The Hon. Gina M. Raimondo, governor of Rhode Island, visited Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheva to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nov. 20 focused on joint innovation and entrepreneurship.
Professor Daniel Chamovitz, president of BGU, said: “I want to thank our mutual supporters who brought us together to this next step after five years of laying the groundwork.”
The agreement between BGU and the state of Rhode Island calls for encouraging collaboration and cogeneration of business startups, valuable high-tech internships and job opportunities with Rhode Island’s leading public and private universities.
It also calls for collaboration between Rhode Island’s new innovation campuses, RIHub, and BGU’s Advanced Technologies Park (ATP)—a partnership between BGU, the Beersheva municipality and the private sector that provides opportunities for collaboration and job opportunities for BGU students and graduates.
“Since the start of my administration, I have prioritized the revitalization of our economy and worked to ensure that Rhode Island is known for innovation and economic opportunity,” said Raimondo. “We have seen great economic momentum in recent years, and we have the potential for even more economic growth. This partnership will provide access to international expertise and global resources, and forge collaborations well into the future. We look forward to many years of partnership and progress together.”
Raimondo was in Israel last week leading a group of Democratic governors to Israel on an economic development and policy mission. The delegation met with policy experts, elected officials and entrepreneurs to strengthen their relationships with the State of Israel and build new partnerships with its business community.