Technion joins EuroTech Universities Alliance

Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, will join the EuroTech Universities Alliance as of 1 January 2019. Made public on the occasion of the Alliance’s annual High-Level Event in Brussels on 6 November, the announcement follows the accession of France’s École Polytechnique to the Alliance in June 2018. This step increases the Alliance’s membership base, and will further strengthen its position as a pioneer for inter-university collaboration.

“The EuroTech Universities are excellent research-based universities recognized within their innovation eco-systems as highly dynamic motors with an outstanding capacity to help translate basic research into societal solutions”, says Jan Mengelers, President of the EuroTech Universities Alliance. “With the EuroTech Universities Alliance, we are pooling our complementary research strengths and connecting our innovation ecosystems for more impact. Technion is a “perfect match” to join – and boost this joint endeavour, given its scientific excellence and vibrant innovation ecosystem.”

Boasting 84 ERC grants under the EU’s FP7 and Horizon 2020 programmes as well as 90 spin-off companies, Technion is a striking example of how excellent fundamental science translates into impact.

“Technion is thrilled and honoured to join the EuroTech Universities Alliance”, said Technion President, Prof. Peretz Lavie. “We live in an era in which international and interdisciplinary collaborations are vital to the future of scientific research. We bring the ‘Technion way’ of doing things to this partnership: reaching our goals faster and with fewer resources. The combination with the great strengths of the other members of the alliance, which comprises an elite group of European universities similar to Technion, will help us ensure we are at the forefront of scientific research, benefiting millions worldwide. “

The EuroTech Universities Alliance stimulates collaboration across education, research, and innovation, thereby increasing the attraction of global top talent needed to drive modernization, excellence, and societal impact. For instance, the existing EuroTech Postdoc programme provides 80 promising fellows unique access to the research expertise and infrastructures across the EuroTech Universities while at the same time offering exclusive entrepreneurship and mobility opportunities in several of Europe’s top high-tech ecosystems.

Today’s societal challenges can only be addressed by collaboration in education, research, and innovation across the EU and internationally. Recognizing what alliances of universities can achieve when pooling resources and combining strengths, the European Commission launched a pilot scheme in support of European university networks on 24 October 2018. At its annual High-Level Event in Brussels on 6 November, the EuroTech Universities Alliance facilitated a very timely and encouraging debate on the role of university alliances in driving the University of the Future.