The Champalimaud Foundation was created by the last will and testament of António de Sommer Champalimaud and is primarily dedicated to the development of biomedical research advanced programmes, and the provision of interdisciplinary clinical care, from a translational perspective based on the build-up of synergies and collaborations in all areas of activity.

The Champalimaud Foundation focuses on cutting-edge research and strives to stimulate new discoveries and knowledge, which can improve the health and well-being of people around the world. The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, based in Lisbon, Portugal, hosts the Foundation’s activities in the fields of neuroscience and oncology by means of research programmes and the provision of clinical care of excellence. The fight against blindness is also supported through a focused outreach programme.

It is also at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown that the Champalimaud Clinical Centre (CCC) develops its activity. In operation since 2011, the CCC is an advanced medical, scientific and technological institution, where, alongside integrated and interdisciplinary provision of specialised clinical oncological care, it also develops advanced programmes for translational research. Thus, the CCC seeks to customise therapy in order to improve the efficiency levels of disease control, survival rates and quality of life. As well as specialising in oncological pathologies, the CCC offers a full range of the most advanced treatment options and diagnostic tools, including radiology, pathology and nuclear medicine, which cut across all clinical situations, including everything from the most conventional to the most specialised tests.

The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, besides being a state-of-the-art centre for multidisciplinary and translational research in the biomedicine field, also has unique facilities for hosting events. The combination of the architecture and its desirable location has made the Centre’s Auditorium one of Portugal’s most sought after venues for events and meetings.

The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown is a space created with the public in mind and where many of the spaces were designed to be used and enjoyed by all. In addition to the exotic interior garden, the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown has opened large landscaped areas for public use, which surround the buildings along the riverbank. Perfectly integrated into the local area, these green spaces are intended to continue the redevelopment of the riverfront in total harmony. Likewise, the public footpath, which rises slowly before revealing a view of the sea, the open-air amphitheatre, and the infinity pool are already a recognised part of the city’s heritage. This is a place of choice and the perfect synergy between architecture, nature and local history.

Champalimaud Research Symposium 2025: Neuro-Cybernetics at Scale