a project that will study the impact of algorithms on political information during election periods

14 de July, 2025

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious Proof of Concept (PoC) grant to Joana Gonçalves-Sá, a researcher at NOVA LINCS, the research centre of NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, and at LIP (Laboratory for Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics), to lead the FARE_DSA project – A Framework for Auditing Recommendation Engines under the DSA.

FARE_DSA will develop and test an innovative methodology for auditing algorithmic platforms that play a growing role in how citizens access information online – in particular, search engines and large language models (LLMs). This will be the first project to offer a concrete and policy-aligned tool for implementing Article 40 of the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which grants accredited researchers access to non-public platform data in order to assess systemic risks to the EU, such as electoral interference or political manipulation.

“Platforms like Google or ChatGPT have become key gateways to information,” says Joana Gonçalves-Sá. “But we are far from understanding how their algorithms influence public opinion. During the 2024 European Parliament elections, we observed that both search engines and LLMs systematically displayed content biased towards one side of the political spectrum. With this project, we aim to test whether such bias is widespread and, if so, why. This can only be done in collaboration with both regulators and platforms themselves, to identify causes and examine implications.”

Research into algorithmic transfer

The project builds on previous ERC-funded research, notably the ERC Starting Grant project FARE – Fake News and Real People (launched in 2020 with €1.5 million), and the PoC grant FARE_Audit, which enabled the development of customisable “online robots” (or webcrawlers) capable of mimicking human behaviour and simulating different characteristics (e.g. country, age, gender). These bots interact with search engines and LLMs to gather data on how platforms respond to user queries. Analyses from this approach show that minor variations in browsing history or user profile can lead to significantly different – and sometimes biased – results. FARE_DSA will deepen this methodology with access to real platform data under the DSA, offering new insights into how personalisation and monetisation may distort access to information, particularly during critical periods such as elections.

“Our team has spent years developing ethical, privacy-preserving tools to audit algorithmic systems without collecting personal data,” adds Joana Gonçalves-Sá. “But to truly understand what happens behind the scenes – for example, how online search results are ranked, or why certain links appear first – we need access to non-public data. Article 40 enables just that. It’s a unique moment for research into algorithmic transparency. This funding will help us open that door – and, we hope, help others follow through.”

The project will also clarify what data is available, in what formats, and under what conditions it can be accessed via Article 40 – aiming to end a longstanding deadlock between algorithmic transparency researchers and online platforms. FARE_DSA will also generate public policy recommendations, organise training for academics and NGOs, and contribute to broader audits of Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines (VLOPs and VLOSEs).

Although ERC Proof of Concept grants are often associated with commercial innovation, FARE_DSA demonstrates their potential as high-impact social innovation tools, bridging world-class science, digital transparency, and public policy implementation.

FARE_DSA has received €150,000 in funding and will be implemented over one year.

Biographical Note

Joana Gonçalves-Sá is a researcher at NOVA LINCS – NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon – and at LIP (Laboratory for Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics), where she leads the Social Physics and Complexity (SPAC) research group. Since 2025, she has also been External Faculty at the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna. She holds a degree in Engineering Physics from Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon, and a PhD in Systems Biology from NOVA ITQB, having completed her thesis at Harvard University (USA).

Between 2018 and 2020, she was Associate Professor at Nova School of Business and Economics and previously Principal Investigator at the Gulbenkian Institute of Science, where she led the Science for Society initiative and founded and directed the PhD programme PGCD – Science for Development, aimed at promoting scientific research in Africa.

She has received two ERC grants (StG_2019 and PoC_2022) to study human and algorithmic biases, using misinformation as a model system.

NOVA Showcased at Ciência 2025: ‘Without scientific research, there would be no transformative progress — the driving force behind so many economic and social changes.’

10 de July, 2025

‘Hosting this national meeting of Portuguese science at our institution is both a source of pride and a responsibility. Science, innovation and education are the foundations on which we build excellent universities and more just and sustainable societies that are better prepared for the challenges of the future,” said Isabel Rocha, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Research and Value Creation, as she welcomed the Science 2025 event. Held at the Nova School of Business and Economics in Carcavelos, the event was dedicated to the theme of “Science, Innovation and Society”.

‘This theme invites deep reflection on the structuring role of science in the development of contemporary societies. Without science, there is no disruptive innovation, which is responsible for so many economic and societal transformations,’ she concluded, noting that ‘scientists have a duty to bring science to society and assist in the processes of informed choice and decision-making, including in politics.’

Organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology and Ciência Viva in collaboration with NOVA, the meeting brought together over 200 speakers and featured dozens of scientific sessions. It also saw a prominent presence from the European Commission, thus underscoring the central role Portugal continues to play in building the European Research Area.

The event began with a welcome address from Cascais City Councillor Alexandre Faria. Soon after, Vera Aldeias, a University of Algarve researcher and meeting curator, joined Nova SBE professor Pedro Pita Barros. ‘Portugal has been an example of innovation, resilience, and science,’ she said, adding that there is a need for ‘the courage to discuss the challenges we face in our country’.

Rosalia Vargas, president of the Ciência Viva Centres network, which has just launched another ‘Ciência Viva no Verão’ (Living Science in the Summer), emphasised the importance of the scientific community: ‘Without science, there is no future, so we must nurture these ideas.’

Madalena Alves, head of the Foundation for Science and Technology, then took to the stage to emphasise her unquestionable support for all research, whether it has immediate or future applications.

The opening session was closed by Helena Canhão, former director of NOVA Medical School and current Secretary of State for Science and Innovation. After announcing the review of legislation in this area, she emphasised: ‘It is of the utmost importance that, as a state, we contribute to a Europe that remains solid and supportive as a beacon of democracy and freedom in times of uncertainty.’

The proceedings began with an inspiring address by Nuno Prego Ramos, founder and CEO of Valvian — the new name for CellmAbs, a NOVA spin-off that brokered the agreement with BioNTech to license NOVA technology for cancer treatment.

Under the title ‘Portuguese Scientific Innovation in the International Sphere: From Research to Application’, the first guest speaker emphasised the importance of ambition in science and revealed how laboratory knowledge is converted into high-value solutions, as exemplified by what is considered the most successful Portuguese spin-off in the field of biotechnology and life sciences, which has achieved worldwide recognition.

Disruptive Innovation and Transdisciplinary Dialogues

Isabel Rocha also featured in two parallel sessions on the other days of the event. The first, “Deeptech – from Science to Deeptech Startups”, addressed the role of science-based emerging companies in creating radical innovation, with contributions from António Teixeira (PICadvanced) and Alexandra Santos (Alea Capital Partners). The second, “Transdisciplinary Dialogues in Times of Uncertainty”, featured Verónica Policarpo (ICS – University of Lisbon) and Carlos Santos Silva (LARSyS and IST – University of Lisbon), and reflected on the importance of collaboration across fields of knowledge in complex and uncertain contexts.

