BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2026

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BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV

One early milestone demonstrating the potential of this model was the Smart Industry Summit for Technological Employment in the Negev, held in March 2026 and reflecting its broader goal: strengthening the southern industrial ecosystem by connecting knowledge, talent, and opportunity. AN INTEGRATED VISION FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Prisma Negev advances a comprehensive approach to regional development through interconnected focus areas spanning economic development, education, employment, social innovation, health and community wellbeing, community resilience, technology and society, and tourism. The initiative brings these domains together within a unified strategic framework. Economic growth is linked to education and workforce readiness; social resilience is tied to public health and civic capacity; and technological advancement is integrated thoughtfully into social systems. This integrated approach reflects a broader understanding: sustainable regional development depends on how well systems work together towards shared goals. Ben-Gurion University translates vision into action through partnerships, platforms, and measurable progress. FROM COLLABORATION TO IMPACT A central mechanism for implementation is Prisma Negev’s network of strategic regional forums, which bring together municipal leaders, researchers, industry representatives, and public-sector professionals. These forums support joint problem-solving, help define regional priorities, and advance coordinated initiatives in areas such as education, employment, welfare, and innovation. Among these, the Education Forum is the most developed thus far. Forum members – municipal education leaders and university researchers – work side by side to identify systemic challenges and translate academic knowledge into actionable solutions that can strengthen educational systems across the Negev.

INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION The long-term success of the Negev depends on its people. Thus, the strategic forums are complemented by a range of targeted programs that invest in the human capital and community leadership of the future. The Youth Financial & Innovation Empowerment Program , for example, is a pilot initiative for ninth-grade students in Dimona that integrates financial literacy, personal development, and innovative thinking. The program combines experiential learning with teamwork to build skills in entrepreneurship and problem-solving, and also encourages students to view higher education as an attainable path. The Teenovation program empowers high school students, primarily from Beer-Sheva, with innovation skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and practical problem solving through hands-on, project-based learning. The program includes weekly workshops, team-based work on real community challenges, mentorship from