Active, ground-breaking research into the nano-dimension has been thriving in individual labs across the many faculties of the Technion for over a decade. The ingenuity, curiosity, expertise and global scientific direction was scattered in individual projects across campus long before the festive dedication ceremony of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute on June 7th 2005, held together with the visionary Russell Berrie Foundation trustees.

Yet the formation of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute as a unified multidisciplinary structure committed to nurturing nano research and cooperation, and bringing the expert infrastructure to campus to make that research possible had a local, national and international impact. Month by month we are witnessing a revolution and evolution of science, as Israel takes its place through a powerful, supportive structure at the pioneering frontier of future science and technology. Nano is not a dream or a fantasy, it is a global need – directed by the progress of science and technology in all fields, and thanks to the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion scientists are in a position where they can answer that need, maintaining Israel’s position at the cutting edge of world-class research and innovation.

The Triangle Donation Matching (TDM) 5-year program to transform Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NN) research in Israeli universities was set up in 2005 at the Technion. The rapid and evident success of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (resulting partly from the great pool of excellent scientists already active in nanoresearch at Technion) inspired the birth of five other such nano centers at other universities in Israel in 2006, leading to a total investment of $220 million over five years in addition to tens of millions of dollars raised in research funds from Israeli and international funding agencies. The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute has also had a dramatic impact on the development of Israeli nano industry.

The momentum of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute and the clarity of its vision and direction inspired other philanthropists to answer the call of scientific need and to invest in the future. Over five years, the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute scientists tripled the amount of the funding from external grants.  The evidence of the clearly operating, highly productive structure of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute has formed a model for effective multidisciplinary research, exposing a national and international need for such structures. As a result, major donors have committed to investing in additional centers at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Our first priority at the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute is education, for on this, the security and future of the state of Israel depend. The future of scientific research in Israel and its high-tech success, is personified by its young people. the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute’s Norman Seiden Multidisciplinary Graduate Program in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology was the first in Israel to award advanced degrees in the field. Following the success of this program, two similar initiatives were recently born at the Hebrew University and at the Tel Aviv University (towards an MSc degree). Graduates of the Norman Seiden Graduate Program, equipped with a unique multidisciplinary education, will have a dramatic impact on research in industry and academia.  

The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, a powerful Israeli nano center, is also an international magnet. The Institute hosts winter schools, which bring together world-renowned researchers with graduate students from Technion and other Israeli universities. In addition, the Nevet research program is actively supporting international collaboration between Technion and scientists from Israel, Germany, Singapore and others.

In response to a rising need, RBNI has taken a new initiative to develop the field of NanoMed. Major donors have already committed to invest in this scientifically fascinating center to nurture active collaborations between Technion’s nano scientists and its stellar researchers in life sciences. Breakthrough research focused on identifying and curing cancer and kidney-related diseases are already underway. Much of Technion research into NanoMed opens the promise of a revolution in new medical treatments and world health-care. Research projects such as the “Electronic Nose” – detecting cancer via breath analysis – give a glimpse of the miracles nanoscience can perform when combined with life sciences and applied to medical research.

The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute is also nurturing other innovative multidisciplinary drives, such as the Technion’s courageous move into energy research, environmental research and security. Examples include the photovoltaic cells project; sensors for monitoring water quality; and research into the identification of toxic air-borne chemicals.

The combination of world-class Nano infrastructure with exclusive expertise, means Technion is a first port of call for industry. Approximately 120 research groups from industry have used this equipment over the past five years, in addition to dozens of academic groups.