The Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute (TCII) has launched into the future with the initiation of exciting collaborative projects and joint workshops that promise to directly impact the fields of media, health, and the built environment.

Ten joint Technion-Cornell research projects have already been launched, including collaboration between top Technion scientist Prof. Yonina Eldar and Prof. Lang Tong of Cornell on intelligent energy management for built environments. Other joint projects include “Coordinated Management and Control of Transportation Infrastructure” and “Ultra Low Powered Computing for Implanted Medical Devices.” In addition, the opening of TCII was heralded with three workshops during July-October 2012. The first workshop convened industry experts, researchers and leaders from Technion, Cornell, and the Weill Cornell Medical College to pool expertise that will affect the structure and character of the interdisciplinary Healthier Life hub of the TCII campus.

Research spotlighted at the 2-day workshop included sensor-enabled smartphones; improved electronic medical records; human implanted and biomorphic electronic chips; and technological solutions to reduce healthcare costs.

One of 12 attending scientists from Technion, Prof. Shy Shoham described his breakthrough analysis of neural signalling in deciphering the brain’s code for understanding vowels – an insight which in the future could enable completely paralyzed individuals to speak. Prof. Hossam Haick discussed the challenge of commercializing a prototype – in this case the electronic nose powered by nanosensors which can ‘sniff out’ cancer and other diseases.

New York City Deputy Mayor Robert K. Steel said, “The momentum and progress that Cornell and the Technion are making toward bringing Mayor Bloomberg’s vision to reality is exciting and undeniable.”

“One of the objectives of this workshop is to bring us all together to discuss the main challenges in this field and to identify which problems need to be solved,” said Prof. Craig Gotsman, TCII founding director. “This is very important in an applied science campus, where we aim to find real-world solutions for real-world problems.”

“We aim to find real-world solutions for real-world problems.” The second workshop took place in September at the Cornell NYC Tech temporary campus at Google’s Chelsea building and focused on the Connective Media hub. It attracted some 24 researchers from both Technion and Cornell as well as representatives from industry, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and the New York Times.

Topics included social networks and human behavior; online markets, auctions, and games; and big data and machine learning. The third workshop, on the Built Environment hub, took place mid-October. Technologies within the scope of this Hub include comprehensive building design; smart buildings; and infrastructure, urban, and transportation operations and management.

Technion’s participation in these activities has been generously funded by Technion Guardians Daniel and Joanna S. Rose.

Powerful Elite

In September 2012, Cornell NYC Tech announced that three of the world’s leading technological entrepreneurs – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Qualcomm Founder Irwin Jacobs and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt – will provide on-going guidance to the university leadership, helping to shape the vision for the new campus. “Ensuring that the new campus is connected in the right way to the thriving entrepreneurial sector is important to delivering on the promise of economic growth that is at the center of this project,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

Patently Clear

In an unprecedented initiative to help Cornell NYC Tech students, researchers and businesses to capitalize on their promising ideas and obtain patent protection in a hassle-free and timely manner, a patent officer will be stationed in situ at the new applied sciences school. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring full-time U.S. Patent and Trademark Office personnel to campus to promote innovation and economic development.

Net Zero

The Cornell NYC Tech plaza, with the first academic building and proposed solar canopy in the background From structure of leadership to applying the net zero energy plan for physical structures on campus, in October Cornell NYC Tech released new renderings of the future Roosevelt Island campus that includes open public spaces and breathtaking views of Queens and Manhattan. Construction of the 12-acre site on Roosevelt Island is expected to begin in 2014; the first phase of the campus is slated to open in 2017, with full build out in 2037.

“Just as Cornell NYC Tech will be pioneering new approaches to graduate research and education, our campus won’t look like any other university campus that exists today,” said Daniel Huttenlocher, dean of Cornell NYC Tech. “We are determined to innovate in every aspect of the development, from the way that students, faculty, researchers, industry and the local community are intermingled, to the sustainability of our buildings and their iconic architecture.”