BGN is the business and technology company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Located in the heart of the University's Advanced Technologies Park.
Engineering Innovation That Helps People Reclaim Their Independence
Returning to playing music, working on a computer, or driving a car. For people recovering from life-changing injuries, these everyday activities can become major challenges.
At @bengurionu, researchers and students are developing practical solutions to help injured individuals regain independence and return to the activities that matter to them.
Led by Prof. Shlomi Arnon and Dr. Yafi Levanon, the interdisciplinary initiative brings together engineering and occupational therapy to develop personalized rehabilitation technologies:
๐ต Returning to music: An adaptive system that enables a person using a prosthetic arm to play a musical instrument.
๐ป Returning to work: An AI-powered computer mouse designed for users with prosthetic limbs.
๐ Returning to driving: Adjustable pedals and simulation software that support adapted driving practice.
These developments demonstrate how interdisciplinary academic research can address real human needs, turning engineering knowledge into solutions with meaningful social impact.
#BGU #RehabilitationTechnology #AssistiveTechnology #EngineeringInnovation #SocialImpact
Meet the Team: Liat Vatary
Business Development โ Engineering & Exact Sciences, BGN
From startups and consulting to R&D and technology implementation, Liat brings an international perspective to connecting BGU research with industry. Today, she shares what brought her back to where her journey began.
"Throughout my career, I've learned that some of the most interesting opportunities emerge when different fields, perspectives, and ideas come together.
My own career has been shaped by that diversity. I studied Industrial Engineering and Management at Ben-Gurion University. Since then, I've worked across industries and lived in London, Shanghai, and New Jersey, experiencing different business environments and ways of thinking.
Returning to BGU feels like closing a circle. I now have the opportunity to help bring research from the university where my journey began closer to the world outside academia.
These experiences taught me to look beyond the technology itself and understand the needs of the people and organizations that might use it. Sometimes, a technology's potential lies in an application no one has considered yet. Sometimes, it starts with a conversation that opens an entirely new direction.
For me, the most rewarding part is helping researchers advance their technologies, connecting them with relevant industry partners, and helping companies find solutions to real challenges.
Ultimately, it's about bringing the right people and ideas together and exploring what they can achieve."
#MeetTheTeam #BGN #TechnologyTransfer #BGU
From Scientific Discovery to Real-World Impact
At the 56th BGU Global Community & Board of Governors Gathering, @bengurionu researchers showcased the remarkable potential of research to make a difference beyond the lab.
๐ฑ Smarter agriculture: Prof. Tarin Paz-Kagan presented CropMap-IL, using satellite data and AI to support crop mapping and agricultural decisions.
๐งฌ Celiac research: Prof. Neta Sal-Man shared work on engineered bacteria producing gluten-degrading enzymes, exploring ways to reduce risks from gluten exposure.
๐ค Robot cybersecurity: Prof. Yuval Elovici demonstrated technology to detect compromised humanoid robots and prevent harmful actions.
โ๏ธ Nuclear energy research: Prof. Erez Gilad and students from the Klein Institute presented microreactor control and AI-based reactor analysis.
Four very different fields, united by scientific curiosity and the ambition to solve real challenges.
Our thanks to BGU's Board of Governors for supporting the researchers and students bringing these ideas forward.
At BGN, we're proud to connect university research with industry partners and pathways to real-world application.
Explore opportunities to collaborate with BGU researchers through BGN. Link in the comments.
#BenGurionUniversity #AppliedResearch #TechnologyTransfer #Innovation
Making Rheumatic Heart Disease Detection More Accessible
Prof. Ayelet David of @bengurionu and her research team have developed a promising new approach to detecting rheumatic heart disease biomarkers in blood.
The disease remains a serious health threat in low-resource regions, where limited access to diagnostic equipment can delay detection until irreversible heart damage has occurred.
The teamโs synthetic polymer-based platform detects disease-related biomarkers without relying on costly antibodies, refrigerated storage, or advanced laboratory equipment.
Using a measurable fluorescent signal, the platform identifies specific biomarkers and can be adapted to detect others, opening possibilities for broader diagnostic applications.
โThe platform is relatively simple to produce, stable under challenging field conditions, and can be adapted to detect additional biomarkers in blood,โ explains Prof. David.
