PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2015
Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie
Where once there were separate faculties and individual research scientists or groups, today Technion is home to a dynamic multidisciplinary community, where science and technology are daily being recreated across the thresholds of former limitations. Of course, in a country the size of Israel, the intense and highly prolific activity at RBNI rapidly gained a status of national importance, as the institute became the nerve center of Israel’s flourishing nano community.
In the past five years, 111 projects were launched in cooperation with industry and through RBNI’s active role in the government MAGNET consortia. By 2009, 104 patent applications were made with a myriad of success stories leading to the transfer of intellectual property rights to multinational companies or to hot Israeli start-up firms.
But first and foremost, Technion is a university committed to education. The need for an excellent program to bring students the highest skills and knowledge today, is paramount to being at the frontiers of nano-industry, education and research tomorrow. The Norman Seiden Multidisciplinary Program for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology was the first of its kind in Israel to grant advanced degrees in nanoscience and nanotechnology. As a result of its success, two similar programs have now been launched at other universities in Israel.
In addition to its top graduate program, RBNI uses its powerful research base to widen its circles of influence in Israel and beyond. The Winter Schools gather world-class international researchers with hundreds of students. The 58 “Nevet” research projects involve in-depth collaborations between Technion and scientists in Europe, Asia and other institutes in Israel. These collaborations generate joint workshops, joint funding of research projects, and vital student exchange.
With each semester RBNI expands. To date thirteen dynamic new faculty members have been recruited from the world’s top universities. Eight infrastructure centers were established or upgraded; 43 research labs, and five student labs were modernized and reequipped.
These key facilities are put to work with wisdom and vision, serving not only projects from across the Technion faculties, but also dozens of research groups from other universities and from industry.
Indeed, the birth of RBNI initiated a cultural transformation at Technion City. Whether in the Calatrava Obelisk signaling technological marvel and scientific discovery at the heart of campus, or in the stateliness of the Russell Berrie Promenade, or in the many upgrades and new laboratories creating academic synergy on campus, it is a transformation underway that no visitor – young or old – could miss.
The transformative impact of RBNI has been a direct result of the wisdom, vision and application of its leadership. Considering the vast sea of potential and promise that each new nano-scale discovery reveals, clear foresight and organization are critical for progress. At present, RBNI has targeted three key focus areas for nano research: tissue engineering, photovoltaic cells (at the key junction of energy research and nanoscience), and NanoMed – which is creating and empowering the incredible medical potential found in the synergy of RBNI researchers with the excellent scientists at the Lorry I. Lokey Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering.
I congratulate RBNI and its leadership on the successful formulation of one of Israel’s most dynamic and transformational structures for scientific and technological progress. I look forward to overseeing and witnessing the ramifications of RBNI in the discoveries, collaborations, applications, start-ups, and excellent students of the future.
In the past five years, 111 projects were launched in cooperation with industry and through RBNI’s active role in the government MAGNET consortia. By 2009, 104 patent applications were made with a myriad of success stories leading to the transfer of intellectual property rights to multinational companies or to hot Israeli start-up firms.
But first and foremost, Technion is a university committed to education. The need for an excellent program to bring students the highest skills and knowledge today, is paramount to being at the frontiers of nano-industry, education and research tomorrow. The Norman Seiden Multidisciplinary Program for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology was the first of its kind in Israel to grant advanced degrees in nanoscience and nanotechnology. As a result of its success, two similar programs have now been launched at other universities in Israel.
In addition to its top graduate program, RBNI uses its powerful research base to widen its circles of influence in Israel and beyond. The Winter Schools gather world-class international researchers with hundreds of students. The 58 “Nevet” research projects involve in-depth collaborations between Technion and scientists in Europe, Asia and other institutes in Israel. These collaborations generate joint workshops, joint funding of research projects, and vital student exchange.
With each semester RBNI expands. To date thirteen dynamic new faculty members have been recruited from the world’s top universities. Eight infrastructure centers were established or upgraded; 43 research labs, and five student labs were modernized and reequipped.
These key facilities are put to work with wisdom and vision, serving not only projects from across the Technion faculties, but also dozens of research groups from other universities and from industry.
Indeed, the birth of RBNI initiated a cultural transformation at Technion City. Whether in the Calatrava Obelisk signaling technological marvel and scientific discovery at the heart of campus, or in the stateliness of the Russell Berrie Promenade, or in the many upgrades and new laboratories creating academic synergy on campus, it is a transformation underway that no visitor – young or old – could miss.
The transformative impact of RBNI has been a direct result of the wisdom, vision and application of its leadership. Considering the vast sea of potential and promise that each new nano-scale discovery reveals, clear foresight and organization are critical for progress. At present, RBNI has targeted three key focus areas for nano research: tissue engineering, photovoltaic cells (at the key junction of energy research and nanoscience), and NanoMed – which is creating and empowering the incredible medical potential found in the synergy of RBNI researchers with the excellent scientists at the Lorry I. Lokey Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering.
I congratulate RBNI and its leadership on the successful formulation of one of Israel’s most dynamic and transformational structures for scientific and technological progress. I look forward to overseeing and witnessing the ramifications of RBNI in the discoveries, collaborations, applications, start-ups, and excellent students of the future.