Tel Aviv University and Tsinghua University from China present the "Shin" project: a joint research center that will be established to the extent of 300 million dollars

President of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Yosef Klefter: "The establishment of the joint research center presents an unprecedented agreement, which is a significant moment for both Israel and China" * President of Tsinghua University, Prof. Prof. Chen Jining: "Project 'Shin' is the deepest collaboration that Qinghua has with any university in the world"

Tel Aviv University and the Elite University of Qinghua, Beijing, signed an initial agreement today to establish a joint research center in Xi'an in the amount of 300 million dollars. Tomorrow the signing ceremony of the new center will be held with the participation of the Vice Prime Minister of China.

At a joint press conference for the two universities held at Tel Aviv University, the head of the Shin Center in China, Prof. Chuanshui Zheng, stated that the success of this cooperation depends on mutual understanding, for the benefit of both parties. "Cooperation between the countries and the two universities is like a marriage with a new baby, and adapting to a new life. The cultures of the two sides are different - but complementary," said Prof. Zheng. We want to start operating on a small scale - and grow quickly."

The president of Tsinghua University, Prof. Chen Jining, told about the leading position of his university in his country: it is a university that is over a hundred years old, which played a central role in the modern history of China - and today it is responsible for 5% of the region's GDP Beijing. Many of the leading figures in China were educated there, including the former prime minister, and other senior officials. "The Shin Center will offer a new model for accelerating innovation. The challenges of the future rely on new ways, and on sharing between different cultures, and between different sectors," said Prof. Chen, "closer cooperation is required in order to educate and train the next generations." According to him, the Xin project is the deepest collaboration that Qinghua has with any university in the world.

Israelis learn Chinese, Chinese learn Hebrew
Prof. Yael Hanin, head of the Nano Center at Tel Aviv University, who will also serve as head of the Sheen Center in Israel, stated that the signing of the agreement came at the end of an intensive year of joint work. "We learned that working together can be a fantastic bridge between cultures, emphasizing the common denominator and the benefits of bringing both parties together. Both sides have a lot of interest in science, learning and innovation," she said. According to her, the collaboration illustrates the power of science and studies as a common denominator between people. About the communication with her colleagues, she said that "I study Chinese, and my colleague studies Hebrew - but we communicate in English".

The initiative began with a meeting between researchers
The president of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Yosef Klefter, said that the establishment of the joint research center presents an unprecedented agreement, which is a significant moment for both Israel and China. "For us, at Tel Aviv University, this is one of the most significant agreements: we have many agreements with universities around the world, and the current agreement is significant and stands out among them. Both universities are known for their excellence, and teach the best students each in Israel. We are creating a basis for sharing, which will be implemented by our graduates. We are sure that we will achieve broad scopes of innovation, we will learn and train the next generation of innovation leaders". Regarding the financing issue, he said that several steps have already been taken to raise the necessary funds, about a third of the amount has been raised - and he is sure that the goal will be achieved.
Prof. Clifter noted that the process started from the bottom up. It started with a meeting between researchers from the two universities, in the field of nanotechnology, who came to the administrations of the institutions and proposed to establish a framework for cooperation.
"We come from different cultures that have in common the pursuit of excellence," said Prof. Caplater. "Israel has a reputation as a startup nation, but that's not the only thing we bring with us."
The head of the new center, Prof. Yael Hanin, insisted on the differences between the cultures. According to her, in Israel - it is a culture of questioning the existing order. In China - it is a culture of harmony. We want to bring a little harmony to the Israelis, and a little deviation from the existing to the Chinese." According to Prof. Cheng, "We are known in China as a leading technological university. The beauty of cooperation stems from the differences between the parties: a tradition of cooperation is based on differences, and on the management of these differences."
The list of entities investing in and financing the joint center includes private donors, industry entities from both sides, and Chinese government budgets.

First students will be recruited already this year

The joint fellowship program for the two universities will be activated immediately, and for this purpose the field coordinators have already been recruited. The first candidates for the program will be selected during the summer, and they will form the basis of the project, with the help of mentors from the faculties of nanotechnology operating at both universities, who will be the basis for the initial collaboration. Prof. Chuanshui Zheng pointed out in this context, that the Chinese university, which is currently mainly engaged in basic research, is now interested in expanding its activities to the practical field as well, and building prototypes. "China offers a huge opportunity. We are a huge market, producing industrial products and making money."

The cooperation between the two universities, which began as mentioned in the field of nano and building a personal and scientific relationship, is expected to expand now following the establishment of the center, and in the future also include other fields, including materials research, water and environmental technologies, nanomedicine and especially nanophotonics, a field in which both universities include researchers the leaders in the world.

The estimated cost of the Shin Center is $300 million, which will be raised from donations and government sources. Shin's successful projects will benefit from additional investments, and in particular a dedicated fund of 100 million yuan established by the 'Infinity' group, one of the largest investment houses in Israel, should be noted. The Beijing government and graduates of Qinghua University will be among the fund's investors.

The 300 million dollars that will be invested in the center in the coming years will be allocated to finance joint research activities in the two countries. In the first round, this year, the program will recruit 7 graduate students at Tel Aviv University, and 14 from China.