Throughout the three-day event, NOVA’s stand showcased a diverse selection of research projects developed across its academic units, demonstrating the breadth and impact of the university’s scientific work:

Intelligent Olfaction – NOVA FCT (Ana Cecília Roque, Carina Esteves, Susana Palma)
NOVA Cidade – NOVA IMS (Miguel de Castro Neto, Duarte Rodrigues)
Cultural Heritage 360º – NOVA FCT (Sara Sá, Kiara Ventura)
Medieval – NOVA FCSH (Carlos Filipe Alves)
Haddad – Nova SBE (Euclides Major)
COPE – ITQB NOVA (Carlos J. S. Moreira, Catarina Araújo)
ColorAmp – ITQB NOVA (Catarina Amaral, Catarina Pimentel)
NOVA Skin – NOVA Medical School (Duarte Barral, Inês Fonseca)
BLOODless – IHMT NOVA (Henrique Silveira, Joana Marques)
Social Prescribing Portugal – ENSP NOVA (Alan Assunção, Margarida Pereira)
Mosquito WEB – IHMT NOVA (Carla A. Sousa, Filipe Lopes, Teresa Novo)

Registration is now open for the third EUTOPIA Ideas Club session: “Asylum, Migration, Inclusion, and Solidarity Policies in the EU”. Sign up by 20 July.

9 de July, 2025

Call for NOVA students: The next Ideas Club will be held at the University of Ljubljana, one of NOVA’s EUTOPIA partners, on 9 and 10 October 2025. It will address the urgent issues of asylum, migration, inclusion and solidarity policies in the European Union.

This student-led programme aims to raise awareness of European values through knowledge of, and reflection on, local, regional and national identity differences. The event will be held in a hybrid format, comprising an online activity in September and two in-person days in Ljubljana.

The call aims to select three students from each of the following EUTOPIA Alliance partner universities: Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain); Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai (Romania); Vrije Universiteit Brussels (Belgium); Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy); CY Cergy Université Paris (France); Technische Universität Dresden (Germany); Göteborgs Universitet (Sweden); NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal); and Univerza v Ljubljana (Slovenia). The University of Warwick (UK) and EUTOPIA’s global partners will also be able to select three students each.

Application requirements

We are looking for undergraduate (preferably) or master’s degree students from NOVA, from any discipline.
Please submit a CV accompanied by a cover letter in English containing a personal introduction and a critical reflection on contemporary social challenges.
The evaluation will focus on knowledge of the EUTOPIA Alliance and how relevant the topic is to personal development, among other things.
English proficiency will be assessed based on the CV and cover letter.

Selection process

The NOVA jury will comprise: João Amaro de Matos, Vice-Rector of NOVA; Ana Santos Pinto, professor at NOVA FCSH; and Carlotta Pisano, Ideas Club professor of the SUPERNOVA Foundation Programme.
The selection process may include an online interview. Results will be communicated individually by 4 August. Successful candidates must confirm their participation by 18 August.

Support

Travel, accommodation and meals will be covered for selected students from EU partner universities by the EUTOPIA MORE project, and for associated and global partners by institutional funds.

Schedule

Deadline for applications: 20 July 2025
Results announced: 4 August 2025
Deadline for appeals: 11 August 2025
Deadline for acceptance and confirmation of participation: 18 August 2025

Register and find more information here: eutopia@unl.pt

The terms and conditions are available here

Route Zero Conference: ‘Sustainability is not a peripheral concern — it is central, foundational and urgent.’

9 de July, 2025

The Rectorate Auditorium at NOVA University Lisbon played host to the Route Zero Conference, a landmark event at which the institution publicly presented its Roadmap for Climate Neutrality and Resilience. The result of two years of collaborative work, the roadmap demonstrates NOVA’s commitment to sustainability and encourages the entire academic community to work towards a more responsible and resilient future.

During the opening session, Rector João Sáágua emphasised that ‘this moment comes with great responsibility: to make decisions that will shape the next 50 years and beyond’. He also emphasised that sustainability ‘is not a peripheral concern — it is central, foundational, and urgent.’

Júlia Seixas, the Pro-Rector responsible for Sustainability, then took to the stage to present the pillars of the Route Zero project. She explained that ‘sustainability is not a static destination; it is a dynamic process’. NOVA has set itself ambitious decarbonisation goals, including reducing Scope 1 emissions by 95% by 2040, as well as taking concrete action in Scopes 2 and 3. This includes producing solar energy, certifying sustainable laboratories, and implementing green mobility and procurement policies. ‘We decided to move forward with this project because it requires us to understand, be aware and act,’ she said, adding that ‘everything is being done with the entire NOVA community’.

The following session featured international representatives such as Stephanie Panichelli-Batalla and Parvez Islam from the University of Warwick and Stefan Gumhold from the Technical University of Dresden — all of which are partner universities of NOVA in the EUTOPIA alliance — who shared their experiences and strategies for achieving carbon neutrality.

The conference also included a roundtable discussion with guests from the “Inquietos por Natureza” podcast – available to listen here – moderated by environmental journalist Ricardo Garcia. Garcia noted that “the only year we managed to reduce global emissions was during the pandemic, when the world stopped. Now, we don’t want to stop the world; we want to change the way we live.”

This was followed by a presentation by Marco Neves, a professor at NOVA FCSH, who explored the origins of five challenging terms related to climate change, such as “transition,” “mitigation,” and “resilience,” and reflected on the significance of language in conveying sustainability. Regarding the word “resilience,” he explained: “Resilience is the ability to bounce back and recover after something negative. It’s more related to the term ‘recovery’ than ‘resistance.'” He concluded that “sustainability is also a matter of communication, language, imagination, and our desire to keep talking.”

As reducing the ecological footprint of laboratories is one of the measures covered by the current agenda, the following panel, ‘Sustainability in Research Practice’, led by Júlia Seixas, reflected on the issue. Speaking remotely, Aaron Desmond (MyGreen Lab) recalled how his laboratory’s mission is to ‘create a global culture of sustainability in science and transform the industry into a global leader in the field’. Cristina Branquinho (CE3C-FCUL/CHANGE) shared her experience at the University of Lisbon and Margarida Prado (FC&T) explained how the process works within the European working group.

Ana Teresa Perez, President of the Climate Agency, delivered the closing remarks, presenting NOVA’s roadmap as “a concrete example of how knowledge is transformed into commitment and commitment into action,” emphasizing that “this type of initiative can make all the difference.”

More information about Route Zero

The full event is available here

NOVA at EUTOPIA Week in Warwick: Innovation, AI and Global Networks

7 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon attended EUTOPIA Week 2025, held at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom from 30 June to 4 July. The meeting, which took place under the theme of ‘Creating Global Connections’, brought together the ten European universities of the EUTOPIA alliance and six global partners. The aim was to promote international collaboration, student engagement, and the sharing of good practices between institutions.

Several activities were held during the week, including debate sessions, student-led workshops and cultural events. A particular highlight was the official dinner held at Coventry Cathedral, where British MP Taiwo Owatemi delivered a speech highlighting the University of Warwick’s role in innovation and regional development.

NOVA was also represented at a session dedicated to the theme ‘Innovation, Universities and AI’, where the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education was discussed. This discussion was attended by representatives from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Arizona State University, and NOVA itself and was moderated by John Higgins CBE. Concrete examples of AI applications were presented, including diagnostic tools for medical students, virtual assistants for student support, and solutions for research data analysis.

José Manuel Durão Barroso, former President of the European Commission, also attended the event and reflected on the role of universities in promoting international cooperation and responding to the challenges of global populism.

