happen by accident. The story starts
almost 100 years ago with a man
named Albert Einstein.
Start-Up NatioN: haifa hi-tech
Necessity is said to be the mother of
invention. Israel, a small country in a
dangerous neighbourhood, has had
necessity – and invention. It has amazed
the world with its advanced technological
and scientific research. According to the
IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook
last year, Israel spent a world-topping
4.25 per cent of its GDP on research and
development. The country has more high-
tech start-ups per capita than any other in
the world, earning it the moniker “Start-up
Nation” in Dan Senor and Paul Siegel’s
2009 book of that name. In a country
with a strong tradition of technological
advancement, the Technion-Israel Institute
of Technology is the leader in the country.
Founded even before Israel, it will now have
a chance to lend to the development of the
world’s largest country in their drive for
modernisation.
This did not happen by accident – it aligns
with the strategic objectives of Israel and
China. President Lavie, in an open letter
to Technion supporters around the world,
explained that “The Technion project in
Guangdong is fully aligned with the policy
of recent Israeli governments that have
devoted much attention and efforts to
broaden and strengthen Israel – China
relations at all levels. The Israeli Council
of Higher Education has declared the
development of academic collaborations
with China a strategic goal and has even
allocated resources for scholarships
to Chinese students coming to study
in Israel.”
He noted Prime Minister Netanyahu’s
visit to China in May 2013 when
they signed commercial cooperation
agreements. Both gave their enthusiastic
blessing to additional collaboration
agreements between the two countries –
with education top of the list.
When news of the deal got out, Israeli
media took note. From
Israel 21c
, Karin
Kloosterman reported: “This is the first
time China has invested in and completely
paid for a university to open up business
and start operating in China,” says [Danny]
Shapiro [of Technion], noting that the
Asian country is already host to satellite
campuses of US, Canadian and European
universities looking to attract Asian
students. “The Chinese and the people we
are dealing with wanted the Technion to
develop a world-competitive institution
of education for engineering and science.
They could have chosen any university
in the world, and they chose Israel.”
Visionaries at the national level have seen
a channel in STU and Technion.
Nobel treeS, proUd traditioN
The ‘Technikum’ was founded in 1912 as
a technical and vocational college. Its
founding pre-dates the founding of the
modern nation of Israel, but has been
crucial to its development. It has defined
the young nation since before it began.
Indeed, in 1914 – almost 100 years ago –
its first conflict was one that helped
define a nation without a country as the
community fought over whether to teach
in Hebrew – a language with no scientific
pedigree or textbooks – or German.
Hebrew won the day, and helped define
the community.
>>
Visiting the world renowned Technion – Israel Institute
of Technology, LKSF Chairman Mr Li Ka-shing is welcomed
by its President, Peretz Lavie and wife Dr Lena Lavie.
“Israel can win the battle for
survival only by developing expert
knowledge in technology.”
Professor Albert Einstein,
President of the first Technion Society
Sphere
#34
2013
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