Israel, Chinese universities announce $300 million joint nanotechnology project as ties expand

Israel, Chinese universities announce $300 million joint nanotechnology project as ties expand

TEL AVIV, Israel – Two top universities from Israel and China announced Monday that they are starting a $300 million research project focused on nanotechnologies, the latest move in booming ties between the Jewish state and the Asian giant.

Tel Aviv University and Beijing’s Tsinghua University said they will exchange graduate students and faculty members to work at a joint research centre based at the two institutions.

The co-operation initially will focus on nanotechnology, particularly with medical and optics applications, but may be later expanded to other areas, including raw materials, water treatment and environmental issues, officials from both sides said at a news conference at the Israeli university.

Tel Aviv University President Joseph Klafter said funding will be sought from private and government sources, adding that almost a third of the money already has been raised for the project, which is to be formally launched on Tuesday.

“It’s an unprecedented agreement in size and scope,” Klafter said. “It was built from the bottom up because it started with our scientists meeting and falling in love with each other.”

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