The Zisapel Electrical Engineering Building.

“The Technion is an important part of our success.” 

– Brothers Zohar and Yehuda Zisapel at the cornerstone laying ceremony for the Technion Zisapel Electrical Engineering Building.

Brothers Zohar and Yehuda Zisapel, alumni of the Technion, laid the cornerstone for the Zisapel Electrical Engineering Building at a festive ceremony held at the Technion last Thursday. 

The new Zisapel Electrical Engineering Building will be used for the continued development of the Technion’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and for the strengthening of ties with industry.

With the building simulation. From right to left: Zohar Zisapel, Prof. Peretz Lavie and Yehuda Zisapel

“This is a holiday for the entire Technion family and for the Faculty of Electrical Engineering,” said Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie, who thanked the Zisapel brothers and the Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development Prof. Boaz Golany, who played a major role in promoting the project. “Thirteen years ago, brothers Zohar and Yehuda Zisapel changed the face of the Technion with the establishment of the Zisapel Center for Nanoelectronics Research,” said Prof. Lavie. “Without this center, the Technion would not be where it is today, and I believe that the new building will also greatly contribute to the advancement of the faculty and the Technion. Towards the end of my term as president of the Technion, I couldn’t imagine a better gift than this.”

“As a student, I never imagined that we would donate buildings to the Technion, but it is part of life’s packages – they are surprising,” said Yehuda Zisapel, recounting his studies at the Technion. “The Technion is an important part of our success. As topics and knowledge are rapidly changing in the technological world, the Technion taught us how to learn new subjects quickly and how to keep up with the changes. I would like to thank the Technion for choosing to erect the new building in this wonderful place, between two existing buildings of the faculty. It is very important to us that the building is used not only for the development of the faculty but also for the strengthening of the links between the Technion and Israeli industry.”

“During our studies here, there were discussions in the faculty about whether it should focus on electricity or electronics,” added Zohar Zisapel, “But today, I understand that you must focus on both and also be open to many other areas. The Technion always knew how to respond to the needs of industry and it’s important that it continues to stay up to date and enter into areas that are expected to develop in the future.”

“Yehuda and Zohar Zisapel, of the most prominent entrepreneurs in Israeli industry, have been closely following and supporting our activities for years,” said Prof. Nahum Shimkin, dean of the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering. “They are a source of inspiration and pride for us. The new building will provide us with the space needed to continue the expansion of the faculty and will enable us to continue to lead and excel in teaching and research and to assist in the advancement of Israeli technology.”

The Zisapel brothers covering the cornerstone with cement

The Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering is Technion’s largest faculty and the largest engineering department in Israel, with over 2,200 students. During its 80 years of existence, the Faculty has educated approximately 15,000 alumni who led the transformation of Israel from an agricultural economy to a high-tech powerhouse. These alumni form the backbone of Israel’s civilian and military knowledge-intensive industries.

The Zisapel brothers, founders of the RAD Bynet Group, have maintained a warm relationship with Technion through the years, helping with financial support and also through personal involvement. Yehuda Zisapel, former head of the Technion Alumni Association, initiated the “From Three to Five” project, which helps high-school students complete high-level matriculation exams in STEM subjects; and the “Ofakim l’High-Tech” program (now called “Achievements for High-Tech”), that helps discharged soldiers from Israel’s periphery to pursue academic studies in engineering and science.  Zohar Zisapel has also supported Technion in numerous ways and contributes millions of dollars for children’s technological education and to expose every Israeli child to the world of computers and the internet. Last year, he was named the Israeli Chair of Technion’s global fundraising campaign, which aims to raise US$ 1.8 billion to strengthen Technion’s leadership position in the global arena.