BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

12

BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV

“When we remove obstacles for students from the periphery, we’re not just changing individual lives – we’re transforming the entire social

and economic landscape of the Negev.”

Negev’s key institutions placed Ben-Gurion University highest both in terms of its impact and in terms of the pride it instills in Negev residents. “We are gratified that our contribution to the Negev is recognized, but this also brings home the importance of the task ahead. We have an historic responsibility to leverage our increasing excellence in research towards rebuilding the Negev better than before,” says President Prof. Chamovitz. The effort will be collaborative from beginning to end and extend far beyond our campus gates. At the heart of the initiative is the establishment of a social innovation incubator at the University, where academic knowledge can be directly linked to on-the-ground practice by bringing together researchers, students, and local practitioners for mutual learning and collaboration. The incubator will serve as a hub where real-world challenges from across the Negev are brought in, and interdisciplinary teams of students and researchers work together with stakeholders to develop innovative, actionable solutions to these challenges.

Smart cities will be explored in collaboration with the Negev’s municipal engineers; education with heads of local education departments; and tourism and wellness with regional stakeholders in those fields. Each department at the University will contribute its unique expertise. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the capabilities of local professionals while embedding the University in the region’s development process. This multi-dimensional approach will not only generate innovative ideas but will help drive sustainable, inclusive growth across the Negev. The Western Negev, for example, is a vital source of food production for Israel and faces both immediate recovery needs and long-term sustainability challenges. BGU is planning to establish a research center focused on agriculture and water management in the town of Sderot. Prof. Malul explains, “Right now, the challenge is to rehabilitate agriculture in the surrounding region. We have the capabilities – we have outstanding researchers