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

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

It began with a story. 

The auditorium was dark, except for a spot of light illuminating a corner of the stage where we could see a young woman in a red dress with a book in her hands, sitting in a red armchair beside a little table holding a mug and some books, a reading-lamp, and a stack of books lying on an orange carpet.

The storyteller was Saheli Roy, a PhD student in Neuroscience at the Champalimaud Foundation and one of the co-hosts for the evening. She read the beginning of an Indian story about kingdoms and pretenders to the throne. 

To us, Tonegawa was not only a giant of world science, he was also a cherished friend of the Champalimaud  Foundation.

Present from the Champalimaud Foundation's earliest and most formative years, he helped shape its scientific DNA, contributing to the model that continues to guide us today: science that is ambitious, rigorous and committed to making a real difference to people's lives.