The Miguel Amon Research Institute on the scientific aspect of the new institute as part of an integrative plan for water resources management
PII - Paphos Innovation Institute, was inaugurated last weekend, in the city of Paphos in Cyprus in the capacity of the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades and with the blessing of the President of the country, Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin and the Minister of Higher Education and Water, Ze'ev Elkin, who said: "The Paphos Institute of Innovation is A step in realizing the potential inherent in the Mediterranean routes and its ability to bring cultures together and cooperate together, to find solutions to problems in the Middle East. The collaborations and the knowledge that will be imparted to those who come to the Paphos Institute can bring tremendous prosperity to the entire region of the Middle East."
The initiator of the joint project, Prof. Uriel Reichman, president and founder of IDC Herzliya, said at the ceremony: "A new wind of peace is blowing in the Middle East, but peace is a fragile thing when it relies on declarations of countries and official agreements only. I believe in creating relationships and friendships through education and research, and for that the Paphos Institute for Innovation was established."
The institute will be a center for regional cooperation, based on innovation and applied research, with the aim of creating a bridge between the peoples of the region and will focus on fundamental challenges common to the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, where they will study for advanced degrees and develop research and entrepreneurial collaborations around fundamental challenges to the lives and future of all residents of the Eastern Mediterranean, including- Water, food security, energy, digital production, innovative management and more.
The new institute will award advanced degrees: a master's degree (MBA MA) and will be managed by the interdisciplinary, in cooperation with leading institutions and researchers from the MAZAT and the world, including the Miguel Research Institute in Kiryat Shmona, the partner of the new venture, and will be entrusted with the scientific aspect of the integrative water resources management program. David Zigdon, CEO of the Miguel Research Institute, and Prof. Michael (Iggy) Litaor were invited to the event.
David Zigdon, CEO of the Miguel Research Institute said: "The blessed project is the fruit of the vision of Prof. Uriel Reichman, president and founder of the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center, to create regional cooperation, based on creating connections and relationships between people of different nationalities and nationalities through education and research. Prof. Reichman approached Miguel for the preparation of one of the study programs in the field of water resources management, entrusted to Prof. Michael (Iggy) Litaur from Miguel, when the interdisciplinary will be responsible for the management studies. The plan has been submitted for approval by the European Union."
Prof. Michael (Iggy) Litaur, a senior researcher at Michael, said: "The idea of establishing an innovation institute in Cyprus, for regional cooperation, is a welcome one, not only in the field of connecting people who create peace through academic and research ties, but also to overcome the great challenges of shortage in water for drinking and agriculture, which is expected in the world and especially in countries in the Middle East, due to climate changes. The new institute will train students with a bachelor's degree in natural sciences, from all the countries in the region, with the aim of equipping them with the tools with which they can properly prepare for the expected dramatic changes, in everything related to the most precious resource, water - availability and quality."
The inauguration ceremony of the new institute, in the center of the city of Paphos in Cyprus, was also attended by: senior representatives of the government, the academy and the diplomatic staff in Cyprus, including the Minister of Education, the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Research and Innovation of the Cypriots; Israeli and US ambassadors in Cyprus, members of parliament, mayors, heads of universities and leading businessmen.
