Lisbon: The Aga Khan University (AKU) is steering its efforts in Portugal away from broad engagements to more focused collaborations aimed at addressing health and development challenges across Asia and Africa. This strategic shift was underscored by a visit to Lisbon and Coimbra by a delegation led by AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin, alongside key university officials, on September 24 and 25.

According to the Aga Khan University, the visit was coordinated with the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal and marked a significant step in aligning Portuguese and European research with pressing global challenges. The delegation discussed strengthening partnerships, building on the Portuguese Research Initiative, and exploring further collaboration opportunities with Portuguese academic and research institutions.

In Coimbra, the delegation expanded on AKU's partnership with the University of Coimbra and the Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, focusing on potential collaborations in gene and cell therapy, cancer, ageing, clinical research, and planetary health. A meeting with local government officials highlighted a shared focus on healthy ageing.

At the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, discussions centered on enhancing existing partnerships in medical education and research, with a view to expanding into areas such as AI, data science, and health-professions education. These discussions were part of broader engagements with Portuguese government and health officials in Lisbon, including talks with Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Professor Helena Canhão, and other key figures.

The forward path for AKU involves a concentrated portfolio of collaborations with clear academic leadership and pathways to implementation, fostering direct connections between researchers and educators in Portugal and AKU.