Bar Ilan University receives 1B shekel anonymous donation to promote Deep Tech research
Bar Ilan University receives 1B shekel anonymous donation to promote Deep Tech research
The American donor, who chose to remain anonymous, donated the money to recruit dozens of researchers in Deep Tech, in what is the largest donation that the university has ever received, and the second largest donation in Israeli academia history
Bar-Ilan University received its largest ever donation of nearly NIS 1 billion ($260 million) from the estate of an anonymous donor, the university president, Professor Arie Zaban, has announced.
The donation will be used to recruit dozens of outstanding researchers in Deep Tech science fields such as energy, environment, cryptography, bio-convergence, quantum, AI, and natural language processing. Additionally, Bar-Ilan will use the funds to establish advanced research labs, support the advancement of graduate students and create innovation hubs in collaboration with external stakeholders from the high-tech industry, the public sector, and the healthcare system.
The donor, who chose to remain anonymous, is a Jewish North American and Columbia University alumnus who “was active” in World War II. According to the university, the donor “saw Israel as a safe haven for the Jewish people and was committed to its economic and social stability.”
This is the second-largest donation ever made to Israeli academia. The largest donation of $400 million was given by the estate of Holocaust survivors Dr. Howard and Lottie Marcus of California to Ben-Gurion University, as a fund for development purposes.
"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 the significant impact Bar-Ilan University has made in key areas thanks to its science-based infrastructure and deep connections to all sectors of Israeli society,” said Professor Zaban. "Today, more than ever, Israel needs support and investment in its science and human capital. Our research driven technological resilience is the key to a thriving society and economy.”