NOVA’s participation further strengthens its commitment to innovation, internationalisation, and fostering a more interconnected and inclusive European university community.

NOVA Talent Spotlight: Beach Wreck Win the 9th Annual NOVA Music Battle of the Bands

7 de July, 2025

The final of the 9th NOVA Music Band Competition, organised by NOVA University of Lisbon, took place on 25 June. The event, which was held at Tokyo Lisboa, featured performances by the three finalist bands: Beach Wreck, Call Me Again Tomorrow, and Sombra & Zel. Ultimately, Beach Wreck was crowned the winner of this edition.

The winning band includes Artur Miranda, a student of the Integrated master’s in electrical and computer engineering at NOVA FCT, highlighting the diversity of talent within the NOVA academic community. Beach Wreck stood out for their strong stage presence and musical originality, winning over both the jury and the audience.

The event was filmed by Unholyomega and is available to watch here.

NOVA Startup Competition 2025: Which university startup will be the next to conquer the European stage?

7 de July, 2025

Applications are now open for the NOVA Startup Competition, which will take place on 30 July 2025 at NOVA University Lisbon.

The competition is open to early-stage startups that demonstrate boldness and innovation. The winning team will represent NOVA in the European final of Stage Two in Berlin on 30 October. This prestigious competition brings together the best university startups in Europe, giving them the opportunity to present their solutions to top-tier investors and network with founders and industry experts.

As the Portuguese partner of Stage Two, NOVA aims to support promising projects by offering them visibility and access to new funding opportunities at a European level.

Taking part in this competition provides a unique chance to showcase innovative solutions to a discerning audience, access mentoring and investment opportunities, and connect with a European network of high-potential university startups.

More information and applications are available here

NOVA launches new campus dedicated to aerospace engineering in Cascais

4 de July, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA) will launch a new campus of Faculty of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), dedicated to aerospace engineering, on a 20-hectare site adjacent to Cascais Municipal Aerodrome. The deed, signed this Friday, 4th July, marks the beginning of a project aimed at strengthening education, research and knowledge transfer in the aerospace sector.

“This new campus will also be the birthplace of a pioneering concept in the national context: a ‘university airport’ — a space where academic training, scientific research and real-world experimentation converge with air mobility, advanced engineering and sustainability. A place where people learn, research, innovate and fly,” said José Júlio Alferes, Dean of the Faculty, during the ceremony. “NOVA FCT firmly believes that the future is built together — that universities, local authorities and businesses must work side by side, with a shared vision and common ambition. That is what today represents: the creation of a long-term platform for collaboration, serving students, researchers, companies, the region and the country,” he added.

This new NOVA FCT unit will be the University’s fourth presence in the municipality of Cascais.

According to João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA, represented at the event by Pro-Rector José Branco, “NOVA, through NOVA FCT, aims to place Portugal among the countries seriously investing in the aerospace sector as a pillar of sovereignty, disruptive innovation and future development. This land entrusted to us is more than soil — it is fertile ground for ideas we want to see grow, take flight… and perhaps even reach orbit. We are ready to honour the trust placed in us by Cascais City Council and by our many partners with hard work, integrity, ambition and results.”

This new campus will further strengthen NOVA’s positioning in cutting-edge engineering fields and contribute to the economic and social development of a region with significant growth potential.

EUTOPIA_HEALTH interdisciplinary mobilities are now open!

2 de July, 2025

The EUTOPIA_HEALTH project has launched short-term interdisciplinary mobilities for academic staff and researchers across the EUTOPIA_HEALTH consortium. This initiative supports 3 to 4 days mobilities aimed at fostering collaboration and sharing best practices within the consortium, with a focus on Health-related interdisciplinary topics.

Who can apply?

Academic staff (teaching or administrative) and researchers at any career stage, with a minimum of one year of work experience in Health-related research or research management, currently employed at NOVA University Lisbon.

Budget

Each outgoing mobility is funded up to 1,200€, covering accommodation, travel and living expenses.

Application process

Applications will be accepted continuously until all available funds are allocated. Eligible applications will be assessed and approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

At least 10 mobilities are expected to be awarded to NOVA’s researchers and academic staff. All mobilities must be accomplished by 30 June 2027.

For more information, please visit the EUTOPIA_HEALTH website.

If you have questions, please contact nova.research@unl.pt.

About the project

The EUTOPIA_HEALTH is an initiative of nine universities within the EUTOPIA Alliance. It aims to create a novel and innovative framework for integrative academic management of Health-related scientific areas. The consortium includes:

Widening universities: Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal).

Non-Widening universities: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy), CY Cergy Paris University (France), University of Gothenburg (Sweden), Pompeu Fabra University-Barcelona (Spain), University of Warwick (United Kingdom).

NOVA awards Honorary Doctorates to Maria Leptin and José de Sousa e Brito

No auditório da reitoria encontram-se cinco cadeirões com a decoração para o Honoris Causa. Sentados estão O Diretor da NOVA FCT, José Alferes, o Reitor da NOVA, João Sàágua, Diretora da NOVA School of Law, Margarida Lima Rego e os dois laureados na cerimónia, Maria Leptin e José Sousa e Brito

1 de July, 2025

This Monday, the 30th, the auditorium of NOVA University Lisbon was filled to celebrate another moment of great academic significance: the conferral of the title of Doctor Honoris Causa to Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC), and to José de Sousa e Brito, a prominent figure in the Portuguese legal academia.

“It is an honour to preside over a ceremony that distinguishes a scientist with an exceptional career and exemplary public service,” stated the Rector of NOVA at the opening of the session, highlighting Maria Leptin’s “pioneering work in the life sciences,” which “has helped expand our knowledge” and demonstrated how “fundamental science can illuminate life.” In short, he concluded, “this distinction reflects not only our admiration for her remarkable career but also the deep alignment between her values and those we uphold as an academic community.”

The tributes then turned to José de Sousa e Brito, acknowledged as a scholar whose intellectual legacy has shaped generations. “For nearly half a century, Professor Sousa e Brito has been devoted to teaching, sharing not only knowledge but also a rare ability to inspire critical thinking, ethical reflection, and academic rigour. With a career marked by tireless dedication to the pursuit of justice and legal clarity, his influence transcends the classroom, leaving a lasting mark on institutions and legal frameworks that define our society.”

Before an audience including several prominent public figures – such as Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon and former European Commissioner; José João Abrantes, President of the Constitutional Court; and former Minister of Justice, Francisca Van Dunem – the laudatory speeches and thanks from the honourees followed.

The first tribute was delivered by Elvira Fortunato, whose laboratory was among those that received the most ERC grants. Recalling the most significant milestones in Maria Leptin’s life and work, she emphasised how the ERC President “continues to champion scientific excellence across Europe and beyond.”

As the first Portuguese recipient of an ERC grant, Elvira Fortunato made a point of highlighting the importance of the 39 grants awarded to NOVA and the impact of the creation of the ERC Portugal Initiative, coordinated by the Foundation for Science and Technology. “These initiatives do more than expand the frontiers of science; they actively contribute to shaping our collective future, fostering prosperity and societal well-being.”

