How Philanthropy Is Powering Israel’s Future

During my time with the American Technion Society (ATS), I have always been blown away by how we have cultivated a united community from different areas of the country to support the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and the State of Israel. As a testament of that commitment, we are excited to announce the incredible milestone of having raised more than $1 billion over the last decade. Regardless of our backgrounds, each and every member has made a distinct impact on the future of the Technion, thereby ensuring the future of Israel itself.

Philanthropy is an essential tool, not only for the Technion, but also for the resiliency and longevity of the Jewish community around the world and the State of Israel. For anyone who wishes to see a strong, safe, and adaptable Israel, philanthropic support for academia is an incredibly effective way to secure this future. Philanthropy does not merely provide ancillary support to the Technion. It has a tangible and direct impact on the lives of students, faculty, and staff that allows the university to stand apart as a global leader in scientific research and innovation.

To celebrate this milestone and uncover the impact of the last decade of support from our community in creating a better world, I spoke with Professor Lihi Zelnik-Manor, Technion Executive Vice President for Innovation and Industry Relations.

Michael: The Technion has always been a leader in Israel, but it has made incredible strides in the last decade to differentiate itself as a global trailblazer. Keeping the university competitive against its peers everywhere is essential for supporting the future of Israel, but requires significant investment in facilities, programs, and other benefits for students and faculty.

Lihi: Absolutely, and the ultimate key to success is the people who make up our amazing community. Our world-class faculty are the foundation to building the Technion’s excellence, and philanthropy is a major component of attracting pioneering faculty members. Like every university, endowed chairs and professorships are very compelling for new potential faculty, but for the Technion especially, foundational research funding certainly attracts faculty who have the choice between the Technion and a university elsewhere in the world.

Salaries are regulated in Israel for university faculty, so if we can close the gap in other forms of support like funding to launch ambitious research projects with brilliant research teams, the Technion stands out among peer institutions. Coupled with our location within the “Start-Up Nation,” the collective national culture of innovation and progress makes an ideal environment for faculty who are hoping to establish themselves as leaders in their fields and as entrepreneurs.

Keep reading at blogs.timesofisrael.com.

This article was written by American Technion Society CEO Michael Waxman-Lenz.