Published in @ACSPublications , the research was conducted as part of the international PRIMA consortium, supported by the Leducq Foundation.
๐ฌ Read the research. Link in the comments.
#MedicalDiagnostics #RheumaticHeartDisease #Biotechnology #BGU
University Innovation in Focus
Ran Melamed, VP Business Development, Engineering and Exact Sciences at BGN, delivered the closing session of StartUp Essentials Days in Beer-Sheva, focusing on Building a Startup Based on University Technology.
The session generated significant audience engagement, with questions covering intellectual property, collaboration opportunities with @bengurionu , its research capabilities, and BGN's role in the technology transfer process.
The discussion extended beyond the scheduled session, with participants continuing to engage with Ran and Itai Gutman, Business Development โ Biopharma & Biotechnology at BGN, to learn more about working with the university and explore potential collaborations.
The session concluded a two-day conference hosted by the Beer-Sheva Innovation District, with the participation of @LeumiTech@Meitar_Law , and EY Israel.
Whether you attended the session or not, we welcome your questions and collaboration inquiries. Contact BGN via the link in the comments.
#TechnologyTransfer #AcademicInnovation #Entrepreneurship #BeerSheva #BGU
Protecting Synthetic DNA Manufacturing from Hidden Biological Threats
Synthetic DNA manufacturers must screen genetic orders to identify potentially dangerous sequences before production. But these sequences can be deliberately fragmented and disguised to bypass conventional screening.
Prof. Rami Puzis from @bengurionu Stein Faculty of Computer and Information Science has developed a technology designed to address this biosecurity challenge.
Using advanced sequence-alignment algorithms, the system identifies hidden sequences of concern, even when they are fragmented and mixed with harmless DNA.
In a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, Prof. Puzis and his colleagues investigated methods for detecting potentially dangerous DNA sequences concealed through sophisticated obfuscation techniques.
The technology offers potential applications in synthetic DNA manufacturing, helping strengthen screening processes and protect the genetic supply chain.
๐ฌ Technology available for licensing through BGN. Link in the comments
#BGU #SyntheticBiology #Biosecurity #Biotechnology #Cybersecurity
How Do Cancer Cells Survive Chemotherapy?
Researchers at @bengurionu have uncovered a molecular mechanism that may help explain how cancer cells survive chemotherapy.
Led by Dr. Aeid Igbaria from BGU's Department of Life Sciences, the study identified two proteins, DNAJB12 and DNAJB14, that help cells cope with stress and may contribute to cancer cells' ability to withstand treatment.
The findings offer new insights into the mechanisms behind chemotherapy resistance and could pave the way for future therapeutic strategies aimed at making cancer treatments more effective.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Redox Biology, the research highlights BGU's contribution to advancing our understanding of cancer biology.
๐ Read the full scientific paper in Redox Biology. Link in the comments.
#BGU #CancerResearch #Chemotherapy #LifeSciences #MedicalResearch
Faster Data, Lower Energy Consumption: The Future of Optical Computing
As #AI and high-performance computing continue to grow, so does the energy required to move massive amounts of data between computing systems.
Prof. Dan Sadot from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at @bengurionu University of the Negev has developed an innovative approach to making optical data transmission more energy-efficient.
The technology optimizes how power is distributed across optical communication channels, achieving 45โ55% electrical power savings in a demonstrated 80 Gb/s transmission configuration, compared with conventional allocation methods.
Designed for applications including data centers, high-performance computing, and optical interconnects, this innovation could help support faster, more sustainable computing infrastructure.
โก Technology available for licensing through BGN. Link in the comments.
#BGU #Photonics #DataCenters #HighPerformanceComputing #GreenTechnology
Strengthening Israel's Computer Science Research Community
More than 700 researchers, students, and industry professionals gathered at @bengurionu for the National Computer Science Conference.
A key milestone was the launch of the Israeli Computer Science Association, with BGU leading its activities during the first two years.
The conference also featured Prof. @AmnonShashua, CEO of @Mobileye who shared insights into the evolution of AI and machine intelligence.
As one of Israel's leading institutions in AI and computer science research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev continues to play a central role in advancing scientific discovery, fostering research collaboration, and strengthening the connections between academia and industry.
