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.