Maria Leptin thanked and reciprocated the praise: “The largest share of European research funding went to NOVA – clearly the best and most successful Portuguese university.” She also emphasised the importance of fundamental science: “Many do not understand why so much is invested in basic science. But it is that knowledge that enables us to tackle today’s major challenges.” She concluded with revealing data: “44% of ERC projects generated knowledge cited in patents; 400 new companies were born from discoveries funded by these grants.”

The tribute to José de Sousa e Brito followed. The first words came from Teresa Pizarro Beleza, read by Frederico da Costa Pinto: “His greatest virtue is persistence,” expressing her gratitude for the honouree’s personal generosity, especially in giving access to his library. “I know he was with me as he was with so many others.”

Luís Duarte d’Almeida, author of the second laudatory speech, reinforced this recognition, interspersing his remarks with poetic excerpts. Quoting The Philosophy of Literary Form by Kenneth Burke, he evoked the “metaphor of the unending conversation” as the ideal of academic dialogue, especially in the humanities and in analytical philosophy, the field in which Sousa e Brito always stood out. “The first time I read that metaphor, the image that came to mind was the library – the famous library – of José de Sousa e Brito.”
He underlined the honouree’s role in shaping, over many decades, an intellectual community across several fields: “Entering a library for the first time is already entering an unending conversation, and countless are the people who only truly began to engage in such a conversation in the library of José de Sousa e Brito.”

In the end, the honouree himself expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt manner: “I will forever be indebted to NOVA for having allowed me to teach Philosophy of Law, my favourite subject.” Throughout his speech, he stressed that “it is impossible to treat legal matters properly without considering philosophical questions.”

As expected, the ceremony ended with poetry: “As Pessoa says, everything is worthwhile…”

Honoris Causa Maria Leptin e José de Sousa e Brito

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NOVA awarded honorary doctorates to Robert Langer and Maria Damanaki

30 de June, 2025

Last Friday, 27th January, the Rector’s auditorium at NOVA University Lisbon hosted a ceremony to welcome two important figures in science and world politics to our community.

“Few have contributed to health and to expanding the frontiers of knowledge in this way. Their vision and dedication exemplify the best of science for the benefit of humanity,’ said NOVA’s Rector João Sáágua, speaking about the career of the distinguished MIT scientist, Robert Langer. He added: “Maria Damanaki is a woman with an extraordinary vision, on the front line against a dictatorship, opening space for women’s careers, with a life full of achievements and values that represent the best of humanity.”

Laudatory speeches were given, followed by the presentation of the medal to each of the laureates.

‘The impact of his work makes him an Edison of medicine,’ said Pedro Oliveira, Director of the Nova School of Business and Economics, regarding Langer. He recalled that Langer had helped save millions of people around the world, even just considering his contribution to the mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 during the pandemic. ‘A hero who broke down the walls between industry and academia,’ he concluded.

‘To say he is a pioneer is an understatement,’ added João Conde, vice director of research at NOVA Medical School, recalling the privilege of having collaborated with Langer at MIT. ‘Above all, Langer changed the way we do science: simply, humbly, and never giving up. Furthermore, he is guided by the conviction that science should serve people. Let there be no doubt: this is the hero we want to follow.’

Even at the age of 76 and with an impressive CV, Robert S. Langer always smiled as he expressed his gratitude, emphasising above all what had kept him going: ‘Failure is okay. Remember that any great entrepreneur of our time failed before achieving success.” He also said that “you should work hard because you want to – if we realise how much this can change the world, then we will work even harder”.

Assunção Cristas, vice-president of the Faculty Council of NOVA School of Law, then took to the stage to praise Maria Damanaki. ‘She is more than Greek; she is a citizen of the world who has never been indifferent to the circumstances faced by women’, he said, also recalling how the former European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries had entered politics at an early stage in her life. ‘One of her greatest contributions was the restoration of much of the marine life, which allowed for the creation of thousands of jobs in this area,’ Assunção Cristas highlighted, adding that her career is an inspiration to us all. ‘Protecting the ocean is not only possible, but essential for the future of humanity.’

Maria Damanaki made a point of explaining this, after remembering that she was born next to the sea and almost drowned at the age of three: ‘I always wanted to know what was beyond that immense blue’. As for her life as a politician, she acknowledged that it was not easy, even for someone like her who is a convinced Europeanist. In the end, she made a point of remembering Pessoa: ‘To be great, be whole.’

Honoris Causa - Robert Langer e Maria Damanaki

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NOVA stands in solidarity with Palestine

27 de June, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon is deeply concerned about the tragic situation in Gaza, which has been widely recognised and denounced by the United Nations as extremely serious.

In addition to the irreparable loss of tens of thousands of lives, the conditions for the region’s future development have also been systematically destroyed. Notably, the devastation of Palestinian higher education institutions, with which NOVA had academic cooperation relations, is an additional impact of this humanitarian catastrophe. Many of these institutions have had their infrastructure and equipment seriously damaged or destroyed, and a large number of their professors, researchers, students, and other professionals have been killed or forced to flee.

NOVA joins the United Nations in calling for an immediate end to the violence and respect for international humanitarian law. We also call for Palestine to be recognised as an independent state. We reaffirm our commitment and willingness to resume academic cooperation projects with Palestinian universities as soon as possible, in the spirit of solidarity, institutional commitment, and global responsibility.

We also express our solidarity with Palestinian members of the NOVA University Lisbon community, reaffirming our unconditional support for their dignity, safety and well-being.

NOVA Hosts the MetaRed 2025 International Meeting

26 de June, 2025

On 26 and 27 June, NOVA University Lisbon will host the MetaRed 2025 International Meeting of Presidents and Rectors, a highly significant initiative for the Ibero-American higher education sector.

MetaRed currently brings together over 1,700 universities, fostering a cooperative ecosystem in strategic areas such as digital transformation (MetaRed TIC), university entrepreneurship (MetaRed X), and sustainability and social responsibility (MetaRed S).

More than just an institutional gathering, this moment marks a significant turning point, celebrating the power of global collaboration in addressing the challenges of an ever-changing world. As NOVA’s Rector, João Sàágua, emphasises:

“We believe that progress is only meaningful when it is shared, inclusive, and sustainable.”

NOVA currently holds the presidency of MetaRed S in Portugal, leading the coordination among national higher education institutions in building a more sustainable and socially responsible academic agenda.

This International Meeting is therefore more than a space for reflection and the exchange of best practices: it is a call to action, ambition, and collaborative innovation.

“We hope this meeting will build bridges, open new possibilities, and foster innovative solutions that strengthen our universities,” reinforces the Rector of NOVA — reaffirming the university’s commitment to a more collaborative, global, and future-ready academic community.

NOVA strengthens strategic partnerships in Central Asia

24 de June, 2025

Over the course of six days in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, NOVA University Lisbon strengthened its ties with higher education institutions and established new collaborations with a direct impact on students. Discussions included exchange programmes, internships, and joint degrees, opening doors to academic and professional experiences in multicultural contexts. This journey was not only geographical, but also academic and human — reinforcing NOVA’s role as a global university.

The visit began in Baku on 9 June, with a meeting at ADA University, where Rector João Sàágua and Vice-Rector João Amaro de Matos were welcomed by Vice-Rector Fariz Ismailzade. Discussions focused on potential collaborations at the Master’s level in the fields of health management, data science, cybersecurity, and law and regulation.

