Technion Innovations

Technion generated innovations

• Memory sticks USB flash drive (invented by Technion alumnus Dov Moran, M‐systems);
• Ziv‐Lempel data compression algorithm (used in pdf);
• Azilect for treating early‐stage Parkinson’s, developed by  Profs. Moussa Youdim and John Finberg at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine together with Teva Pharmaceuticals;
• A breath test for cancer diagnosis (Hossam Haick);
• Non‐invasive destruction of tumors by ultrasound (Insightec, led by Technion graduate Kobi Vortman);
• Iron Dome
• Argo ReWalk -the robotic suit that enables paraplegics, to walk, drive and run marathons.

Notable Discoveries

Master Cell-Master Mind

Technion is a world leader in stem-cell research, with over 25 ongoing stem-cell related projects. Human embryonic stem cells were first cultivated by Technion Prof. Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor in partnership with researchers at the University of Wisconsin.

Life-saving Tissue

Using human embryonic stem cells, Profs. Shulamit Levenberg and Lior Gepstein were first to create new heart muscle with its own blood supply that could replace cardiac tissue damaged by heart disease.

Behind Cyberspace

The internet revolution was enabled by the legendary Lempel-Ziv Algorithm. This is an international standard for data compression and the brainchild of Profs. Abraham Lempel and Jacob Ziv.

Space Exploration

Launched in 1998, the student satellite Gurwin Techsat II orbited the earth for 11 years. At the forefront of space research, SAMSON (the Space Autonomous Mission for Swarming and Geolocation with Nanosatellites) will be launching several unique satellites working in tandem with heightened accuracy, efficiency, and technological scope.

Parkinson’s Treatment

Clinical trials have confirmed that Azilect® is the first drug to slow down Parkinson’s disease. Azilect® – now a leading treatment option – was developed by Prof. Moussa Youdim and Prof. John Finberg with Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Nano Transistor

A method to use DNA strands to self-assemble a conductive wire 1,000 times thinner than a human hair was pioneered by Profs. Uri Sivan, Erez Braun and Yoav Eichen in 1998.

Light on Light

Powerful insights on solitons in photonic lattices are transforming the applications of light waves in high-tech industries through world-acclaimed research lead by Prof. Moti Segev.

Quantum Shift

Quantum computing and cryptology promise to make computing faster and more secure. The revolution in this field was generated by Prof. Asher Peres, one of the fathers of quantum teleportation.

Limitless data

Prof. Yonina Eldar showed how low-rate data conversion schemes in signal processing break the fundamental Nyquist-Shannon barrier. Applications include communications, digital devices, cell phones, digital storage, and medical imaging.

Spin Master

Prof. Erez Hasman is advancing a new branch in optics – spinoptics. The symmetry breaking in nanostructures due to spin-orbit interaction, potentially opens a new avenue for controlling light in nanometer-scale optical devices.

Dirty Paper Coding

Electrical engineering Distinguished Prof. Shlomo Shamai (Shitz) introduced interference cancellation at the transmitter site which allows for more reliable transmission of data.

Green Batteries

Green, long-life, high performance batteries made from silicon are being developed by Prof. Yair Ein-Eli of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering and the Grand Technion Energy Program.