Based in one of the world’s most ancient and holiest cities, the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem (HU) shines brighter than ever as Israel’s precious jewel of academia,
research, and innovation.

Home to the oldest of six campuses, Jerusalem’s Mount Scopus is a great place to get
a firsthand look at HU’s academic leadership and innovative research that strengthen
the State of Israel and benefit people around the globe.

A view of Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus. Photo credit: AFHU

Founded nearly a century ago by renowned intellectuals and innovators, including
Albert Einstein, Martin Buber, and Sigmund Freud, Hebrew University is Israel’s premier
institution of higher learning, and consistently ranks among the top 5% of the world’s
universities.

While Jerusalem is well known for its ancient heritage, it is also a technological
incubator, anchored by the university and its world-renowned, Nobel prize-winning
achievements. Home to increasing numbers of high-tech and biomedical start-ups,
Jerusalem is ranked within the top 100 startup ecosystems globally according to
StartupBlink, the startup ecosystem map and research center. Additionally, in the field
of Life Sciences (LS), Jerusalem is ranked among the top 10 ecosystems in the world
with more than 150 LS-focused startups located in the city. Within Jerusalem, the
Hebrew University serves as the locus of innovation for myriad sectors working to
strengthen Israel and positively impact the world.

Widely regarded as Israel’s intellectual powerhouse, HU generates breakthrough
research discoveries, provides new Jewish history insights, trains medical
professionals, and develops alternative food sources to feed the world. One shining
example is Believer ® Meats, founded by Prof. Yaakov Nahmias, which will soon
complete construction of the world’s largest cultivated meat facility in North Carolina.

Innovation Today and in the Future

Discoveries in nano drug delivery, water reclamation, cybersecurity, quantum-secured
communications, and research into therapeutic drugs derived from cannabis and
psychedelics are just a few of the outstanding research initiatives currently underway in
HU laboratories.

Advancements in healthcare have a long history at HU, and this tradition continues
today. Computational medicine—the marriage of big data with a patient’s individual
history—promises great improvements in healthcare. Hebrew University is leading this movement with its plans to build a new Center for Computational Medicine on its Ein
Kerem Jerusalem campus.

The Suzanne and Charles Goodman Brain Sciences Building, home of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, is located on the Edmond J. Safra Campus in Givat Ram. The building opened its doors for scientific activity in 2018. Photo credit: AFHU

With nearly a century of service to Israel and the world, HU remains at the forefront of
research and advancement, and the university is still experiencing significant growth.
On the Safra campus, a new Center for Sustainability is being built to help to mitigate
the harmful effects of climate change. Quantum information, nanoscience, and
nanotechnology will be combined under one roof, and HUJI-TECH, Jerusalem’s new
home for cutting-edge high-tech development will be located there. Construction of a
new Center for Advanced Legal Studies, as well as major renovations to the
archaeology building, are taking place on the Mt. Scopus campus, along with new faculty and student housing to accommodate continuing growth.

An HU student examines wheat being grown at HU’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment as part of efforts to develop heartier wheat cultivars that can grow in dry climates. Photo credit: AFHU

The university’s success can be attributed in part to its commitment to interdisciplinary
research. At HU, academics are encouraged to interact with their colleagues from
various disciplines as well as academics throughout the world, thereby breaking down the silos that can obscure the big picture and inhibit innovation.

This cooperative ethos is visible in the Center for Sustainability, where academics and
the HU community work together to build a greener, sustainable future; the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC), where a thriving interface between theory and experimentation leads to exciting new discoveries in brain research; and the
Institute of Archaeology, where excavations at sites rich in Jewish history are coupled
with a computational archaeology lab and a laboratory for ancient technologies.

Under the auspices of American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU), U.S. donors,
both large and small, have supported the research and innovation that makes Hebrew
University such a valued part of Israel’s reputation for advanced science and academic
achievement. In addition to raising awareness and funds for the university, AFHU helps
it attract and retain outstanding faculty, build teaching and research facilities, and provide scholarships and fellowships to Israel’s next generation of leaders.

Click here to learn more about AFHU.

This article was sponsored by the American Friends of the Hebrew University, a national, not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that connects the passions of Americans to the talent at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, one of the world’s most distinguished academic and research institutions.

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