NJIT & Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Announce Formation of New Institute for Future Technologies

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, President Daniel Chamovitz of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), and President Joel S. Bloom of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) will announce at a 2 p.m. ceremony on March 16, 2021, at the Choose New Jersey Newark office a partnership that will create a world-class Institute for Future Technologies in New Jersey. Two powerhouse universities in the fields of cyber technologies and environmental engineering will come together to offer dual degrees and exciting new research opportunities. The Institute looks forward to receiving support and seed funding from the State of New Jersey. The March 16 ceremony will be viewable on Zoom via live stream by registering here or by visiting the Governor’s Facebook page.

“NJIT is one of the state’s premier STEM-focused universities, and BGU is one of the driving forces behind the success of Israel’s technology economy,” said Governor Murphy. “By joining together in this groundbreaking venture, NJIT and BGU will combine their expertise and track records in technological research and development to help strengthen the economic opportunity and tech leadership that I have long envisioned for our state.”

Acting Consul General of Israel in New York Israel Nitzan added, “This exciting partnership is another expression to the vibrant and fruitful relations of Israel and New Jersey. We share many commonalities, among them our spirit of innovation and creativity. We are proud of this collaboration between two top-notch academic institutions that will conquer the future of cybersecurity and environmental engineering.”

The Institute for Future Technologies will combine the academic and research capacities of two global institutions, creating the region’s next hub of technological innovation. The partnership by NJIT and BGU aims to provide bespoke cyber technologies, civil and environmental engineering education, will conduct applied research and development, and will support innovation and entrepreneurship through technological commercialization efforts. The Institute’s mission is to deliver:

• Education – Offerings from dual NJIT-BGU graduate (Ph.D. and M.S./M.Sc.) degrees for local students, to corporate training programs
• Applied Research – Opportunities for Ph.D. students and research staff, based on corporate, government, and defense R&D projects and funding
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Promoting technology transfer and commercialization of R&D and other intellectual property from NJIT, BGU and other sources, including launching ventures and spinoffs

Operating out of both NJIT’s satellite location in the waterfront section of Jersey City as well as its main campus in Newark, the Institute will be easily accessible from the World Trade Center and the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. As companies move and expand operations across the Hudson River into Jersey City and Newark, the Institute is positioned to serve the entire metropolitan region.

One main component of the NJIT-BGU agreement is collaboration in civil and environmental engineering, including research in structures, buildings, materials, infrastructures, energy and environmentally conscious construction, water resources and air quality. Both BGU and NJIT have considerable interest and expertise in the development of systems and materials with minimal environmental impact, as well as the development, use, and regulation of natural or engineered systems for the remediation of contaminated environments (water, air, soil). This is in addition to design and preparation against earthquakes and other extreme events, including man-made and natural catastrophes. These civil engineering and infrastructure/water efforts intersect with the cybersecurity effort in protecting aquatic environments and other infrastructure systems from malicious actors and cyber attacks.

The Institute represents BGU’s first foray into the U.S. higher education system and signals its determination to offer the valuable research and insights it produces for the benefit of students outside of Israel.

“Over the past five decades, our expertise and approaches developed in the Negev Desert have become increasingly relevant globally,” said BGU President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz. “BGU and NJIT tackle the world’s greatest challenges through our problem-oriented approaches. We are excited to offer students in the U.S. the opportunity to get a BGU-NJIT education in New Jersey and to welcome new faculty to the Institute.”

As the tristate region’s largest generator of tech talent, NJIT has an annual economic impact of more than $2.8 billion on the State of New Jersey. The Institute for Future Technologies will be NJIT’s next contribution to the region’s rapidly expanding tech sector.

“NJIT continuously is evolving to preserve and improve New Jersey’s leadership in technological innovation,” said NJIT President Joel S. Bloom. “International partnerships, especially with world-renowned and tech-driven universities, are a natural step in this direction and represent a major opportunity for NJIT and New Jersey. We look forward to importing some Israeli ‘chutzpah’ and Startup Nation culture to the region as we build our joint Institute together.”

BGU has an impressive international reputation in the fields of cybersecurity and data science.

“I am excited about this new collaboration. It is wonderful to be able to share the academic excellence and unique characteristics of BGU and NJIT to create new synergy and partnerships. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration leading to many scientific breakthroughs and to the success of our graduates who will gain a dual international degree,” said BGU’s Vice President for Global Engagement, Prof. Limor Aharonson-Daniel.

Craig Gotsman, distinguished professor and dean of NJIT’s Ying Wu College of Computing, added, “The last year of COVID-driven reality has proven that computing, digital and cyber technologies are now more important than ever before. Leadership and innovation in this field can be the key to significant economic development, and NJIT is uniquely positioned to make it happen in New Jersey. We are fortunate to have a strong partner in BGU to help us achieve this goal as we learn from their achievements in Israel.”

“The launch of the Institute for Future Technologies solidifies New Jersey’s status as a technology hub,” said Jose Lozano, President & CEO, Choose New Jersey. “Our thriving ecosystem is leading the way in offering world-class education, developing top talent, and advancing research. The State of Innovation and the Startup Nation have always enjoyed a close relationship, and this collaboration will only strengthen our economic and cultural ties.”

Andrew H. Gross, Executive Director of the New Jersey-Israel Commission, added, “Today’s partnership stands as a major achievement and opens a new chapter in New Jersey’s growing and strategic relationship with Israel. This announcement between two premier and global academic institutions charts us even further on a common course towards innovation and academic leadership that will shape the future and bring significant benefits to both New Jersey and Israel.”

About NJIT

One of only 35 polytechnic universities in the United States, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) prepares students to become leaders in the technology-dependent economy of the 21st century. NJIT’s multidisciplinary curriculum and computing-intensive approach to education provide technological proficiency, business acumen and leadership skills. NJIT is one of only 131 universities rated an R1 research university by the Carnegie Classification, which indicates the highest level of research activity. NJIT conducts more than $160 million in research activity each year and has a $2.8 billion annual economic impact on the State of New Jersey. NJIT is ranked No. 1 nationally by Forbes for the upward economic mobility of its lowest-income students and is ranked in the top 100 colleges and universities nationally for the mid-career earnings of graduates, according to PayScale.com. NJIT also is ranked third in New Jersey and 74th among colleges and universities nationwide by the QS World University Ranking ® 2020.

About BGU

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) is the fastest growing research university in Israel. With 20,000 students, 6,000 staff and faculty members, and three campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sde Boker and Eilat, BGU is an agent of change, fulfilling the vision of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s legendary first prime minister, who envisaged the future of Israel emerging from the Negev Desert. International students coming from over 75 countries are an important component on its vibrant campuses.

The University is at the heart of Be’er-Sheva’s transformation into an innovation district, where leading multinational corporations and start-ups eagerly leverage BGU’s expertise to generate innovative R&D.

BGU effects change, locally, regionally and internationally. With faculties in Engineering Sciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Business and Management; and Desert Studies, the University is a recognized national and global leader in many fields, actively encouraging multi-disciplinary collaborations with government and industry, and nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation in all its forms.

BGU is also a university with a conscience, active both on the frontiers of science and in the community. Over a third of our students participate in one of the world’s most developed community action programs.

For more information, visit the BGU website.