The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, is one of the major technical universities of the Middle East and is widely recognized as a center of excellence. Its academic departments and research institutes cover all engineering and science disciplines, including architecture and medicine. 

Much of the expertise available in Israel on water resources, wastewater disposal and water production by desalination has been generated by Technion's staff. Technion's Grand Water Research Institute (GWRI) is an interdepartmental research institute, affiliating over 50 Technion Professors from eight academic departments. The director of the WRI is Prof. Rafi Semiat replacing Prof Uri Shamir on October 1st 2003. 

The Rabin Desalination Laboratory (RDL), named in honor of the late Prime Minister of Israel, Yizthak Rabin, was founded in June 1996, as part of the WRI through a generous donation of Diana and Robert Davidow. 

The Director of the RDL is Prof. Raphael Semiat. Prof. Semiat joined Technion's Chemical Engineering Department in 1989. His PhD dissertation was a study of corrugated tubes for enhancing heat-transfer in MED desalination. He has gained his experience in academic and industrial work. He has published over 60 papers.

The senior researcher in the Laboratory is Prof. Em. David Hasson. Prof. Hasson has joined Technion's Chemical Engineering Department in 1956. He has supervised over 30 graduate students for higher degrees and has carried out extensive funded projects in various aspects of desalination and other water technologies. He has published over 60 papers and is on the editorial board of the journal "Desalination". 

Most of the desalination research activities are performed within the framework of the RDL which forms part of WRI. The laboratory is located in Technion's Chemical Engineering Department, to which it is affiliated.