On 10 June, a meeting was held with the State Agency for Science and Higher Education of Azerbaijan, represented by Ulker Sattarova and Muzhdat M. Hasanov, and attended by Professor Shahin Bayramov, Rector of Karabakh University. Opportunities for collaboration with local institutions were explored, including the development of joint degrees, student and researcher mobility programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and strategies to enhance the international visibility and competitiveness of Azerbaijani higher education.

Later that day, at Baku Higher Oil School, negotiations began for the signing of a memorandum of understanding, aiming to implement NOVA’s degree in renewable energies in partnership with NOVA School of Science and Technology, with the support of its Dean, José Alferes.

The Azerbaijani mission concluded on 11 June with the signing of a cooperation protocol with Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, in a meeting between Vice-Rector João Amaro de Matos and Rector Rufat Azizov. Priority areas include data science, computer engineering, and energy engineering, with particular emphasis on the potential introduction of the transversal and interdisciplinary module “Sustainability for All”, developed by the team led by Pro-Rector for Sustainability, Júlia Seixas.

In Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on 12 June, NOVA initiated a new collaboration with Nordic International University. Discussions included joint Master’s programmes in sustainable urbanism and spatial planning (in partnership with NOVA FCT and NOVA FCSH), a double-degree project in communication and media (NOVA FCSH), and the integration of Uzbek students into Nova SBE’s Executive Education programmes.

The mission concluded in Samarkand on 14 June with a visit to the Samarkand Bukhara Silk Carpets factory, known for annually hosting students from Karlsruhe University, Germany, for 10-day technical internships. The owner, Abdulahad Badghisi, expressed interest in welcoming NOVA students under similar conditions, paving the way for future collaborations in the fields of arts (NOVA FCSH), restoration (NOVA FCT), and engineering.

VA School of Science and Technology.

The mission in Azerbaijan concluded with the signing of a cooperation protocol with the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. Priority areas include data science, computer engineering, and energy engineering, with a special focus on the possible introduction of the cross-cutting module ‘Sustainability for All’, developed by the team of the Pro-Rector responsible for Sustainability, Júlia Seixas

In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, NOVA launched a new collaboration with the Nordic International University. Discussions included joint master’s programmes in sustainable urbanism and spatial planning, a dual degree in communication and media, and the integration of Uzbek students into Nova SBE’s Executive Education programmes.

The mission ended in Samarkand, on 14 June, with a visit to the Samarkand Bukhara Silk Carpets factory, which annually hosts students from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, for technical internships. The owner, Abdulahad Badghisi, expressed interest in welcoming NOVA students under similar arrangements, paving the way for future collaboration in the fields of arts, restoration, and engineering.

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Application process for the position of Rector of NOVA

24 de June, 2025

Suspension of the process

On 24 June, the University suspended the electoral process for Rector as part of an injunction filed by an interested candidate.

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NOVA University Lisbon announces the opening of the application process for the position of Rector, which will take place between 1 April and 2 May 2025.

Call: Electoral Commission meeting

For more information, please see:

NOVA Spin-off ®, Cleocare, distinguished in international innovation competition in Macau

23 de June, 2025

Cleocare, formerly Glooma, a NOVA Spin-off ®, was awarded the Greatest Potential for Transfer of Technological Value prize in the 2025 edition of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Macao) for Technology Enterprises from Brazil and Portugal. Cleocare was selected to participate in this competition by NOVA itself, recognizing the start-up’s potential impact in the healthcare sector.

Organized by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macau Special Administrative Region Government, the competition brought together 17 finalists from Brazil and Portugal. The event, which aims to promote technological cooperation between Macau, China and Portuguese-speaking countries, awarded prizes to companies in areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, medical devices and IoT.

The prize awarded to Cleocare recognizes its high potential for transferring technological value to the Greater Bay Area – Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao. In addition to the prize money of 50.000 MOP (around 5.300 EUR), Cleocare will have access to networking and collaboration opportunities with investors, incubators and academic institutions in China, namely in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Jiangsu.

“This distinction represents an important international recognition of the work we have been doing. It is a clear sign that our technology has the potential to make a real impact in the healthcare sector, not only in Portugal but also in international markets. We would like to thank NOVA for their vote of confidence and for all their support throughout this journey”, said Francisco Nogueira and Frederico Stock, co-founders of Cleocare.

This success highlights NOVA’s role in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as internationalization in the scientific and technological field.

Check here more information about the competition

and here for more information about Cleocare

QS Ranking 2026: NOVA leads Portugal in reputation for employability and international diversity

19 de June, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon rose 61 places in the latest edition of the QS World University Ranking to position 327 worldwide. In this way it overtook the University of Coimbra, establishing itself as the third best Portuguese university, in a context in which almost all national universities improved their positioning, reinforcing the prestige of higher education in the country.

NOVA leads the way in internationalisation

NOVA stands out as a national leader in three indicators related to internationalisation: International Faculty, International Students and International Student Diversity, reinforcing its strategy as a Global university.

The international labour market’s recognition of the quality of NOVA’s graduates has also been growing. The Employer Reputation indicator saw the largest increase in the institution, with a rise of 110 places, and our University now occupies position 315 in this criterion.

“These results reflect the University’s transversal effort over the last few years to recruit quality international talent, both at teaching and student level. This success has only been possible given the growing recognition of NOVA’s quality and reputation among the main international employers, as the results of this ranking clearly attest to”, states João Amaro de Matos, NOVA’s Vice-Reitor da NOVA for Education and International Development.

Internationalisation has been a strategic priority for NOVA in recent years. Internally, this can be seen in the growing diversity of teachers, researchers, students and technicians. Externally, its role is emphasised in the international alliances and collaborations it maintains and, above all, in those it has developed in a transformative way more recently.

NOVA is the only Portuguese university with a campus abroad, is a member of the EUTOPIA alliance, leads the country in ERC scholarships per capita and has raised more than 200 million euros in competitive European projects.

With this rise and the strengthening of its strategic indicators, NOVA is consolidating its position as a leading university on the European and international scene.

NOVA Medical School inaugurates the first building of its new campus in Carcavelos

17 de June, 2025

NOVA Medical School officially inaugurated, this Monday (June 16), the Advanced Training Building, the first phase of its new campus in Carcavelos. This strategic project will profoundly transform education, research, and innovation in health in Portugal.

With a total investment of €50 million and a total area of 25,500 m², the NOVA Medical School Carcavelos campus will be developed in several phases until 2028. It will bring together undergraduate and postgraduate education, biomedical research, entrepreneurship, healthcare provision, and community engagement activities. More than just a building, this inauguration marks the beginning of a new hub for health in Portugal, grounded in the principles of scientific excellence, pedagogical innovation, and social responsibility.

Ana Paula Martins, Minister of Health, highlighted the project’s importance for the country’s development: “The doctors trained here will carry a mission for the future, as they are the ones who will shape it for the benefit of people and communities. The country needs projects like this one, which bring Portugal closer to the future we all aspire to. In this new chapter, may you write a significant part of what will become medical education and health teaching in Portugal.”

