BGU | PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2025

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BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV

Prof . DAN BLUMBERG VICE PRESIDENT FOR REGIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Office of the Vice President for Regional and Industrial Development is responsible for developing and maintaining the University’s strategic role in the technology ecosystem of Beer-Sheva and the Negev. It focuses on building and strengthening ties between the University, government and industry, with an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. The Office is also responsible for BGU’s collaboration with the Ministry of Defense with regards to the relocation of the IDF to the south, including the creation of joint academic programs for soldiers and commanders, providing environmental and regional support, and addressing challenges arising from the relocation. Finally, the office is involved in the development of the Beer-Sheva Innovation District, aiming to strengthen the southern technology ecosystem and foster new connections with local and regional stakeholders, corporations, venture capital funds, and more. The Negev Urban Research (NUR) Lab was inaugurated on January 1, 2025. The NUR Lab is a unique collaboration led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, MIT, and the Faculty of Design and Architecture at the Shamoon College of Engineering. It is the youngest partner in the City Science Lab Network of 10 international labs focused on urban innovation. The lab will integrate experimental applied technology developed by partner academic institutions into significant planning processes in Beer-Sheva and across the south, through substantive collaborations with municipalities, government ministries, and civil organizations. Additionally, the lab will initiate research on climate-dependent regional development in Beer-Sheva and the future of desert cities.

The youngest partner in the City Science Lab Network of 10 international labs focused on urban innovation Over the past year, the University invested in creating several specialized academic programs aimed at military personnel stationed in the Negev. Developed in collaboration with the IDF, the initiative includes programs such as a specialized BSc in Information Systems Engineering for IDF communication instructors, funded by the Ministry of Defense.

VP Prof. Dan Blumberg spoke at Cybertech Tel-Aviv 2025, in March