BAR-ILAN INSTITUTE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED MATERIALS | 2019 ANNUAL REPORT

significantly lowering the risk of infection. In contrast to drug development, this topical coating is easier to introduce to the market, regulation-wise.” As a part of EU Horizon, an EU Research and Innovation program, Prof. Banin and Prof. Gedanken are involved in a project called PROTECT, through which this technology is being developed for large- scale production in the textile and medical implant industries. For example, another member of the PROTECT consortium is Degania Silicone, an Israeli company that is developing antibacterial catheters utilizing this technology, and the production lines of the antibacterial textile for medical purposes are located in Italy and Portugal. In addition to the medical industry, the agriculture industry also benefits from Prof. Banin’s efforts. One example is the result of a collaboration with Prof. Shlomo Margel, a professor emeritus of BINA and the Department of Chemistry at Bar-llan University, and an Israeli-German collaboration funded by the Israel Innovation Authority. The consortium includes, in addition to Bar-Ilan’s team, Netafim – formerly an Israeli company, now owned by a global corporation but still based in Israel; the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology; and Taros GmbH, a German company. In this project, Prof. Banin and Prof. Margel focus on the characterization and development of rechargeable antibacterial drippers for irrigation use. This unique technology is based on rechargeable nano-particles that are embedded within the dripper allowing the drippers to be recharged when they come in contact with active chlorine, providing the surface of the drippers with antimicrobial activity. In other words, each time the system is cleaned with halogen- based biocides, the coating’s antibacterial property is renewed, making it resistant and long-lasting. These drippers are far more environmentally friendly and relieve the farmer of the constant cleaning required with standard drippers. Additionally, their production presents Netafim with the added value of innovation in a competitive market. BINA as a Catalyst “All of these projects could not happen without BINA, where scientists from different fields work side-to- side, become familiar with one another’s abilities and areas of expertise, share ideas, and have the opportunity to network and collaborate with national and international colleagues and institutes,” states Prof. Banin. “BINA is also a springboard to gain the grants and the institutional and governmental funding needed to advance our innovative ideas from the lab to the appropriate industries that can upscale and manufacture practical products from which all of humanity can benefit.” “This collaboration is mutually empowering, and UHȵHFWV WKH V\QHUJ\ EHWZHHQ ΖVUDHO DV D 6WDUW 8S Nation with innovation-driven scientists characterized by out-of-the-box thinking and the impressive VFLHQWLȴF FDSDELOLWLHV RI RXU &KLQHVH SDUWQHUV ȋ 25