The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology broke ground for the Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in Shantou, on December 16. Due to open in 2016, it is expected eventually to accommodate 4,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students in engineering, science and life science.

Leading the ceremony were former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Hong Kong business leader and philanthropist Li Ka-shing, Technion President Peretz Lavie, GTIIT Chancellor Li Jiange; Technion Distinguished Professor and Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover, GTIIT vice chancellor; and Ofir Akunis, Israel’s minister of science, technology and space.

According to a statement from the two institutes, “GTIIT will create not just a new academic facility, but a new era of cooperative research between Israel and China. For the Chinese, the GTIIT brings the Technion’s expertise on creating a topnotch technical institute, as well as a stimulating dose of Israeli-style entrepreneurialism on a strategic level.”

Lavie said, “The combination of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Israel and the unbelievable scale and resources of China will result in a great partnership. Together we will create a major research institute that will help not only China and Israel, but also mankind in general.”

“This is an unprecedented achievement for Israeli academia, which in fact opens up an Israeli university in China,” Akunis added. “I see a strategic importance in strengthening and deepening our relations with China in all aspects: economically, technologically and scientifically.”

Peres noted that China is one of Israel’s major partners in technology and high-tech, with more than 1,000 Israeli companies active in China.

The Technion campus at Shantou, said Ciechanover, “will contribute its extensive experience in training engineers who know how to apply what they have learned, and turn their knowledge into commercial products that focus on science and technology. Our Chinese partners will contribute their diligence and devotion, qualities that we Israelis are somewhat lacking. Therefore, this collaboration will benefit both sides.”

The Technion also has a partnership with Cornell University at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech in New York City.

(via Israel21c)

Technion Breaks Ground on First Israeli University in China