New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, President Professor Daniel Chamovitz of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and president Joel Bloom of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) announced on Tuesday at the Choose New Jersey Newark office a partnership to create the region’s next hub of technological innovation.
The Institute for Future Technologies in New Jersey will combine the academic capacities of the two global institutions, offering dual degrees and joint research opportunities. Support and seed funding from the State of New Jersey is expected to be forthcoming.
“NJIT is one of the state’s premier STEM-focused universities, and BGU is one of the driving forces behind the success of Israel’s technology economy,” said Murphy. “By joining together in this groundbreaking venture, NJIT and BGU will combine their expertise and track records in technological research and development to help strengthen the economic opportunity and tech leadership that I have long envisioned for our state.”
Operating out of both NJIT’s satellite location in the waterfront section of Jersey City as well as its main campus in Newark, N.J., the institute will be accessible from the World Trade Center and the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. As companies move and expand operations across the Hudson River into Jersey City and Newark, the new entity is positioned to serve the entire metropolitan region.
Acting Consul General of Israel in New York Israel Nitzan said the partnership is “another expression of the vibrant and fruitful relations between Israel and New Jersey. We share many commonalities, among them our spirit of innovation and creativity. We are proud of this collaboration between two top-notch academic institutions that will conquer the future of cybersecurity and environmental engineering.”
