Professor Israel Cidon, a renowned leader in network engineering and former Technion – Israel Institute of Technology faculty member and dean, recently began his tenure as the director of the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute. Prof. Cidon succeeds Dr. Ron Brachman, who has held the role since 2016 and will transition out over the next few months.

“Professor Israel Cidon is an esteemed computer networking researcher with extensive management experience at the Technion,” said Technion President Professor Uri Sivan. “As dean, he led the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering to significant achievements. Professor Cidon has a rich and successful background in entrepreneurship, and he maintains close relationships with the industry. I am confident that he will contribute significantly to strengthening the collaborations between the Technion and Cornell University and advancing research and development at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute.”

Prof. Cidon has co-founded several successful startups, including Micronet Ltd., Actona Technology, Viola Networks, and Sookasa, and was most recently a vice president and researcher at VMware Research. From 2006 to 2010, he was a faculty member and dean in the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Technion.

“Professor Cidon has led groundbreaking research, co-founded several successful start-ups, and developed 65 U.S. patents covering aspects of data networks including mobility, packet switching, security, Internet, and beyond,” said Cornell Tech Dean and Vice Provost Greg Morrisett. “His extensive expertise and start-up and industrial research experience – including at VMWare, one of Silicon Valley’s leading companies – will be fundamental to advancing the Jacobs Institute’s mission of offering a global perspective on research, education, technology transfer, commercialization, and entrepreneurship.”

“The Jacobs Institute represents the academic partnership between Cornell University and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology at Cornell Tech,” said Prof. Cidon. “It’s a privilege to succeed Ron Brachman as director of the Jacobs Institute and build upon his leadership, furthering the institute’s innovative approach to research and industry partnership.”

As the new director, Prof. Cidon will lead the Jacobs Institute’s strategic vision as it continues to grow its interdisciplinary, translational research focused on grand challenges in the digital realm; its innovative dual-degree programs; and its commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship.