UNL and Hovione sign partnership to foster scientific collaboration and expand the NOVA FCT Campus

In the photo, from left to right: João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA, Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione, José Júlio Alferes, Dean of NOVA FCT, and Diane Villax, founder of Hovione. Photo: João Lima/NOVA FCT

NOVA FCT and Hovione, an international company founded in Portugal and specialized in the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical products, signed today a collaboration agreement aimed at promoting the exchange of scientific knowledge and supporting the ongoing development of the School's Campus in Almada (Caparica) – one of the largest university campus in the country.

The agreement was formally signed by Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione, and João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed by José Júlio Alferes, Dean of NOVA FCT. The ceremony was attended by Diane Villax, founder of Hovione, reinforcing the long-standing commitment between both institutions.

The ten-year partnership includes the renovation of one of the School’s main buildings and support for the creation of a Science and Technology Park at NOVA FCT – a space dedicated to innovation, knowledge, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology.

As a recognition of this partnership, NOVA FCT will name the main atrium of the Departmental Building the “Hovione Atrium”. This central and highly frequented area – one of the largest on campus – is used daily by over a thousand students, professors, and researchers, especially from the fields of Chemistry, Life Sciences, Conservation and Restoration, and Environmental Science and Engineering.

Hovione will join the Partner Platform and become a founding member of the future advisory boards for Campus Planning and Development, as well as for Innovation, Science, and Society.

The company will also award a merit scholarship to the top undergraduate or master’s student in a course of its choice. In detail, the Memorandum of Understanding includes the following areas of collaboration:

• Exchange of knowledge and expertise in technical-scientific fields and/or with academic relevance;
• Development and promotion of training activities (courses, modules, sessions, etc.) on topics proposed by Hovione relevant to the job market and students’ employability;
• Joint research and development activities;
• Co-organization of scientific and academic events, including congresses, colloquia, seminars, conferences, and webinars;
• Support for the development of the NOVA FCT Campus.

"This memorandum is a remarkable example of how academia and industry can move forward together. Hovione is a benchmark company for our students, professors, and researchers. We are especially pleased to name one of the Faculty’s main spaces the Hovione Atrium. The next ten years will be marked by close collaboration between the two institutions, reflecting one of our key concerns: bringing education closer to companies and society,” said José Júlio Alferes, Dean of NOVA FCT.

"Hovione’s relationship with NOVA FCT goes back more than two decades. In addition to recruiting highly qualified talent, our collaboration has led to several PhD and Master’s theses developed in a corporate setting through the Hovione Research Program. It is this long-standing commitment to scientific collaboration and education that makes this renewed partnership – and our support for the creation of the new Science and Technology Park – all the more meaningful,” said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, CEO of Hovione.