Foyer Inaugurated in Memory of Uzia Galil z”l

The unveiling ceremony. From right to left: Bezhalel (Butsi) Machlis, CEO and president of Elbit Systems; Uzia Galil’s daughters Daniela and Ruth; his widow Ella; former Elbit Chairman Miki Federman; Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prof. Idit Keidar; Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan; and Chairman of the Israel Friends of Technion Association Prof. Peretz Lavie

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Technion inaugurated the Uzia Galil Foyer in the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The foyer was named after the founder of Elbit Systems and other companies. The ceremony was attended by Galil’s family and Elbit Systems management including president and CEO Bezhalel (Butsi) Machlis and former Elbit Systems Board Chairman Miki Federman. Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan, Dean of the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering Prof. Idit Keidar, and Chairman of the Israel Friends of Technion Association, Prof. Peretz Lavie, were also in attendance.

The inspiration corner for students in the new entrance hall of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The foyer, which honors the legacy of Uzia Galil z”l and showcases advanced defense technology developed by Elbit Systems, was made possible thanks to support from the Galil family and Elbit Systems. The display in the hall highlights the connection between Galil’s legacy and Elbit products, which are at the forefront of Israel’s defense technology.

Uzia Galil (1925–2021) was an alumnus of the Technion’s Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering and one of the founding figures of Israel’s high-tech industry. He was born in 1925 in Bucharest and immigrated to Israel at age 16 as part of the Youth Aliyah movement. In 1943, he was accepted to the Technion, and upon completing his studies, served in the Israeli Navy for many years. After earning a master’s degree from Purdue University, he worked in Chicago on Motorola’s color television development, and upon returning to Israel, rejoined the Israeli Navy as the head of the Electronics R&D Department.

In 1957, Galil joined the Technion as a lecturer and the head of the Electronics Department in the Faculty of Physics, where he developed advanced electronic systems for physical research. In parallel to his work at the Technion, he founded Elron in 1962, which led to the creation of more than 25 technology companies, including Elscint and Zoran. Later, he established the Galil Center for Medical Information and Telemedicine at the Technion’s Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, aiming to integrate technology for the benefit of healthcare through the use of advanced systems.

At the ceremony, Galil’s daughter, Ruth Alon, a Technion alumna and high-tech entrepreneur, said: “We always knew and felt that the extended Galil family includes the Technion and Elbit. These were my father’s ‘homes.’ The collaboration between academia and industry was always his vision and mission, and there’s no more fitting place to commemorate and honor him.”

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan said, “Uzia was a visionary who contributed greatly to the Technion, to Israeli industry, and society. He was one of the Technion’s most distinguished alumni and a devoted friend of the institution where he received his education. Uzia was a pioneer in many areas, and he laid the foundations for Israel’s high-tech industry. His vision of integrating technology and medicine for the benefit of humanity was ahead of its time. His immense contribution to the Technion as Chairman of the Board of Governors and as a member of the Executive Committee was invaluable. This new entrance hall is dedicated to his legacy – connecting academia and industry and nurturing the future generation of scientists and engineers.”

Bezhalel (Butsi) Machlis, CEO and president of Elbit Systems, said, “A nation that does not know its past has a poor present and an uncertain future. These words by Yigal Allon are reflected in the entrance hall, which was established to honor Uzia Galil’s legacy. The bond between the Technion, its alumni, and Elbit is a strong partnership of collaboration, action, and responsibility for integrating advanced technologies into Israel’s industry. Elbit employees, many of whom are Technion alumni, recognize and act in accordance with Uzia Galil’s vision. His unique character, drive for action, creation, and innovation inspire us – company managers and employees – every day. We are proud to continue his path, committed to preserving and passing on his legacy, and contributing every day to the defense of the State of Israel.”

Prof. Peretz Lavie, former Technion president, and chairman of the Israel Friends of Technion Association said, “Uzia taught us that innovation and entrepreneurship are more than just technical skills – they are a way of thinking, a belief in the power of ideas to change the world. Uzia was not just a leader but a mentor for those who worked with him. He believed in people’s potential as much as he believed in the potential of technology. That’s why the Technion was so close to his heart. He believed wholeheartedly in the connection between academia and industry, and he expressed this belief in almost every meeting of the Technion’s Executive Committee, where he served for many years.”

In 1977, the Technion awarded Galil an honorary doctorate. In 1980, he became the first Technion graduate to serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors, a position he held until 1990. In 1997, he received the Israel Prize for his contribution to the development of Israel’s high-tech industry and the prestigious Technion Medal that same year.