Ben-Gurion University Hosts Houston Mayor
Ben-Gurion University Hosts Houston Mayor
June 16, 2017
Leadership, Awards & Events, Press Releases
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner led a large delegation to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He met with administrators and academics to discuss potential technology collaborations.
The visit was part of the Houston Mayoral Trade Mission to Israel that included city officials, company executives, academics, and members of the Houston Jewish community.
Following the visit to BGU, Mayor Turner said, “We are the most diverse U.S. city, and the world’s energy capital with the world’s largest medical center. The areas we are focused on now are technology and innovation. Our visit to Ben-Gurion University was one of the highlights of our trip to Israel as we seek to establish partnerships and collaborations.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (left) with BGU Vice President and Dean for Research and Development Prof. Dan Blumberg
BGU is a driving force in transforming the city of Beer-Sheva into the cyber capital of Israel and a major international hub. Boasting more cyber security engineering students than any other Israeli university, BGU has attracted major businesses and startups such as Deutsche Telekom, Dell-EMC, PayPal, IBM, and others to establish operations and research facilities in the Advanced Technologies Park (ATP). BGU is a founder of and investor in the ATP, which is located adjacent to the University. This endeavor has successfully created more than 2,000 high-tech jobs in just three years since it has been open.
“BGU has much to offer Houston in the realm of medical research, cyber security and data science, as well as alternative energy and water technology,” says Prof. Dan Blumberg, BGU vice president and dean for research and development. “We look forward to pursing future initiatives with the city of Houston, as well as its business and academic communities.”
In addition to Prof. Blumberg, members of the delegation met with BGU’s Prof. Steve Rosen, vice president for external affairs; Prof. Angel Porgador, deputy dean of research and development; and Prof. Eitan Bachmat of the Department of Computer Science.
ABOUT AMERICANS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY
By supporting a world-class academic institution that not only nurtures the Negev, but also shares its expertise locally and globally, Americans for Ben-Gurion University engages a community of Americans who are committed to improving the world. David Ben-Gurion envisioned that Israel’s future would be forged in the Negev. The cutting-edge research carried out at Ben-Gurion University drives that vision by sustaining a desert Silicon Valley, with the “Stanford of the Negev” at its center. The Americans for Ben-Gurion University movement supports a 21st century unifying vision for Israel by rallying around BGU’s remarkable work and role as an apolitical beacon of light in the Negev desert.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev embraces the endless potential we have as individuals and as a commonality to adapt and to thrive in changing environments. Inspired by our location in the desert, we aim to discover, to create, and to develop solutions to dynamic challenges, to pose questions that have yet to be asked, and to push beyond the boundaries of the commonly accepted and possible.
We are proud to be a central force for inclusion, diversity and innovation in Israel, and we strive to extend the Negev’s potential and our entrepreneurial spirit throughout the world. For example, the multi-disciplinary School for Sustainability and Climate Change at BGU leverages over 50 years of expertise on living and thriving in the desert into scalable solutions for people everywhere.
BGU at a glance:
20,000 students | 800 senior faculty | 3 campuses | 6 faculties: humanities & social sciences, health sciences, engineering sciences, natural sciences, business & management, and desert research.
For all press inquiries, please contact:
James Fattal, J Cubed Communications
516.289.1496
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