Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour Awarded to Technion's Prof. Hossam Haick

Prof. Haick is a faculty member in the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering and a researcher at the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI) at the Technion. He is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading scientists in the field of non-invasive medical diagnostics. His pioneering research has led to the development of innovative technologies based on nanomaterials and artificial intelligence, enabling the rapid, early detection of diseases through simple breath and skin tests, as well as portable chemical imaging systems.

His international recognition includes multiple prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants, extensive collaborations with the European Union, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Health Organization, as well as dozens of international awards and honors for scientific excellence, innovation, and social impact. Among these distinctions are the title of Knight of the Order of Academic Palms, awarded by the French government, and his election in 2025 as a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, one of the world’s highest honors for inventors.

Throughout his career, Prof. Haick has bridged scientific excellence with a profound commitment to humanity and society. At the heart of his work lies a simple yet powerful belief: every person deserves an equal right to life, dignity, and health. Guided by this vision, he has developed medical technologies designed not only for advanced healthcare systems and affluent populations, but also for underserved communities and developing countries. In doing so, he embodies the deepest meaning of tikkun olam—using groundbreaking science to improve lives across the developed and developing worlds alike.

Alongside his scientific achievements, which include hundreds of publications, tens of thousands of citations, and more than one hundred patents, Prof. Haick has led and coordinated seven major European research consortia, bringing together dozens of universities, hospitals, companies, and public and industrial partners. Through these initiatives, he has significantly enhanced Israel’s standing in the international scientific, medical, and technological communities and strengthened its role as a leading partner in advanced global research.

Prof. Haick has also distinguished himself as an educator, entrepreneur, and academic leader. During his tenure as Dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies at the Technion, he led wide-ranging initiatives to improve the student experience, strengthen academic and personal support services, expand accessibility and opportunity, and promote a more inclusive, attentive, and equitable campus environment. He also established comprehensive support systems for students facing complex personal and national challenges. His leadership demonstrated that true academic excellence is inseparable from humanity, responsibility, and social sensitivity.

Prof. Haick is an outstanding example of a researcher who has successfully translated fundamental science into entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and economic impact. He holds more than 100 patents and is a co-founder of five companies that emerged from academic research, including Feelit Technologies, which markets its solutions internationally, and Nanose Medical. His work demonstrates how pioneering scientific discoveries can become industrial innovation, create high-quality employment, and strengthen Israel’s position as a global leader in deep technologies.

The Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour, established by Israel’s ninth President, Shimon Peres, has been awarded since 2012 to individuals who have become exemplary figures in their fields. It recognizes those who have made “an outstanding contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity through their talents, their service, or in any other way.” This year, the medal will be presented to 11 distinguished women and men.