10 Whenworld-renowned Bar-Ilanmaterials scientist Prof. Doron Aurbach completed his Ph.D. in 1983, he applied to the leading electrochemistry labs in America in the hopes of pursuing postdoctoral studies. To his surprise, he received a positive answer from the number-one researcher in the field—an offer, he explains, he had to decline, once he learned that Austin, Texas had no Jewish community. Determined to combine his academic career with a commitment to full engagement in Jewish life, Aurbachwent instead to Cleveland, where another researcher was open to exploring a newfield: lithiumbatteries. Four decades, one Israel Chemical Society Gold Medal, and countless transformational battery innovations later, Aurbach is now poised to take his dual passions for energy science and for the Jewish state and people to their highest level yet, as co-director of Israel’s first national energy initiative. In December, Bar-Ilan was awarded, together with the Technion—Israel Institute for Technology, a $37million contract by the Israeli government to establish the state’s first National Institute for Energy Research. The contract, which calls for basic and applied research in energy storage, fuel cells, and hydrogen economy, is a profound acknowledgment of both universities’ extraordinary accomplishments in the field to date. Indeed, thanks to their longstanding investment in outstanding energy researchers and in opportunities for leveraged impact, Bar-Ilan and the Technion are uniquely positioned among Israel’s academic institutions to address the full continuum of clean-energy economies, combining electro-chemistry, materials science, network engineering and environmental regulation to pave Israel and the world’s path away from the dangerous dependence on fossil fuels. “Today, Israel develops most of its own defense technologies. We at Bar-Ilan believe that by bringing together the incredible brain power of Israel’s energy scientists, industry players, and entrepreneurs, Israel can also achieve full independence in the area of energy.” Prof. Doron Aurbach A State’s Ambitions, and a University’s Boundless Energy As part of its efforts to strengthen Israel’s energy ecosystem and support entrepreneurship in the energy industry, the Center for Energy and Sustainability joinedthe JewishNational Fund inrunning a “bootcamp” thispast summer for Israel’s entrepreneurial community. Directed by Prof. Malachi Noked, the program featured six on-campus meetings and two tours of leading energy companies. Selected from a pool of more than 120 applicantswitha viable energy-company idea, the program’s 35 participants heard lectures from energy-industry experts, honed their business skills with entrepreneurship experts, and worked withmentors to advance their proposed ventures to the launch stage. Participants were joined by representatives from the Doral Group, the Bazan Group, and the Israel Electric Company, and thewinning ventures received grants to help make their project a reality. National Institute for Energy Research A Bootcamp for Energy Entrepreneurs
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