Dean is the founder of DEKA Research & Development Corporation, FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), FIRST Global, and the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute.
As president of DEKA, he has developed category-defining, transformational innovations including: medication delivery and mobility systems that restore health and quality of life — as with insulin delivery for diabetic patients, the iBOT™ Mobility System, and the LUKE robotic arm; devices that change the healthcare paradigm — as with cardiac stents and the HomeChoice™ portable dialysis machine; and innovations that change what the world believes is possible — as with a new and improved Stirling engine.
In addition to DEKA, one of Dean’s proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST®, an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use, and enjoy science and technology — and to apply these skills to benefit society. Founded in 1989, FIRST® serves more than 2.5 million young people ages 6 to 18 annually. He expanded this initiative to create FIRST Global, which recently united teams from over 190 countries for its annual competition in Athens, Greece.
FIRST® is thrilled to celebrate over 21 years of collaboration between FIRST Israel and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Since its early days with just 12 FRC teams, the program has experienced remarkable growth, now encompassing more than 1,600 teams across Israel:
- FRC: 62 teams
- FTC: 65 teams
- FLL Challenge: 602 teams
- FLL Explore: 893 teams
This partnership enables FIRST® to draw on the expertise and resources of the Technion’s esteemed departments, empowering FIRST® to advance its mission of inspiring and educating the next generation through the transformative power of robotics.