Americans for Ben-Gurion University

08/21/2026

In a recent interview with Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz shared that BGU ranks #3 in the world for the likelihood that its graduates will found a unicorn company, according to Stanford research.

At BGU, entrepreneurship isn’t limited to business students. Students across many disciplines have a space to turn bold ideas into real-world ventures with support from mentors and industry experts through Yazamut 360, BGU’s entrepreneurship center.

As Prof. Chamovitz says, “Entrepreneurship is not a degree.” It’s a mindset and a culture that encourages students to experiment, create, and build. Happy 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀’ 𝗗𝗮𝘆!

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Nati Amsterdam, a proud Ben-Gurion University of the Negev alumnus, on his appointment as General Manager of Microsoft Israel!

Wishing you continued success in this exciting new chapter. We’re proud to see BGU alums making an impact at the highest levels of the global tech industry in Israel and beyond.

Amsterdam, who helped build Nvidia's local business after joining the chipmaker in 2017, will take over as Microsoft Israel's General Manager in October.

08/19/2026

Meet Sofia Kling, the first pharmacist in Israel to prescribe medicine. A graduate of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Master’s program in Community Clinical Pharmacy and Regulatory Management who is helping redefine the role of pharmacists in Israel’s healthcare system.

Today, she serves as a pharmacist-in-charge, provides clinical pharmacy consultations, supports patients with complex medication needs, and advises physicians on drug interactions, side effects, and treatment optimization. She also brings her expertise into the classroom, teaching pharmacology and training future pharmacy professionals and healthcare teams.

Sofia’s journey reflects a broader transformation in pharmacy—one in which pharmacists are taking an increasingly active role in clinical decision-making and patient care.

👏 Proud to spotlight a graduate who is helping move the profession forward.

08/18/2026

Students from Brown University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev recently joined forces for the two-week Neurotechnology Hackathon, exploring how neuroscience, engineering, AI, and entrepreneurship can come together to address real-world challenges. Read more on Jewish Rhode Island:

Students from Brown University and Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev came together in Providence for the intensive two-week “Neurotechnology Hackathon.”

08/17/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘃.

The Way Forward is Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s most ambitious philanthropic campaign in its history. With nearly three-quarters of its $1 billion goal already raised and more than 9,500 donors across 28 countries participating, the momentum is a powerful testament to the global community that believes in BGU’s vision.
For more than 55 years, Americans for Ben-Gurion University has connected supporters in the United States with the people, programs, and groundbreaking research making an impact at BGU.

As we approach the end of our fiscal year, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱.
Make your gift today and help advance BGU’s mission for a stronger future in the Negev and beyond: a4bgu.org/way-forward

08/14/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘃 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱! A new technology developed by Prof. Amir Shapiro at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev enables autonomous battery replacement while the UAV remains in flight.

This breakthrough has the potential to transform industries ranging from precision agriculture and emergency response to search and rescue, infrastructure inspection, security, and autonomous logistics

08/14/2026

Join live now on FDD Morning Brief for a timely conversation with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz.

—🌐 FDD is a nonpartisan research institute focused on national se...

08/12/2026

At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, innovation begins with a culture that empowers researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to push boundaries.

While studying at BGU, Tomer Levy saw firsthand the communication barriers facing deaf individuals and set out to change them. With support from BGU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, he turned his vision into Sign Now, an on-demand platform connecting deaf users with sign language interpreters through video technology.

Today, Sign Now IO helps people communicate with doctors, emergency responders, government agencies, and more. From making the Eurovision Song Contest accessible through live sign language interpretation to supporting deaf refugees during the war in Ukraine, Tomer’s innovation is helping break down barriers around the world.

Read more:

Meet the founder and CEO of Sign Now, Tomer Levy, a Ben-Gurion University of the Negev alumnus whose big idea was sparked in the classrooms at BGU.

08/11/2026

Thank you, Brown University, for your continued partnership, and Prof. Oren Shriki and the remarkable students from BGU's Department of Neuroscience for traveling to Rhode Island to showcase your innovative work!

What a wonderful evening we had yesterday hosting the Israeli Neurotech students from Ben-Gurion University and learning about their impressive and innovative projects!

A heartfelt thank you to Social Enterprise Greenhouse and Julie Owens for graciously hosting the event. Thank you to Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor for your warm remarks and participation. We also deeply appreciate our collaboration with American Friends of Ben-Gurion University, especially Eve Rubinstein, for helping make this program possible.

A special thank you to Professor Oren Shriki for bringing such an outstanding group of students and for leading this remarkable initiative.

This program is a wonderful example of the growing collaboration between Ben-Gurion University and the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University.

We at the Rhode Island–Israel Collaborative (RIIC) are proud to help build and strengthen these relationships. We look forward to continuing to expand the partnership between Israel and Rhode Island in academia, business, and research, creating new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth.
https://www.theriic.org/single-post/building-bridges-israeli-neurotech-students-visit-providence-2026
Island

08/10/2026

What if the brain's protective coating holds the key to better treatments for multiple sclerosis? New research from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is revealing myelin's hidden role in keeping the brain efficient.

Led by PhD student Oron Kotler under the supervision of Prof. Ilya Fleidervish from BGU's Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, researchers discovered that myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers, reduces the energy needed for brain cell communication by 50% while maintaining normal signal transmission.

The findings could advance research into multiple sclerosis (MS) and other myelin-related disorders, while opening new possibilities for treatments that protect neurons and preserve brain function.

Read more about this groundbreaking discovery on the Jewish News Syndicate:

Ben-Gurion University scientists found the protective layer halves the metabolic costs of cellular communication without altering signal transmission.