Bar-Ilan University has received a $260 million donation, the largest bequest ever to Bar-Ilan University, and one of the largest donations ever made to an Israeli university.
The anonymous donor, a North American Jew and graduate of Columbia University who was active in World War II, saw Israel as a safe haven for the Jewish people and was committed to its economic and social stability. He believed in the power of science to strengthen Israel’s technological resilience and chose Bar-Ilan University as the research institution best able to realize this vision.
Prof. Arie Zaban, BIU President, announced the donation at the Board of Trustees meeting in early June and explained the purpose of the generous gift. “The donor, a man of broad academic education, believed that the development of Israel’s technological resilience relies primarily on breakthrough science. During his visits to Israel, he recognized Bar-Ilan University’s significant impact in key areas thanks to its science-based infrastructure and deep connections to all sectors of Israeli society.
“This gift will be invested in the development of Deep Tech sciences and has the potential to influence the future of Israel and humanity positively. It will enable us to start implementing our new vision for the future. However, this is just the beginning and I call upon others to partner with us as we create lasting change for our society, economy, and the world at large,” he said
Bar-Ilan University will recruit dozens of outstanding researchers in Deep Tech science fields such as energy, environment, cryptography, bio-convergence, quantum, AI, and natural language processing.
Working with stakeholders and future partners from outside academia such as the hi-tech industry, the public sector, and the healthcare system, Bar-Ilan will take the lead in building advanced research laboratories, supporting advanced degree students, and creating state-of-the-art innovation hubs. By developing science-based solutions, our efforts, led by Bar-Ilan researchers, will work toward addressing the challenges to Israel’s technological resilience.
“We have a mission,” Prof. Zaban said. “Today, more than ever, Israel needs support and investment in science and human capital. Our research-driven technological resilience is the key to a thriving society and economy.”
