Technology for Humanity: Japan & Technion Israel

Japan’s Minister of Science, Technology and space Yosuke Tsuruho was at Technion on 11/5/17 as part of his first ever visit to Israel.

“Israel and Japan share a common vision of developing advanced technology for the benefit of humanity,” said Minister Yosuke Tsuruho, on meeting Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie and Vice President Prof. Boaz Golany. Accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen and academics, Tsuruho also met with Itai Levinson of ReWalk Robotics Ltd and Prof. Pini Gurfil, Director of the Asher Space Research Institute (ASRI).

l-r: Prof. Peretz Lavie, Minister Yosuke Tsuruho, Prof. Boaz Golany

“Technion graduates have always been a key factor in the technological development of the State of Israel, and the startup nation was born here,” said the Prof. Lavie. “Within just 20 years, Technion graduates were involved in establishing and managing more than 1,600 companies in Israel. These companies generated revenues of more than $30 billion and created 95,500 jobs in Israel.” Prof. Lavie highlighted Technion’s groundbreaking global initiatives in New York and China, as well as the expansion of the Technion’s network of global academic collaborations.

Prof. Boaz Golany, Technion Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development, referred to Technion’s cooperation with Japanese companies and academic institutes. “About two years ago, the Technion established an association of friends in Japan, and since then, the ties have been expanding,” he said. “This includes support for the Technion’s cyber center by the Internet Research Institute (IRI) in Tokyo; Inchia’s support for photonics and chemistry; collaboration in the field of robotics; and more. Recently, a meeting of Israeli and Japanese researchers on regenerative medicine and medical applications for stem cells took place Technion. Held at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, this meeting will further strengthen ties between the Technion and Kyoto University.”

Minister Tsuruho thanked the Technion for its hospitality and said: “We want to understand and learn from you the secret of success and how you did it. Thank you for sharing your information and experience in order to help us achieve scientific and technological breakthroughs.”