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Positioning Israel at
the forefront of research

Partnering for STEM Excellence

The Zuckerman Israel Institute’s partnership with the Council for Higher Education in Israel (CHE) continues to boost excellence and cutting-edge research.

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2025 Partnership Milestone

The State of Israel’s Council for Higher Education (CHE) determines policy for all Israeli universities and supports the Mortimer B. Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program, promoting and encouraging globalization and collaboration.

Since 2018, the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program has benefitted greatly from this strategic partnership. We salute this strong, fruitful, and trusted collaboration, a pinnacle of our success in advancing higher education in Israel.

“We are transforming the State of Israel into a magnet that will attract the most outstanding scholars from around the globe.”

- Prof. Yoseph Mekori, Chair, Planning and Budgeting Committee, Council for Higher Education in Israel

FACULTY PROGRAM

With CHE support and funding, the Faculty Scholars Program – a significant part of the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program – expanded from four Israeli universities to eight.

The Program enables Israel’s research universities to recruit top candidates from North American institutions. Since 2016, the Zuckerman Program has established 52 labs at Israeli universities, supported by more than $70 million in joint funding from the Zuckerman Israel Institute, the CHE, and the universities.

“We are proud to be recognized by the Israeli government as one of the leading, important philanthropic initiatives that encourages and supports the return of talented Israeli scientists to Israel.”

- Eric Gertler, Trustee, Zuckerman Family Foundation and Zuckerman Israel Institute

POSTDOC PROGRAM

Advancing Collaboration with the US and Canada

In 2018, the CHE recognized the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Postdoctoral Program as an essential initiative in strengthening collaborative ties between Israeli and North American institutions. The CHE contributed funding for US and Canadian postdoc scholars looking to conduct STEM research in Israel.

Each postdoctoral researcher is awarded a total of $126,000 over a two-year period.

“Our goal is to provide infrastructure for research and encourage scientific-academic excellence in order to make Israel a knowledge powerhouse.”

- Prof. Yoseph Mekori, Chair, Planning and Budgeting Committee, Council for Higher Education in Israel

ADVANCING WOMEN IN STEM

2020-2022

The Zuckerman STEM Scholars Program joined the CHE in promoting and supporting gender equality in institutions of higher education.  With matching funds, a special scholarship recognized a total of 28 outstanding Israeli female scholars who were accepted to postdoctoral programs in the United States or Canada.

More on the program