Israeli, Chinese institutes to launch tech co-op

Haifa-based Technion Institute of Technology and China's Shantou University will establish a new tech institute in China after receiving a hefty donation from a Chinese foundation, according to Israeli media.

The Li Ka-shing Foundation has given the joint academic venture 130 million U.S. dollars to set up a technological institute, the Technion Guangdong Institute of Technology, in Guangdong province in southern China.

A memorandum of understanding was signed on Sunday between President of the Technion Institute of Technology Peretz Lavie and Dean of Shantou University Gu Peihua.

The new facility in China will focus on life sciences, technology as well as civil and environmental engineering and computer science.

"Beginning in 2014, TGIT will join STU (Shantou University) to conduct life sciences research based on Big Data to tackle the pressing social and livelihood issues like inadequate healthcare system and services, as well as improvements of clinical diagnosis procedures," according to a statement sent to reporters on Sunday.

"What Technion has done to advance the Israeli economy through student and staff research and innovation is an example for Chinese universities to follow," Gu said at Sunday's press conference, according to Ha'aretz daily.