BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

Prof . RAZ JELINEK VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The Office of the Vice President and Dean for Research and Development continues to advance and support research through the Research & Development Authority and additional channels, including external partnerships. In alignment with the University’s long-term strategic vision, we remain committed to strengthening BGU’s position in Israel and worldwide, enhancing research excellence across all fields, and maximizing the University’s research potential. Over the past year, we have worked to further improve BGU researchers' success in securing competitive research grants and attracting external funding, while deepening interdisciplinary collaborations and expanding research infrastructure. We successfully worked to increase the University’s share of the national research funding model through targeted measures designed to enhance research visibility and competitiveness, such as promoting international research collaborations with leading institutions, including the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Alabama, the University of Toronto, Dartmouth College, and the University of North Carolina. In parallel, we continued the proactive promotion of boundary-crossing, multidisciplinary research through dedicated calls across diverse domains. Incentives were provided for outstanding publications in journals ranked within the top 7% globally, reinforcing our commitment to research excellence at the highest international standards. We continued to support and strengthen the University’s research centers while advancing the establishment of new multidisciplinary initiatives. Efforts focused on grant submissions to national and international research center

programs and on cultivating research in emerging and strategically promising fields. These initiatives contribute to the long-term positioning of BGU as a leading research institution addressing complex global and regional challenges. As part of our sustained commitment to research excellence, approximately NIS 18 million was invested in faculty recruitment and absorption packages to attract and support outstanding new faculty members. Strategic faculty recruitment remains central to ensuring the University’s continued growth and academic leadership. Significant efforts were made to expand institutional research infrastructure and technological capacity: We enhanced capabilities in cryogenic electron microscopy for structural biology and acquired additional advanced institutional research equipment.

Five researchers (pictured with Prof. Jelinek, L-R: Dr. Oz Kira, Prof. Dorit Nitzan, Prof. Osama Swidan, Dr. Dorit Efrat Treister, and Dr. Guy Laban) were recognized at the 4th Annual Research Festival. Jan. 2026