NOVA FCT has secured a remarkable achievement by winning the leadership of the NOVA Institute For A Sustainable Future (NOVA_i4SF). This project was selected under the highly competitive European Commission Teaming for Excellence program, emerging as one of only six Portuguese projects approved among a select group of 19 funded across Europe.
Supported by a global investment of approximately €30 million and developed in partnership with Leiden University and the Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands), NOVA_i4SF will position Portugal at the forefront of the first European Centre of Excellence dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals. This recognition is a powerful affirmation of the scientific excellence of our community and its capacity to lead large-scale European initiatives.
While the Centre represents a major accomplishment for the entire university, UCIBIO is deeply embedded in the project’s foundation and coordination. The NOVA_i4SF is the result of an ambitious, collaborative effort involving a multidisciplinary team of researchers whose contributions were decisive: Paula Videira (Director of UCIBIO), Eurico Cabrita (Vice-Dean for Innovation and Research at NOVA FCT and UCIBIO researcher), Ana Luísa Fernando (METRICS), Ana Rita Duarte (LAQV/REQUIMTE), Rita Maurício (MARE), and Juliana Monteiro (Innovation, Research and Corporate Relations Services at NOVA FCT).
A new paradigm in the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical pollution poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health, exacerbated by emissions and waste from this industry. NOVA_i4SF aims to transform this model by introducing an innovative approach based on the concept of “sustainability-by-design”, in which sustainability shifts from a late regulatory requirement to a guiding principle from the outset.
This approach will enable the development of greener active pharmaceutical ingredients, more efficient and less resource-intensive production processes, the integration of environmental criteria into molecular design and therapeutic validation, and the anticipation of environmental impacts through advanced modelling and artificial intelligence.
NOVA_i4SF will be the first Centre of Excellence in Europe to systematically integrate human and environmental health dimensions throughout the entire life cycle of medicines, adopting an approach aligned with the One Health concept. It will combine advanced expertise in green chemistry, biotechnology, environmental sciences, precision medicine, data science, and artificial intelligence. This integration will enable the development of next-generation pharmaceutical solutions that are more effective, safer, and more sustainable.
Training a new generation of scientists
One of the NOVA_i4SF pillars will be advanced training, aimed at preparing a new generation of researchers capable of working at the interface of health, environment, and innovation. The Centre will develop interdisciplinary training programmes combining pharmaceutical sciences, environmental sustainability, data science, and regulation and public policy. This approach will help increase Portugal’s international attractiveness and strengthen the retention of highly qualified talent.
By integrating human health, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation, NOVA_i4SF proposes a transformative vision for the future of healthcare systems and the pharmaceutical industry. More than addressing current challenges, the Centre aims to anticipate and shape future solutions, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient society.
The approval of NOVA_i4SF places Portugal among a select group of countries capable of leading Centres of Excellence of European scale. It aims to become a global leader in the design, production, and dissemination of greener and safer pharmaceutical solutions, driving innovation and competitive growth while benefiting society, the environment, and the European Research Area.
Paula Videira, Director of UCIBIO, shared a message of pride and commitment with the community: "The Nova Institute For A Sustainable FutURE (NOVA_i4SF) is a collective project that also belongs to UCIBIO. It demonstrates the strength of our community, the quality of the research we develop, and our capacity to work in partnership towards ambitious goals.
This success now opens a demanding and exciting new cycle of work. UCIBIO will maintain its focus on strategic objectives which, alongside the other Research Units, converge with the goals of NOVA_i4SF. We will continue to work so that this and other projects represent a real opportunity to improve research conditions, value our teams, and strengthen our institutional position. Congratulations to everyone for their contribution to this milestone."