The Technion and Cornell University will be partnering to establish a new
applied science and engineering campus for graduate students on Roosevelt Island
in New York City, the two universities announced Sunday.
In a completely
50-50 partnership, the presidents of the two schools intend to open a full-scale
campus in 2012, initially in either leased space or existing Cornell city
facilities, but eventually encompassing more than 2 million square feet (186
dunams) of the island off the shore of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, according to
a statement from the universities.
The NYC Tech Campus, which has been
approved by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and will comprise about 31
percent of Roosevelt Island, will be home to nearly 2,000 graduate students and
250 faculty members and additional researchers in various technical
fields.
“By joining forces in this groundbreaking venture, our two great
universities will employ our demonstrated expertise, experience and track record
of transforming new ideas into solutions to create the global avenues of
economic opportunity and tech leadership that Mayor Bloomberg envisions,”
Cornell President David Skorton said in a statement.
“The Technion is the
driving force behind the miracle of Israel’s technology economy. Its academic
rigor in computer science and engineering and its leadership in technology
transfer has helped create one of the largest concentrations of start-ups
anywhere and attracted the world’s leading technology companies to Haifa to
leverage Technion’s research and its outstanding graduates.”
At first,
students will be able to receive Cornell degrees in fields such as computer
science, electrical and computer engineering and information science, but once
the Technion obtains proper New York State accreditation, they will be able to
acquire dual-degrees from both universities, according to the
agreement. Encouraging students not only to gain expertise in the
technical aspects of their degrees but also in the implementation of such
knowledge, the program will require participants to also take courses in
entrepreneurship and investment, the universities said.
“We are very
proud of the many strengths we bring to this endeavor, and we are excited to be
a partner with another of the world’s great research universities,” Technion
President Peretz Lavie added in the statement.
“Cornell‘s globally
recognized research and graduates are fueling new technologies and innovative
start-ups at the center of New York City’s current tech boom. Cornell is
uniquely positioned by its deep connection to the city’s emerging tech sector to
serve as a catalyst for the creation of new technologies, jobs and industries in
New York City.”