Adelson Family Foundation and Bar-Ilan University Launch Institute for Smart Materials

Bar-Ilan University announced a transformative gift from the Adelson Family Foundation to support the establishment of the Bar-Ilan University Adelson Institute for Smart Materials, a first-of-its-kind research center that empowers researchers, technological developers, and practitioners to work together to create cutting-edge solutions in various fields.

The Adelson Institute is poised to rapidly transform ideas into smart materials and by extension, into successful and marketable products. This includes advanced chemical capabilities to both academia and industry, accelerating the development of medical treatments, display technologies, and next-generation energy storage solutions.

Simultaneously, by bringing together renowned researchers from all relevant fields — AI, medicine, engineering, chemistry, and life sciences — the Adelson Institute will be one of the leading institutes in its field globally. The institute will apply for open calls for proposals in order to facilitate new collaborations in Israel and abroad.

“We are gratified to partner with Bar-Ilan University in maintaining and expanding Israel’s status as a force for scientific advancement in the fields of energy and health care through the groundbreaking launch of the Adelson Institute for Smart Materials,” said Dr. Miriam Adelson, co-founder of the Adelson Family Foundation.

Bar-Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban thanked Dr. Adelson for her contribution to Bar-Ilan as well as to Israel’s scientific and technological resilience. “Through the Adelson Institute for Smart Materials, Bar-Ilan University aims to strengthen ties between academia and industry, promote technological advancement, and bridge the gaps between academic research and practical solutions. Bar-Ilan University strives to position the State of Israel at the forefront of global innovation in the field of smart materials, making a significant contribution to the worldwide advancement of science and technology,” said Zaban.

Jessica Feldan, CEO of American Friends of Bar-Ilan University, added, “Bar-Ilan University is precisely the Israeli institution where internationally renowned research and capabilities can be reproduced for large-scale application, and where Israel’s best minds can come together to work collaboratively on innovative solutions. We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Adelson Family Foundation in enabling the university and its American supporters to play a direct role in impacting tomorrow, today.”

More About Smart Materials

Smart materials are engineered with unique properties that enable them to respond dynamically to environmental factors such as location, temperature, pressure, light, and magnetic fields. These materials have a wide range of applications across multiple fields, including medicine, where they enable the development of drugs with controlled-release mechanisms and advancements in tissue engineering; sustainability and green energy, where they enhance the performance of photovoltaic cells; and electronics, where they improve screen technology and pave the way for wearable devices that offer greater comfort and safety. Through continuous innovation, smart materials are not only enhancing our quality of life but also securing a sustainable future for humanity.

Smart materials use AI-driven automation to ensure high-quality and consistent synthesis of materials while enabling researchers to develop a diverse range of materials for precise, targeted applications. Currently, only a handful of universities worldwide operate research institutes focused on automating smart materials synthesis, which speeds up development and ensures repeatability and scalability of complex chemical processes.

One key application of smart materials comes in the realm of personalized medical treatment. In the future, such treatment will be based not only on diagnostic tests but also on a combination of miniature biological sensors that continuously monitor viruses, bacteria, and cancerous cells. The results of these tests will allow early detection of disease and administration of preventative treatment. Further, smart nano-robots will allow precise delivery of treatment to damaged cells without harming healthy ones.