Approximately 36 years before Israel declared independence, a ceremony took place on the barren slopes of Mount Carmel near the Port of Haifa, which was then occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Unknown to the Haifa community witnessing the event, this would be a milestone in history. This first cornerstone embodied an implausible vision of creating a world-class institute of scientific and technological education in the Holy Land. The story of the “Technikum” – the original German name of the Technion – is a tale of the century. The second industrial revolution created the printing presses and communications infrastructure allowing Jews scattered around the globe to organize in face of rising anti-Semitism. As Jews were often barred from technical education, the establishment of a technical school was a first priority to rebuilding a Jewish homeland. The Technion was to become a unique worldwide university that would precede, create, shape, and protect a modern state. The cornerstone laid on April 11, 1912, set in motion a century of progress responding to national and global needs. Technion – Israel Institute of Technology would grow rapidly, becoming a global pioneer in fields such as biotechnology, stem cell research, space, computer science, nanotechnology, and energy. As it approaches its centennial in 2025 – 100 years after the first class took place – Technion City is a thriving world center of trailblazing excellence in research and teaching for the benefit of humanity, with 18 faculties, more than 14,000 students, 135 academic programs, and 60 research institutes. Since the Technion opened its doors, more than 90,000 Technion alumni have played a huge part in creating and leading the ‘Startup Nation,’ impacting the lives of millions of people worldwide.