For Carlos Carreiras, Mayor of Cascais, this project is “another decisive step towards the future.” “This new academic and scientific hub represents the continuation of a clear strategy: to attract talent, knowledge, and innovation. More than buildings or numbers, this is about people. It is about ensuring health, proximity, and dignity, with public policy decisions based on science and knowledge for everyone living in Cascais.”

“This new campus of NOVA Medical School is a clear example of NOVA’s ambition — a global university committed to excellence and innovation with real impact on society. This is a space that integrates science, education, and healthcare and places Portugal at the forefront of European medical training,” stressed João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon.

“The inauguration of the Advanced Training Building at NOVA Medical School is a major milestone in building the School of the Future — a more open, collaborative institution, student-centred and deeply connected to society. This campus is a platform to rethink how we train doctors and health professionals, based on interdisciplinarity, technological innovation, and a humanistic vision of medicine that makes us very proud. This is also a moment to thank our institutional partners — both public and private — who form the foundation of everything that has already been achieved and of what is still to come,” said Miguel Xavier, Interim Director of NOVA Medical School.

The new Advanced Training Building, spanning over 4,000 m², includes 12 modular learning rooms, 8 clinical simulation laboratories, an anatomical theatre with 12 stations, and a modern surgical training centre. It is the first cornerstone of the new campus. Dedicated to postgraduate education, research, and innovation, this space embodies a student-centred approach, offering flexible, collaborative, and technologically advanced environments. The laboratories feature robotic mannequins and simulated patients, and the anatomical theatre uses state-of-the-art technologies for cadaveric training, promoting realistic and safe learning.

This new facility reflects NOVA Medical School’s strong commitment to lifelong learning, recognising the growing complexity of medical practice. By establishing a centre of excellence for the continuous development and specialisation of health professionals, the School reinforces its position as a national and international reference institution.

The presentation of the new campus took place in front of an audience that included the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, local government officials, institutional partners, and representatives from the health, science, and education sectors. The crucial role of donors was acknowledged, including support from Cascais City Council, CUF, Bial, Germano de Sousa, Haddad Foundation, Grupo Nabeiro–Delta Cafés, Jerónimo Martins/Pingo Doce, Grupo Ribera Salud, among other public and private partners.

The new campus will also be connected to two strategic projects currently underway: the Hospital de Todos-os-Santos (in Lisbon, scheduled to open in 2027) and the Alcabideche Complex, which will focus on innovation, healthcare provision, research, and health entrepreneurship.

The inauguration ceremony also featured the presentation of a work by the artist Joana Vasconcelos, whose intervention aims to reinforce the cultural and humanistic dimension of the campus. The internationally renowned Portuguese artist will create a piece symbolising the intersection of art, science, and society. The event included a performance by fado singer Kátia Guerreiro, accompanied by Professor Themudo Barata and guest musicians.

The event concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and a visit to the new building, officially opening the doors to what will become a medical school of the future — global, interdisciplinary, innovative, and rooted in excellence.

NOVA researcher awarded European grant to study the impact of financial literacy on the active population

17 de June, 2025

A grant from the European Research Council (ERC) has been awarded to Miguel Ferreira, Full Professor and Vice-Dean of Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE). The school thus remains the only institution in Portugal to receive ERC funding in the fields of economics, finance and management (panel SH1 – Individuals, Markets and Organisations).

The project FINANCEforALL has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant, the first ever granted in Portugal within this panel. The study aims to assess the impact of financial literacy training on the Portuguese working population, analysing not only the direct effects on individuals’ financial knowledge and behaviour, but also the indirect impacts on their co-workers, companies and local economies.

“Financial education is essential for the well-being of families and the resilience of economies. This project will make it possible, for the first time, to rigorously and on a large scale understand the real effects of financial literacy in workplace and regional contexts,” says the Nova SBE researcher.

The research, led by Miguel Ferreira — who also holds the Banco BPI–“la Caixa” Foundation Chair in Responsible Finance and coordinates the financial literacy programme Finanças para Todos at Nova SBE — represents a landmark in economic research in Portugal.

The project will adopt an innovative experimental design, with interventions in municipalities, companies and workplaces, combining surveys with unique administrative data — such as credit records, tax data, property ownership and banking transactions — to measure short- and long-term effects in areas such as income, consumption, savings, employment and entrepreneurship. The project involves partnerships with the Bank of Portugal and the National Statistics Institute (INE).

This will be the first time, at international level, that a comprehensive analysis is conducted on the effects of financial literacy in the workplace, offering a new perspective on its economic and social impact.

“This recognition confirms the excellence of NOVA’s researchers and their commitment to producing research with a positive impact on society. I would like to congratulate Nova SBE and Professor Miguel Ferreira on this achievement,” says Isabel Rocha, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Value Creation at NOVA University Lisbon.

This is the third ERC grant awarded to Nova SBE, following the Starting Grants obtained by Miguel Ferreira in 2012 and Alex Armand in 2021.

With this new distinction, the total number of ERC grants awarded to NOVA researchers across a wide range of fields since 2007 rises to 39.

OPEN and IDEA Programmes: Applications open until June 20

17 de June, 2025

Applications are now officially open for the OPEN and IDEA programmes, promoted by NOVA University Lisbon as part of CONNECT – Turning Knowledge into Impact, a Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (IIES) developed in consortium with Casa do Impacto (Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa) and the Catholic University of Portugal, through the Yunus Social Innovation Center. The consortium is supported by Social Investors: Lisbon City Council, Galp Foundation, and Santander Foundation.

These two programmes mark the first edition of the initiative and focus on the theme of Housing, Habitat and Mobility. Running from June 26 to July 17, the programmes aim to engage professionals, researchers, faculty members, and students in the exploration, ideation, and testing of innovative solutions to pressing social and territorial challenges.

“CONNECT aims to create a true ecosystem of social and territorial innovation by linking academic knowledge to communities and real-world challenges. The OPEN and IDEA programmes are the starting point,” says João Seixas, Pro-Rector for Socio-Territorial Innovation at NOVA University Lisbon and coordinator of the consortium at the university.

Applications are open until June 20 and can be submitted through the online form.

About the Programmes

OPEN is a foresight and analysis programme featuring immersive sessions on trends and opportunities in the area of Housing, Habitat, and Mobility.

IDEA fosters the ideation and early development of innovative projects and solutions.

Selected participants will benefit from:

Specialized mentoring;
Design thinking tools and innovation training;
Integration into active social innovation networks;
Opportunity for one-year incubation at Casa do Impacto (for selected projects).

More information here.

Nova SBE highlighted in the Financial Times Master’s In Finance Ranking

16 de June, 2025

Nova SBE was placed in 6th place globally in the prestigious Financial Times Masters in Finance ranking 2025.

More information here.

Cascais honors Rector and four NOVA Schools with Medal of Honor of the Municipality

11 de June, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon was distinguished with four Medals of Honor from the Municipality of Cascais, awarded to the Rector, João Sàágua, NOVA Medical School, NOVA School of Law, Nova School of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Science and Technology. The awards were presented as part of the celebrations for Municipal Day.

