$20 Million Gift Helps Technion Become an Energy Innovation Leader
Friday, June 18, 2010
By: Kevin Hattori

The American Technion Society (ATS) has received a $20 million gift from Stephen and Nancy Grand of San Francisco to name the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP) at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, a campus-wide effort to turn the university into a global leader in energy innovation.

The Grands’ gift – which also served to bring ATS’ $1 billion, 13-year “Shaping Israel’s Future” campaign to a successful completion -- was announced earlier this week during the annual Technion International Board of Governors meeting in Haifa, Israel.

Stephen Grand (left) and Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie

The primary goal of the GTEP is to provide the resources to help carry out energy research projects that have the potential to lead to new technologies that can help alleviate the world’s dependence on fossil fuels.  The GTEP will strive to turn this goal into a reality by providing the infrastructure required to attract the best people to this demanding field.

“In order to have an impact on global energy issues, we need to invest in the brightest minds and provide them with the best facilities and equipment for their research. The Technion is ideally positioned for this program because of the outstanding quality of its researchers, and its well-developed ties with industry. We are proud to be with the GTEP at the forefront of this crucial area,” said Stephen Grand.

The Grands’ gift will enable Technion researchers to jump-start several sections of the program simultaneously including research in alternative fuels, renewable energy, conservation, and energy storage.

"This extraordinary gift by Stephen and Nancy Grand is further affirmation of their strong and unwavering support for the Technion, Israel and the world,” said ATS President Joel S. Rothman. “Gifts such as these demonstrate the foresight and dedication of our donors, and enable the Technion to maintain its place at the forefront of world scientific research.”

Past gifts from the Grands to the Technion include the Stephen and Nancy Grand Water Research Institute (GWRI), which has spearheaded the research and development of the science, technology, engineering and management of water in Israel; the Salman and Evelyn Grand Dormitory, the Stephen and Nancy Grand Joint Technion-UCSF Research Project: Electrophysiological Considerations of Myocardial Cell Therapy; and the Stephen and Nancy Grand Research Fund.

Stephen Grand, who also received an honorary doctorate during the recent Technion International Board of Governors meeting, has been a dedicated ATS supporter for more than 20 years and has served in leadership positions at the local, national and international levels. He has been a member of the ATS National Board of Directors and the Technion International Board of Governors.

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university.  Home to the winners of the country’s first Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine.  The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni. Based in New York City, the American Technion Society is the leading American organization supporting higher education in Israel, with offices around the country.