[{"jcr:title":"Insper’s Paulo Cunha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub and Nova SBE in Lisbon establish partnership to connect innovation ecosystems","cq:tags_0":"tipos-de-conteudo:acontece-no-insper/internacional","cq:tags_1":"tipos-de-conteudo:acontece-no-insper/institucional","cq:tags_2":"tipos-de-conteudo:acontece-no-insper/parcerias","cq:tags_3":"centro-de-conhecimento:hub-de-inova--o-e-empreendedorismo-paulo-cunha"},{"richText":"Agreement provides for knowledge exchange initiatives and connections between Brazilian and Portuguese startups","authorDate":"09/06/2026 11h10","madeBy":"Por","tag":"tipos-de-conteudo:acontece-no-insper/internacional","title":"Insper’s Paulo Cunha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub and Nova SBE in Lisbon establish partnership to connect innovation ecosystems","variant":"imagecolor"},{"jcr:title":"azul marinho / turquesa / vermelho"},{"@stringArray@variations_0":"azul_marinho_rosaturquesa"},{"jcr:title":"azul marinho / rosa / turquesa","name":"azul_marinho_rosaturquesa","jcr:description":"azul marinho / rosa / turquesa"},{"synchronizeWithVersion_0":"themeName:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_1":"titleFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_2":"titleBackgroundColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_3":"thinLineFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_4":"additionalDataFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_5":"linkFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_6":"linkHoverFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_7":"backgroundColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_8":"gradientColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_9":"buttonFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_10":"buttonBackgroundColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_11":"tagFontColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08","synchronizeWithVersion_12":"tagBackgroundColor:e1d1d653-cff0-4cbb-bae9-7676f42d5f08"},{"themeName":"azul marinho / turquesa / vermelho"},{"themeName":"azul marinho / rosa / turquesa"},{"containerType":"containerTwo"},{"jcr:title":"Grid Container Section","layout":"responsiveGrid"},{"text":"Insper’s Paulo Cunha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub formalized a strategic partnership with Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), part of NOVA University Lisbon, in April 2026. Nova SBE is one of Europe’s leading business schools, internationally recognized and consistently ranked among the continent’s best. Established through a Memorandum of Understanding, the agreement aims to strengthen connections between the innovation ecosystems of Brazil and Europe by creating a bilateral platform for collaboration in entrepreneurship, startup internationalization, and engagement between the entrepreneurial communities of both countries. The partnership connects Insper’s Hub with the Nova SBE Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute, located on the Carcavelos campus in Portugal. According to Gabriel Borges, Governance and Marketing Manager at the Hub, the relationship between the two institutions began before the formal agreement through interactions at events and meetings focused on the innovation ecosystems of each school. During a visit to Nova SBE, the idea of formalizing the collaboration gained momentum. Shortly afterward, two startups from Insper’s ecosystem—Passabot and Apollo—participated in an immersion program on Madeira Island focused on technology solutions for tourism, an initiative that helped demonstrate the practical potential of the partnership. “Through this partnership, we combine a strategic vision with practical actions and tangible outcomes,” says Gabriel. The goal is to develop the partnership progressively through initiatives capable of generating value for entrepreneurs, startups, students, alumni, and partners across both ecosystems. One of the partnership’s main pillars will be a bilateral soft landing model. The proposal is to support Brazilian startups seeking to enter the European market through Portugal, while also assisting Portuguese and European startups interested in entering the Brazilian market. For Brazilian companies, Nova SBE will serve as a gateway to Europe by providing workspace, local connections, mentoring, and cultural and market support. Conversely, Insper’s Hub will offer Portuguese startups access to the Brazilian innovation ecosystem through connections with companies and mentors, as well as participation in programs and events. Gabriel emphasizes that Brazil represents a large-scale market for European entrepreneurs, while Portugal can serve as a strategic entry point for Brazilian startups beginning their expansion into Europe. The partnership also includes the exchange of methodologies, benchmarking between innovation ecosystems, cross-promotion of programs, joint mentoring initiatives, live sessions, workshops, and future plans for immersive entrepreneurship and innovation weeks at each institution’s Hub. These initiatives may involve entrepreneurs, students, professors, and partners from both institutions. According to Gabriel, the collaboration is aligned with Insper’s internationalization strategy and reinforces the Hub as a space open to inclusion and dialogue with other markets and cultures. “Bringing together two ecosystems with different cultural contexts and cognitive perspectives enriches our communities and drives innovation. That is exactly what we seek through this partnership,” he says. This international dimension is already reflected in other Hub initiatives, such as the International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seminar. The collaboration with Nova SBE expands this effort by establishing an ongoing relationship with a leading European business school focused on both academic and operational collaboration. The partnership also involved Maria Eugénia Ferreira de Lima Mascarenhas, Associate Director of the Nova SBE Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute, who visited Insper in early 2026 to discuss opportunities for collaboration. Among the next steps under discussion are the development of the bilateral soft landing structure, the integration of mentoring activities, the exchange of experiences between programs, and cultural adaptation initiatives for startups pursuing international expansion. According to Maria Eugénia, the partnership is built on a clear strategic rationale: Lisbon, one of Southern Europe’s most dynamic technology hubs, and São Paulo, one of the world’s largest entrepreneurial ecosystems, have tremendous potential to serve as gateways to one another. “For European startups, Brazil represents scale and a market with an exceptional entrepreneurial culture. For Brazilian startups, Portugal offers not only access to Europe but also linguistic and cultural proximity that facilitates this transition. In addition, we benefit from a strong institutional foundation of trust built through our shared connection with the Haddad Foundation, allowing us to go beyond a formal agreement and build something with lasting impact,” she says. More than an institutional agreement, the partnership seeks to build a practical bridge between Brazil and Europe by bringing together startups, entrepreneurs, investors, companies, and academic communities. For Gabriel, the priority is to ensure that this collaboration evolves consistently. “We will bring Nova SBE increasingly closer to our startup, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem while, at the same time, strengthening our connections with European innovation ecosystems,” he concludes. The new partnership builds on an institutional relationship that has developed over more than two decades. Since 2004, Insper and Nova SBE have maintained a double-degree agreement for students in the Professional Master’s Program in Economics (MPE), as well as an academic progression agreement through which final-year undergraduate students in Business Administration and Economics may begin a master’s degree at the Portuguese institution. Under this arrangement, coursework completed at Nova SBE is recognized by Insper toward the completion of the undergraduate degree, enabling students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in a shorter period of time. More recently, in 2025, the collaboration was expanded to Nova Law through a bilateral exchange program for Law students. In this context, the agreement between Insper’s Paulo Cunha Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub and the Nova SBE Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute further strengthens an already well-established partnership, now with a specific focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup internationalization.  "}]