$$News and Reports$$

Mar. 12, 2019

Israel's President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin will dedicate two of 12 annual presidential research grants to doctoral candidates in the field of cyber security, the president announced during a visit to the Advanced Technologies Park, adjacent to the University's Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva on March 10. Each Presidential Grant for Scientific Excellence and Innovation grant is worth NIS 150,000.



Accompanied by Ben-Gurion University President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, Prof. Yuval Elovici, director of the Deutsche Telekom Innovation Laboratories at BGU, Beer-Sheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovitch, Head of the National Cyber Directorate Yigal Unna and Vice-President for Regional Development Prof. Dan Blumberg, Rivlin watched a demonstration by BGU doctoral candidate Ben Nassi to show the relative ease with which a simple drone can gather, encrypt and transfer information. 



Prof. Elovici then gave Rivlin an overview of some of the BGU-linked research that is driving innovation at the ATP, with an emphasis on the cyber industry's contributions to Israel's' defense and homeland security capabilities, as well as the economic impact the companies are having on the scientific community and the local economy. 

One of the companies, Morphisec, uses academic research conducted at BGU to identify and neutralize unknown threats and advanced evasive cyber attacks at the very first stages.  

"I am astounded, yet again, by the abilities of our young people. Your skills and determination not only defend our country, but they are a terrific source of pride for us around the world. For all this, we owe you a terrific debt of gratitude," Rivlin said.