In the heart of Portugal, a visionary entrepreneur is setting in motion a transformative endeavor that could reshape the country's role in the global biotech landscape. Nuno Prego Ramos, a name already etched into the annals of European biotechnology for his groundbreaking work with CellmAbs and the subsequent €1.5 billion sale of its cancer treatment patents to BioNTech, is now turning his sights to something even more ambitious: the creation of one of Europe’s largest biotechnology hubs in Óbidos.

With his new startup, Valvian, Ramos is not merely chasing innovation; he is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and integrated biotech ecosystem in Portugal. This project, centered on research, development, and production, emerges at a time when Europe’s dependency on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing has been thrust into the spotlight. Ramos sees this as a strategic moment, one in which Portugal, despite its peripheral geography, can offer relevance, resilience, and leadership.

The Óbidos complex is designed not just as a factory or a lab, but as a full-fledged center of excellence that will serve Valvian and other biotech players alike. It promises to fill a critical gap in Europe’s industrial capacity by ensuring that high-level biotechnological research can seamlessly translate into production, on Portuguese soil and at European scale. This dual focus on innovation and manufacturing positions Portugal as both a creator and a supplier in an industry vital to public health and economic sovereignty.

But Ramos’s vision doesn’t stop at molecules and machines. He is also championing the “Hospital of the Future,” a bold project aiming to address some of the structural inefficiencies of the Portuguese National Health Service. With artificial intelligence at its core, this initiative aims to tackle delays, reduce costs, and revolutionize access to care—ushering in a model of healthcare fit for the 21st century.

As someone born in Germany to Portuguese parents and who chose in 2004 to return and build a life in the country of my roots, I cannot help but feel a deep, emotional happiness at seeing Portuguese entrepreneurs finally giving strong, strategic cards to the global biotech industry. This is not only about innovation, but also about national pride, about reclaiming our talent and giving it a reason to stay. For too long, we have encouraged our brightest minds to follow opportunities abroad. But now, with initiatives like this, we are building the kind of future that makes staying in Portugal not only viable, but visionary.

Underpinning all this is a renewed confidence in Portugal’s innovation capacity and investment climate. Ramos recalls how, just a few years ago, many doubted CellmAbs could compete with global oncology giants. Through determination, local capital, and a firm belief in Portugal’s scientific talent, he proved them wrong. Now, that same spirit drives Valvian, whose latest funding round was backed entirely by Portuguese investors. More importantly, Ramos is encouraging those investors to look beyond his company to help foster a vibrant, interconnected biotech ecosystem.

This new biotech megacenter in Óbidos is more than a project; it is a statement. It signals that Portugal is ready to beat at the rhythm of scientific excellence, industrial capability, and visionary ambition. And for those of us who believe in this country, who came back in hope, this is a moment of profound pride. We are no longer just exporting talent; we are creating the future, here at home.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes