Hebrew University-Bezalel-Azrieli Consortium Awarded $5M For Jerusalem Entrepreneurship Center

A consortium of Jerusalem-based academic institutions was awarded a NIS 20 million ($5.4 million USD) grant from Israel’s Council for Higher Education (CHE) to establish an entrepreneurship and innovation center in downtown Jerusalem. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Bezalel Academy of Design and Azrieli College of Engineering formed the “JLM-Impact Consortium” for the project.

The consortium won first place for the CHE’s request for proposals to boost entrepreneurial activity among the city’s students and academic community.

“We’re delighted to win this award – a feat accomplished through close teamwork with Bezalel and Azrieli. We plan to make our mark on this city by instilling a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. Every student and professor is a potential entrepreneur,” said Yishai Fraenkel, Hebrew University VP and Director General.

“This consortium will serve as a platform to advance Jerusalem’s diverse populations and will contribute to the social and economic growth of our city,” said Prof. Raza Azhari, president of Azrieli College of Engineering.

Dr. Yuval Karniel, Rector of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design said the school was “proud of this award and proud to be partners with Jerusalem’s leading institutions to bring about real change in the entrepreneurial culture in Jerusalem and in Israeli society, as a whole. The combination of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship holds great potential for the growth and prosperity of Jerusalem and Israeli society.”