Technion inks cooperation deal with Canada’s University of Waterloo

The new partnership agreement aims to facilitate technology transfer and to provide commercialization opportunities to students, faculty.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Technion PRESIDENT Prof. Peretz Lavie 370 (photo credit: Sasson Tiram/Technion)
Technion PRESIDENT Prof. Peretz Lavie 370
(photo credit: Sasson Tiram/Technion)
The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the University of Waterloo in Canada signed a cooperation agreement during a joint conference at the Technion on Tuesday.
“I am personally, and on behalf of my institution, proud to come to Israel because the Technion is a natural partner – it represents all the values, vision, ambitions and commitment towards excellence that we share,” Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. “There is no substitute for bringing great minds together, and students at both universities – at all levels – will have access to the best and brightest scientists.”
While the agreement currently only extends to the fields of quantum information systems, nanotechnology and water, Hamdullahupur said the two institutions “are building a long-term relationship, and we hope in the future to expand this cooperation beyond these three areas.”
The new partnership agreement aims to facilitate technology transfer and to provide commercialization opportunities to students, faculty and researchers from both institutions by connecting them with industrial partners in Canada and in Israel. As part of the agreement, joint training and education programs will be created, and the institutions will collaborate on applied research projects, workshops, seminars and conferences.
“The agreement between the University of Waterloo and Technion will lead to joint research projects between Israeli and Canadian scientists in areas crucial for making our world a better place. I could not think of a better partner for such projects than the University of Waterloo,” said Prof. Peretz Lavie, president of the Technion.
The two institutions began a five-day joint research conference at the Technion on Sunday that has featured presentations by renowned researchers, including Raymond Laflamme, executive director of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing and a former student of Stephen Hawking. Laflamme is working to develop the world’s first quantum computer.
The conference has also featured the research of nanotechnology expert Carolyn Ren, whose knowledge of Labon- a-Chip Technology has the potential to revolutionize medical diagnosis and treatment by making chemical and biomedical diagnosis faster, easier and less expensive.
Canada Research Chair in Groundwater Remediation David Blowes also presented on his work to find innovative ways to stop or reverse groundwater contamination caused by mining operations.