© Bruno Charbit

The two Project Centers combine the expertise of the Israeli partners from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) with the competencies of the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB and are the first project centers of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Israel. 

In addition to Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, numerous other high-ranking representatives from science, politics and society took part in the festive opening of the two project centers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“Science knows no borders and international cooperation has long been a cornerstone of today's cutting-edge research. By cooperating with excellent partners around the globe, we are strengthening the transfer of knowledge and setting new impulses for Germany and our international partners,” explains Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. “We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with our Israeli partners in two strategically important research areas. The new collaborations in the fields of cybersecurity and health research will soon have positive effects for all those involved thanks to their complementary competences.”

Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer, German Ambassador to Israel, says: “New technologies and the digitalization regarding all aspects of life provide coexisting chances and challenges. It is crucial to handle them responsibly – and I am convinced that this obligation is in good hands at the Hebrew University and at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.“

Security Innovations and New Strategies for Cybersecurity
The “Fraunhofer Project Center for Cybersecurity at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem” will serve as a bilateral R&D platform for companies and form the core of a net-work of excellence in the field of cybersecurity. The Project Center is to become an international hub for security innovation and is located at the Faculty of Computer Science at Hebrew University. In the collaboration between scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT and Hebrew University, new strategies are to be developed to protect data, IT systems and critical infrastructures from unauthorized access.

“Israel is one of the most innovative nations and the Hebrew University is one of the world's leading research universities. With this Project Center for Cybersecurity, the Hebrew University and the Fraunhofer SIT are pooling their expertise,” says Prof. Michael Waidner, COO of CRISP, director of Fraunhofer SIT and Co-Director of the Project Center. “I am optimistic that the Project Center will quickly become the top address for application-oriented and industry-oriented cybersecurity research in Israel.”

HUJI President Professor Asher Cohen praised the partnership, adding, “We work hard to strengthen the link between scientific research and its applications in real life and industry. Today, we’re taking the next step towards this goal and are honored that Fraunhofer chose us to be their academic partner.”

“Hebrew University’s Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering is excited by the potential for excellence in this partnership,” shares Prof. Danny Dolev, Chair of HUJI’s Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering. “The Project Center will open new avenues for research and provide us a united force with which to tackle critical cyber challenges.“

press release