The Prémio Universidade de Lisboa 2022 was awarded to the Chairman of the BIAL Foundation, Luís Portela, on February 22, in recognition of the "social impact, innovative personality, unique entrepreneurship and visionary leadership that make him influential in Portugal and worldwide in the field of health innovation".
The Prémio Universidade de Lisboa aims to distinguish and reward an individual of Portuguese or foreign nationality who has made a notable contribution to the progress and enhancement of Science and/or Culture and to the international projection of the country.
"It is with great honour and a sense of responsibility that I receive this important distinction from the Universidade de Lisboa, precisely in the year that BIAL celebrates its 100th anniversary and the BIAL Foundation marks three decades of existence," states Luís Portela.
The Jury for the Prémio Universidade de Lisboa 2022, chaired by Rector Luís Ferreira, includes Emílio Rui Vilar (vice-chairman), António Cruz Serra, António M. Feijó, António Nóvoa, Maria Manuel Mota, João Vieira Pereira, José F.F. Tavares, Maria Isabel Stilwell, Leonor Beleza, Joana Carneiro and Maria Lúcia Amaral.
Now in its ninth edition, the Prémio Universidade de Lisboa has honoured personalities such as Adriano Moreira, Maria de Sousa, António Guterres, Maria do Carmo Fonseca, Gonçalo M. Tavares, among other national and world figures.