University of Texas at Dallas President David E. Daniel has been honored by the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce with a 2010 Award of Excellence.
Daniel received the award at the chamber’s annual North Texas Business Awards Dinner on April 15 for his “outstanding community leadership and innovation,” including ongoing collaborations with The Technion Israel Institute of Technology.
Other 2010 honorees include Raanan Horowitz, president and CEO of Elbit Systems of America, who also received an Award of Excellence; and Stanley Levenson, CEO of Levenson & Brinker Public Relations and member of the UT Dallas School of Arts and Humanities Advisory Council, who received the Texas-Israel Bridge Builder Award.
Since 2007, UT Dallas and the Technion have collaborated on research projects and student and faculty exchanges. Last year a seven-member team of scientists from the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas, including one professor from the Technion, received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to maximize brain resilience and repair in soldiers.
The Technion, founded in 1924 in Haifa, produces more than 70 percent of Israel’s high-tech industry founders and executives. The school is known for expertise in science and technology education and research. It is also home to a medical school.
In his acceptance remarks, Daniel noted that “Israel boasts the highest density of start-up companies in the world,” and that in 2008, the nation attracted more venture capital than Texas, despite having a population one-third smaller than the Lone Star State’s.
“Israel has drawn into a single narrow place a particularly intense concentration of great universities, large companies, start-ups and the ecosystem that connects them – including everything from suppliers to an engineering talent pool to venture capital,” he said.
Daniel paralleled the nation’s business successes to UT Dallas’ aspirations for driving regional economic growth.
“At UT Dallas, we aim to attract the very best human creative talent, make ground-breaking discoveries, educate and inspire entrepreneurs, and transfer technology in a way that will drive economic prosperity and social advancement right here in Dallas-Fort Worth,” he said. “We’ll achieve this by building a great research university and connecting it with business and venture capital.”
Greg Yavner, president and CEO of the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce, said the shared focus on innovation makes partnerships symbiotic.
“We are grateful for Dr. Daniel’s acceptance of the award,” said Yavner. “The Chamber is focused on innovation, as is the nation of Israel, and we look forward to facilitating innovative partnerships between UT Dallas and business and educational entities in Israel.”