BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

LEADERSHIP AND STRUCTURE The initiative is coordinated through the President’s Negev Strategy Office and led by Prof. Miki Malul, a Negev native and former Dean of the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, whose academic expertise anchors the initiative’s direction. Strategic guidance is provided by the Board of Governors’ Influence on the Negev Committee , co-chaired by Board members Joel Reinstein and Esteban Socolsky. The committee works closely with Prof. Malul and the initiative’s leadership to refine priorities, strengthen partnerships, and help mobilize the resources necessary to advance the University’s regional mission. Operationally, Prisma Negev has two complementary arms: an applied arm and a research arm. The applied arm, working out of the Rothschild Cube — which has been repurposed as the Prisma Negev Incubator — advances regional forums, pilot programs, professional training, and innovation labs that bring together researchers, students, practitioners, and community leaders. These efforts are designed to generate scalable models that can expand from local pilots to broader regional and national implementation.

The research arm, led by Prof. Michal Krumer-Nevo of the Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work, provides the analytical foundation for these efforts through applied research, evaluation frameworks, and data tools that support evidence-based policymaking. By integrating research with implementation, Prisma Negev strengthens decision-making across municipalities, industries, and social organizations. Together, these elements position Prisma Negev as both a convening platform and a driver of measurable regional impact. A SHARED VISION GROUNDED IN KNOWLEDGE At the heart of Prisma Negev is a commitment to informed, collaborative action. A dynamic "Negev Challenges and Opportunities Map," based on direct input gathered from regional leaders, provides a shared foundation for decision-making. The map identifies key assets, growth potential, and systemic challenges, enabling stakeholders to collectively set priorities, align investments, and measure progress. By grounding planning in both data and local insight, Prisma Negev shifts the focus from short-term problem solving to proactive, long-term strategic planning.

BGU’S ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE NEGEV (NIS MILLIONS)

INDIRECT IMPACT

Regional collaborations 57

Advanced Technologies Park (Employment & income) 260

DIRECT IMPACT

Sde Boker & Eilat campuses 115

Employment (wages) 1080 Purchasing & operations 525

Student spending (rent & living expenses) 990

Local suppliers and services 225

Infrastructure 150