“Imagining the impossible is the
necessary and game-changing
condition precedent to shaping
and making ‘solution revolutions’
into reality…
“Our responsibility is to invest in
reforms... unlock that genius and
enable the continuing realisation
of human potential... Failing to
do so amounts to a crime against
the future.”
Mr Li Ka-shing
deSTINed FOR A GReAT FUTURe
>>
In the early 1920s, physics legend Albert
Einstein was inspired to found the first
Technion Society and became its Chairman
after visiting a devastated Haifa after
the First World War. Today this series
of supportive Technion societies that
span the globe seek to support Israel
and humanity through supporting the
Technion Institute of Technology. He
felt that the establishment of a technical
school was crucial to the development
of then Palestine and Jewry. He visited
the premises in 1923 for the first time
and became an ardent supporter. He
also planted a tree that still stands in the
Haifa campus today. In this, he started
a tradition of visiting and faculty Nobel
prize winners planting trees on campus.
Three Technion Institute professors, in
chemistry and medicine, have won Nobel
Prizes – and planted trees – in the past
nine years. A year later, in 1924, the first
16 students started their classes in Israel’s
first university, studying civil engineering
and architecture.
It may seem strange that such a
venerable institution has become
a leader in high tech. But leading
professors and technopreneurs have
emerged from its centres of excellence in
nanotechnology, life sciences, stem cells,
water management, sustainable energy,
information technology, biotechnology,
materials engineering, aerospace and
industrial engineering. This was not by
accident – many believed success in
technology crucial to the young nation’s
survival after the Second World War.
Technion became synonymous with
Israel’s modernity, success and identity.
Now, it is ready to work with a new
partner: Shantou University.
Professor Lavie describes the partnership
as “a major breakthrough and an
opportunity to strengthen ties between
Israel and China.”
“We believe in globalisation. We believe
that cross-cultural dialogues are essential.
Opening up Technion and STU to these
cultural dialogues is very important,”
Professor Lavie said.
ShaNtoU twiN
STU, the other player in this grand project,
has a long history with Mr Li and the
LKSF. Much like Einstein in the early 20th
century, Mr Li saw the need for a leading
centre of research to lend to China’s
modern development. His work to establish
a school bore fruit when it was established
in 1981 with its first stone laying ceremony
in 1984. It caught the eye of Deng
Xiaopeng, who encouraged its open
development as key to China’s progress.
STU is not without antecedents however.
In 1924 – the same year Technion – the
university – was founded, the Chaozhou
Obstetrics Training School opened its
doors to aspiring young medical students.
This Chaozhou School was transformed
into Guangdong Province Shantou Medical
Vocational School in 1959, which was
merged into the new Shantou University
when it was founded in 1981, giving it some
pedigree to complement its youthfulness.
Co-developed by LKSF, the Ministry of
Education and the People’s Government
of the Guangdong Province, STU
flourished. The LKSF has contributed
HKD6 billion (about USD770 million)
to date, of which 71 per cent was for
academic development and 29 per cent
for infrastructure.
The LKSF donation continues the tradition
of advancing China’s development. In
this, they have partners in government.
For example, in mid-2012, the Ministry
of Education, the Guangdong Provincial
Government and the LKSF signed a
Above: Mr Li was shown various innovative
projects on his recent visit at Technion.
Sphere
#34
2013
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