This recognition reflects the strengthening of the strategic relationship between NOVA and the Municipality of Cascais, a long-standing partnership marked by consistent collaboration in areas such as education, research, innovation and territorial cohesion. This collaboration began with the creation of the Nova SBE campus in Carcavelos and has been consolidated with new high-impact projects.

Amongst the different highlights, are the future facilities of NOVA Medical School and NOVA School of Law, which will be based in Cascais, as well as the creation of a new polo for NOVA School of Science and Technology, dedicated to aerospace engineering. These initiatives will strengthen NOVA’s presence in the municipality and contribute towards a regional University ecosystem, with academic, scientific, and social impact.

“Cascais stands out as one of the strategic municipalities in the realization of NOVA’s vision as a global and civic University. This close relationship with Cascais, built up over the last few years, has contributed to the strong growth and affirmation of the University, with an impact on the region and the country”, as referred by NOVA’s Rector, João Sàágua.

The award of the municipality’s Medal of Honour recognizes the role of NOVA University Lisbon as an agent of transformation and sustainable development, as well as its contribution to building a more prosperous, inclusive and supportive municipality.

Discover the winning teams at NOVA Starters Academy 2025

6 de June, 2025

During the last semester, 37 students from seven academic units at NOVA University Lisbon worked together in ten multidisciplinary teams to develop entrepreneurial projects. Last Wednesday, the 4 th, they publicly presented their ideas to a jury comprising Ricardo Feferbaum (AngelsWay), Sofia Rolo (UNF), Cíntia Costa (+351) and Isabel Rocha, NOVA’s Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation.

The YOLK team, made up by Tancredi di Grande (Nova SBE), Ma Chue and Murshid Kazi (NOVA IMS) and Rita Martins de Sousa (NOVA School of Law), won the top prize and secured direct access to the Future Innovator Programme at Unicorn Factory Lisbon

Honourable Mentions were also awarded to the following projects:

Match Play: Laura Borges Veiga (NOVA IMS), Gonçalo Simões (Nova SBE), Rafaela Neto de Jesus (NOVA FCT) and Farhan Arshad (NOVA IMS).

Dear Journal: Jelle Koopman (Nova SBE), António Oliveira, Vitória Kushniruk (NOVA IMS) and Maria Luísa Beja (Nova SBE).

Recognised for its practical approach to stimulating entrepreneurial spirit among participants, supported by experts and coaches in the field, NOVA Starters Academy is NOVA University Lisbon’s longest-running entrepreneurship programme, having provided hundreds of students with the essential tools to create a start-up.

NOVA highlights the role of European universities at YERUN’s 10^(th) anniversary conference

membros de um painel durante a conferência de celebração de 10º aniversário da YERUN. Professor João Amaro de Matos e restante painel no palco do auditório.

6 de June, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon attended the conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN), held in Brussels on Thursday, 5th May. The university contributed with a presentation focused on the future of university collaboration in Europe.

João Amaro de Matos, Vice-Rector for Education and International Development, took part in the session entitled “Working Together for Impact: The Future of European University Collaboration”, where participants discussed the challenges and opportunities facing European university alliances. In his intervention, he highlighted the importance of student engagement, the need for institutional agility, and the long-term sustainability of these alliances.

Held under the motto “10 Years of YERUN: Looking Forward, Growing Together”, the event brought together university leaders, European Commission representatives, and experts in science and innovation.

Further information is available on the YERUN website

NOVA students take part in European challenge on disinformation promoted by EUTOPIA

29 de May, 2025

The 3rd edition of the Innovation Challenges for Students, organised by the European University Alliance EUTOPIA (of which NOVA is a member), took place from 13 to 15 May 2025 at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

The event, which took place under the theme ‘Unmasking the Truth: Tackling Fake News Together’, brought together 80 students from ten European universities, including NOVA University Lisbon, which was represented by students from the NOVA School of Law (NSL), NOVA FCSH, NOVA Medical School (NMS), NOVA IMS, NOVA ENSP and Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE).

The challenge focused on four key areas related to disinformation:

‘Fake News & Fact-Checking’, which aimed to integrate fact-checking into citizens’ daily lives and was proposed by Lucía Abadías López from Verificat — the only fact-checking platform in Catalonia to be recognised internationally;
‘Fake News & Mental Health’, which addressed misinformation on mental health among young people and was proposed by Meritxell Vilanova Cots from Fundació Joia — a non-profit organisation with over 40 years’ experience in Barcelona;
‘Fake News and Deepfakes’, which aimed to promote critical awareness of the creation and dissemination of AI-generated manipulated content, was proposed by Alex Valverde Valencia from the RAIN Film Festival, the first European festival dedicated to film and AI.
‘Fake News and Democratic Fragility’, focused on protecting democratic values through the use of open data and was proposed by Mar Escarrabill from Canòdrom – Ateneu d’Innovació Digital i Democràtica.

The students were organised into interdisciplinary teams and challenged to develop innovative solutions for each topic. The programme included workshops, debates and collaborative work sessions to foster an environment of active learning and critical reflection on the impact of disinformation on contemporary society. The event concluded with public presentations of the final projects to a live audience and an international jury comprising academics, journalists, fact-checking professionals and innovation experts.

XVII Photography Competition: view the winning images here

28 de May, 2025

Open to students from all cycles of study, this edition of the competition challenged participants to explore different perspectives on diversity through the lens of a camera.

1st Prize:
Joana Cortes/Nova SBE: ‘Flavour of Existence’

2nd Prize:
João António Barreto de Oliveira (NOVA FCT): ‘Coexistence by the River’

Third Prize:
Enrique Taubmann (Nova SBE): ‘Closed Eyes’

Honourable Mention:
Laila Abdelrahman Babiker (NOVA Cairo): ‘Threads of Identity’

Honourable Mention
Laura Pinto da Mota (NOVA FCSH): ‘Untitled’

Honourable Mention
Beatriz Brito (NOVA School of Law): ‘Meat’

The first, second and third prizes will be awarded the respective monetary amounts of €500, €300 and €200. Honourable mentions will each receive €100.

2º Prémio: João António Barreto de Oliveira/NOVA FCT

Menção Honrosa: Laura Pinto da Mota/NOVA FCSH

Menção Honrosa: Beatriz Brito/ NOVA School of Law

Menção Honrosa - Laila Abdelrahman Babiker/NOVA Cairo

NYTA – NOVA Young Talent Awards: The university recognises the best first-year undergraduate students

28 de May, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon once again honoured the best first-year undergraduates at NOVA in the 2023/24 academic year, as well as the principals of their former secondary schools.

“My congratulations to all the award winners. May this award be a source of pride for the dedication, perseverance, and quality that you have demonstrated”, said the Rector of NOVA, João Sáágua, at the beginning of the NYTA ceremony. He also emphasised that ‘the challenges facing our society are great and complex, and we need our best minds to face them’.

On Tuesday, the Rectorate auditorium at NOVA University Lisbon was filled to capacity to honour the 42 students who performed the best in their first year of study at NOVA. As well as recognising their commitment and dedication, this award honours the secondary schools from which the students come.

