Zimin Institute

On Friday, June 10, 2022, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and the Zimin Foundation signed an agreement to support the establishment and operation of the Zimin Institute for AI Solutions in Healthcare at the Technion.

Headed by Professor Shai Shen-Orr from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, the new institute will focus on applied research in artificial intelligence in human health and medicine.

L-R: Co-founder of the Zimin Foundation Mr. Augie Fabela, Technion Executive Vice President & Director General Prof. Boaz Golany, President of the Zimin Foundation, Boris Zimin, Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, and Chairman of the Technion Board of Governors Mr. Scott Leemaster

Technion President Professor Uri Sivan said, “More than two years ago, after I was appointed President, we launched the Technion Human Health Initiative (THHI) to promote human health through interdisciplinary research connecting technology and medicine. This new Center is a key component in this vision of collaboration and connection between science, engineering, and medicine. Undoubtedly, technology is a key component in the future of medicine. We thank the Zimin Foundation and commend its decision to establish its third institute at the Technion. I am sure that this institute will attract many of our scientists and promote applied research that will accelerate the development of new and essential technologies with real-world applications.”

Boris Zimin, President of the Zimin Foundation, said, “We strongly believe in the future of innovation in medicine and healthcare. We have supported applied research in these areas since 2018, mostly focusing on engineering solutions. We are excited to partner with the Technion, one of the most advanced universities in the world, and expand the scope of our support to Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. Israel has proven to be a source of truly amazing talent in research and technological innovation. We count on the talent at the Technion and the Zimin Institute’s leadership to deliver great results and help some of the best research projects at the university turn into applications that bring value to people and leave a strong impact on the transformation of healthcare.”

The Zimin Institute’s programs began in 2018 when the Zimin Institute for Engineering Solutions Advancing Better Lives at Tel Aviv University was launched. The second institute, Zimin Institute for Smart and Sustainable Cities, was established in 2020 at Arizona State University in the United States. Each institute has a different area of expertise while maintaining its focus on research collaboration to develop applied technological projects with real-world implications.

The Zimin Institute at the Technion will promote multidisciplinary projects and develop technologies based on big data and computational learning to improve human healthcare on all levels, including in hospitals, clinics, drug development, home treatment, and medical wearables. The Center will issue calls for proposals and support selected projects, with a preference for proposals with an applied element, and will support 3-5 projects annually. The Zimin Institute at the Technion will operate within the framework of MLIS – the Center for Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems.

“We thank the Zimin Foundation for their generosity and support in creating this new Center,” said Technion Executive Vice President & Director General Professor Boaz Golany. “The Technion is among the best universities in the world for AI research and development and establishing this Center will add a significant element to the Technion’s activities regarding AI in medicine – activities that take place within the Technion’s Center of Machine Learning & Intelligent Systems (MLIS) that brings together researchers from different faculties, working on diverse areas of AI to improve our lives in every possible aspect.”

“More than two years ago, after I was appointed President, we launched the Technion Human Health Initiative (THHI) to promote human health through interdisciplinary research connecting technology and medicine. This new Center is a key component in this vision of collaboration and connection between science, engineering, and medicine. Undoubtedly, technology is a key component in the future of medicine. We thank the Zimin Foundation and commend its decision to establish the third institute at the Technion. I am sure that this institute will attract many of our scientists and promote applied research that will accelerate the development of new and essential technologies with real-world applications.”

Senior Technion officials and Zimin Foundation representatives at the signing ceremony.

Boris Zimin, President of the Zimin Foundation, said, “We strongly believe in the future of innovation in medicine and healthcare. We have been supporting applied research in these areas since 2018, mostly focusing on engineering solutions. We are excited to partner with Technion, one of the most advanced universities in the world, and expand the scope of our support to Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. Israel has proven to be a source of truly amazing talent in research and technology innovation. We count on the talent at the Technion and the Zimin Institute leadership to deliver great results and help some of the best research projects at the university turn into applications that bring value to people and leave a strong impact on the transformation of healthcare.”

From left to right: Prof. Boaz Golany, Mr. Augie Fabela, Mr. Boris Zimin, and Prof. Uri Sivan