#BGU #ArtificialIntelligence #ComputerScience #CollaborativeResearch #AcademicInnovation
From University Research to Startup Creation
Turning academic innovation into a startup requires more than a promising technology. It takes the right legal, financial, and business foundations.
On October 19โ20, the Beer Sheva Innovation District, will host StartUp Essentials Days, a two-day conference featuring experts from LeumiTech, Meitar, and EY Israel.
As part of the program, Ran Melamed, VP Business Development, Engineering and Exact Sciences at BGN, will lead a session on Building a Startup Based on University Technology.
๐ October 20 | 13:15โ14:15
The conference will also cover IP rights, investment terms, financial planning, corporate governance, and more.
๐ Interested in joining? Register through the link in the comments.
#StartupEssentials #AcademicInnovation #TechnologyTransfer #Entrepreneurship #BeerSheva
Einstein's Equivalence Principle Passes a Quantum Test at Ben-Gurion University
A century after Einstein, scientists are still exploring how gravity and quantum mechanics fit together.
Now, an international study led by Prof. Ron Folman at @bengurionu has demonstrated that Einstein's equivalence principle remains consistent with quantum behavior under the conditions tested.
The experiment was conducted entirely at BGU's Atom Chip Laboratory, where Prof. Folman, doctoral student Or Dubkovsky, and the research team used an innovative quantum Galileo interferometer to observe how gravity affects atoms in quantum superposition.
The study brought together leading scientists, including Nobel laureate Sir Roger Penrose, Prof. Vlatko Vedral (University of Oxford), and Prof. Wolfgang Schleich (Ulm University), alongside collaborators from the University of Southampton, the German Aerospace Center, and the University of Texas.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, the findings offer new insights into one of physics' greatest challenges: reconciling gravity with quantum mechanics.
๐ Read the full study in Science Advances. Link in the comments.
#BGU #QuantumPhysics #Einstein #ScientificDiscovery
October 7 | We Remember
Three years have passed since October 7, 2023, a day forever etched in our collective memory.
Today, we pause to remember those who were murdered and those who fell, the communities that were devastated, and the pain that so many families have carried since that morning.
Here in the Negev and southern Israel, this memory is especially close. Alongside profound loss, we witnessed extraordinary courage, solidarity and determination, as individuals and communities came together to help, protect, rebuild and move forward.
As part of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, we are proud to be part of this region and its community, and remain deeply committed to its future.
We remember those we lost, stand with the families and communities who continue to carry the pain, and hope for days of safety, healing and hope.
#October7 #StandwithIsrael
7 ืืืืงืืืืจ | ืืืืจืื
ืฉืืืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืืคื ืืื 7 ืืืืงืืืืจ 2023, ืืื ืฉื ืืจื ืืขื ืืืืืจืื ืฉื ืืืื ื.
ืืืื ืื ื ืขืืฆืจืื ืืืืืจ ืืช ืื ืจืฆืืื ืืื ืืคืืื, ืืช ืืงืืืืืช ืฉื ืคืืขื, ืืืช ืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืฉืคืืืช ืจืืืช ืืื ืืืชื ืืืงืจ.
ืืื ืื ืื ืืืืจืื, ืืืืืจืื ืืื ืงืจืื ืืืืืื. ืืฆื ืืืืืื, ืจืืื ื ืื ืืืืฅ ืืืฆื ืืืคื, ืขืจืืืช ืืืืืช, ื ืืืฉืืช ืืืืืืช ืฉื ืื ืฉืื ื๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝืืืืืช ืฉืงืื ืืกืืืข, ืืืื, ืืฉืงื ืืืื ืืช ืืืืฉ.
ืืืืง ืืืื ืืืจืกืืืช ืื-ืืืจืืื ืื ืื, ืื ื ืืืื ืืืืืช ืืืง ืืืืจืื ืืืืงืืืื ืฉืื, ืืืืืฉืื ืืคืขืื ืืชืื ืืืืืืืช ืืขืชืืื.
ืื ื ืืืืจืื ืืช ืื ืฉืืืืื ื, ืืืืงืื ืืช ืืืฉืคืืืช ืืืงืืืืืช ืฉื ืืฉืืืช ืืช ืืืื, ืืืืืืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืืืืื, ืืืืื ืืชืงืืื.