‘Students are said to be, and rightly so, the reason for a university’s existence, and they certainly represent the greatest and most relevant impact that can be had in the service of society,’ reinforced the Rector. He added that, at NOVA, educating students is increasingly linked to the other two missions: research and innovation. Whether through alternative education, the permanent transformation of the job market, or the great challenges facing today’s society — such as climate change, health issues, war, inequality, and the crisis of democracy — public, private, and social institutions must be equipped with competent, adaptable people with new knowledge in a variety of areas. All of this implies an enormous capacity for openness to society. In this respect, NOVA aims to be a national leader in collaboration.”

Before the diplomas were handed out, there was still time to hear from Ivo Bernardo, a visiting assistant professor at NOVA IMS, passionate about Data Science and Analytics, and partner at DareData Engineering — a startup specialized in implementing machine learning systems in companies of different sizes, considered the fastest-growing AI company in Portugal. “After this presentation, it seems like I was a brilliant student, which is not true. Now, if the result of my experience, as an average/good student, was this, imagine what you, as the best, can do”, he said, reminding us that the most valuable asset is on the students’ side: “Never forget that what you have the most, right now, is time.”

Included in the University’s Strategic Plan for 2020-2030, the Talent@NOVA program consists of several subprograms dedicated to all members of the NOVA community — professors, researchers, staff and students. Known as NYTA, the initiative that brought together part of the NOVA community again is just one of these measures.

EUTOPIA MORE Hackathon Highlights Innovation at NOVA

27 de May, 2025

From May 5 to 9, NOVA University Lisbon hosted the EUTOPIA MORE Innovation Challenges for Researchers, an international initiative that brought together 17 researchers from seven universities of the EUTOPIA alliance for an intensive week of collaborative work dedicated to the theme of the Ocean.

Part of the EUTOPIA MORE project, the event challenged participants to design innovative solutions for real-world problems presented by industry partners: Oceano Fresco, BlueOASIS, and Ocean Community. Working in multidisciplinary teams, the researchers combined knowledge from diverse scientific fields and institutions in an environment that fostered experimentation and co-creation.

The programme featured hands-on sessions, expert talks on the latest trends in the blue economy, and visits to key innovation ecosystems, including the NOVA Innovation & Analytics Lab (NOVA IMS), the Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute (NOVA SBE), and Fórum Oceano.

The week concluded with a public presentation of the solutions developed, showcasing creative, tech-driven proposals with strong practical potential to address emerging challenges in ocean-related sectors — a strategic area for both NOVA’s scientific community and the city.

NOVA welcomes delegation from Zhejiang University to strengthen international academic cooperation

26 de May, 2025

The visit of Zhejiang University (ZJU) to NOVA University Lisbon marked a significant step in strengthening international academic collaboration between two leading institutions. Renowned as one of China’s most prestigious universities, with a strong focus on science, technology, and innovation, ZJU expressed interest in establishing strategic partnerships with NOVA, particularly through short-term exchanges for students, faculty, and researchers.

The ZJU delegation, received on 23 May, included Professor Ye Min, Vice President of the university’s Development Committee and Director of the Academic Committee of the Institute of China’s Science, Technology and Education Policy; Professor Hou Wanjun, Vice Dean of the same institute; Dr Chen Chan, Deputy Director of ZJU’s Policy Research Office; Dr Chen Guanghua, researcher at the institute; and Xia Bicao, research assistant.

The delegation was welcomed by Prof. João Amaro de Matos, Vice-Rector for Education and International Development at NOVA and by representatives from NOVA Schools: Maria Cardeira da Silva, Vice- Dean for Internationalization at NOVA FCSH, Alexandra Fiéis and Prof. Joana Teixeira, both faculty members at the Linguistics Center also at NOVA FCSH, as well as Amilton Moreira from the Internationalisation Division. Representing NOVA FCT was Marina Marques, Head of the Internationalization and Mobility Office.

Several areas of mutual interest were identified during the meeting, and a general cooperation agreement between the two universities is currently being prepared.

Connected Communities: Visit by delegation from EUTOPIA Alliance partner university reinforces transnational collaboration

26 de May, 2025

A delegation of six students and one lecturer from Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, visited NOVA School of Law for the final session of a course held within the framework of the Connected Community Ocean Challenges, an initiative of the EUTOPIA European University, coordinated by NOVA.

Taught by Professor and also Secretary-General of the Ocean Forum Ruben Eiras, the course “Financing Sustainable Blue Economy and Integration of Policies and Development”, part of the Master’s in Law and Economics of the Sea – Ocean Governance, was designed to give both local and international students an in-depth understanding of the maritime economy and the policies shaping its sustainable development in global and European contexts.

The course was delivered in a hybrid format, with synchronous sessions enabling active participation from the Romanian students throughout the semester, culminating in their visit to Lisbon for the final presentation.

During the final session, all the students, including the ones from NOVA’s partner university — who had attended the course remotely — had the opportunity to present their final business-oriented projects in person to a panel of experts and investors in the field of the sustainable blue economy.

This experience, the first of its kind at NOVA, reinforced the transnational and collaborative nature of EUTOPIA, fostering a sense of belonging to the alliance and promoting academic exchange between partner institutions.

More information about the Connected Communities

IX Band Contest: vote here!

23 de May, 2025

Organised by the Culture and Events Support Unit, the IX NOVA Música Band Competition is a NOVA University Lisbon initiative.

Aiming to promote Portuguese music among the university’s student community, the competition includes a final performance by the contestants and awards the winner with a cash prize of 700 euros.

Here is the playlist of the competing bands. To vote, just click on the following link.
The band with the most votes will be one of the three finalists to play in the final on 25 June.

Voting is open until 30 May.

You can find more information on the NOVA Cultura website and the Nova Música Facebook page.

NOVA kicks off pilot Inclusive Leadership training

23 de May, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon launched, last week, the Pilot Training in Inclusive Leadership with an inaugural session in the Senate Room of the Rectorate, last Wednesday 21.

Developed under the European project ULEAD4ALL, the training is aimed at those who aspire to lead — from students keen to make a difference, to current decision-makers within the NOVA community. Its goal? To foster more inclusive, representative leadership in academic and professional settings, through a mentorship-based approach.

The opening session was filled with moments of connection, sharing and reflection. Participants had the chance to meet, kick-start their mentoring relationships and delve into the key concepts that will guide the rest of the programme, running in a hybrid format until the end of June.

Given the strong interest in this pilot edition, NOVA’s Equality and Inclusion Office is already considering launching further editions. The ambition is clear: to engage more and more members of the university community in building a culture of leadership that is fairer, more diverse, and truly inclusive.

NOVA ImpACT! Challenges 2025: A competition that supports ideas that could change the world.

22 de May, 2025

NOVA University Lisbon is once again calling on creative and entrepreneurial minds with the latest edition of the NOVA impACT! Challenges, a competition designed to boost innovative projects with social and environmental impact. The initiative will run from 23 June to 14 July 2025, and applications are open until 11:59 PM on 4 June.

Organised by the NOVA Impact Office, the programme supports teams developing solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the course of three intensive weeks, participants will benefit from expert-led workshops, dedicated mentoring, and an initial €500 seed fund to support prototype development.

The programme culminates in a live pitch event at the NOVA Rectorate, where a panel of academic and industry leaders will evaluate the projects. The winning team will receive an additional prize to help accelerate their solution’s implementation.

Applications can be submitted via the NOVA Innovation website

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