Thought leaders in science, technology, business and academia will converge in Manhattan on Monday, May 6, for NEXUS:ISRAEL, a forum on the prominent role of Israeli innovation in confronting such global challenges as sustainability, disease and cybercrime. The conference is organized by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s top-ranked academic institution and a leading generator of technology and science startups that partner with international companies.

A follow-up to the successful inaugural event in 2017, NEXUS:ISRAEL offers insider access to critical innovation and pioneering technologies. It is a chance to connect with entrepreneurial visionaries, high-impact startups and investors and learn from interdisciplinary discussions.

Presenters include:

• Intel Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua, on how self-driving cars will change the future of cities
• Media pioneer Ariana Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and Thrive Global, on maximizing the productivity of technology in our lives
• Professor Daniel Kahneman, Nobel laureate on the impact of decision-making on economics
• Professor Roger Kornberg, Nobel laureate in chemistry on innovation and investment in immunotherapy
• Jack Hidary of XPrize Foundation, on new applications for artificial intelligence, and where savvy investors can find them
• Catherine Wood of ARKInvest, and Dario Gil, director of research at IBM, on unlocking the value of quantum computing for business leaders
• Abby Joseph Cohen, economist and financial analyst at Goldman Sachs on the future of Israel’s economy and the startup ecosystem
• Rachel Wilson, managing director of Morgan Stanley, on urgent cybersecurity threats and how to confront them
• Jessica Billingsley, founder of MJFreeway, on how cannabis is changing the medical and wellness industries
• Dr. Geoffrey Vince of the Center for Transformative Nanomedicine at the Cleveland Clinic on the potential of new, molecular-level drug treatments

Dan Senor, who with Saul Singer coined the phrase “Startup Nation” in their 2009 book on Israel’s innovation leadership, will be on hand to lend perspective to the day’s events in a keynote address.

In an interactive afternoon session, some of Hebrew University’s most prolific innovators in 3D printing, food production, bioengineering and more will present emerging technologies. The session will be led by Yaron Daniely, CEO of Yissum, Hebrew University’s technology transfer arm. Since its founding in 1964, Yissum has registered 10,000+ patents covering 3,000+ inventions; licensed 950+ technologies and produced 150+ spin-off companies.

To cap off the event with some fun, all attendees have the chance to participate in a “Shark Tank” -style online game simulation, allowing them to invest a simulated fictitious million dollars in any of the startups presenting, to test out how they would fare as an angel investor and observe how others allocate funding.

“NEXUS:ISRAEL presents a valuable opportunity for anyone trying to unlock the secrets of Israel’s success in bringing transformative processes from concept to market,” said Re’em Sari, vice president for research and development at the Hebrew University.  “It’s at the intersection of academia and industry where opportunities are found.”

SOURCE American Friends of The Hebrew University