Alfred Mann visit at Madatech

Alfred Mann visit at Madatech

A unique initiation of The Teuza Fund, Madatech and Mr. Leon Recanati brought together two exceptional people: Alfred Mann, Hi-tech and Biotechnology entrepreneur and billionaire, who donates and supports Israeli scientific research, and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Prof. Dan Shechtman.

The two guests visited Madatech's Science Park and met with the scientists of the future: students of the Hebrew Reali School and Mofet-Bosmat School, who come to MadaTech to experience a different kind of learning in various scientific fields.

Mr. Mann and Prof. Shechtman told their personal story. Prof. Shechtman said that due to the 60's economic recession, he couldn't find a job as a mechanical engineer; he then decided to proceed his academic studies, a step that initiated his love for science. Dr. Mann explained that his drive to keep working 70 hours a week comes from the ambition to continue helping people, or as he put it: "enabling the blinds to see, the deaf to hear and the crippled to walk".

The event provided the perfect platform to share fascinating advancements in research for diabetes; Alfred Mann talked about his innovative inventions in the field and introduced a new method for monitoring glucose levels. An exciting moment was recorded when Dr. Ronen Mir, Madatech's C.E.O showed the students that he personally uses one of Mann's developments and thanked him for the tremendous change of lifestyle this instrument enabled him.

One of the students, who was impressed from the tremendous scientific achievements asked: "what do I have to do if I want to be like you when I grow up?" Mann offered her to find issues that are close to her heart and think what she can do in order to facilitate them. Prof. Shechtman offered her to choose her favorite field in science and specialize in it.

Amongst the guests were Dr. Eli Ofer, former Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor.; mr. Shmulik Shani, former CEO at Bioness' a mutual investment of Mann and Teuza Fund and Mr. Avi Kerbes, Teuza Fund CEO.

Mr. Avi Kerbes summarized this visit and said: "as an entrepreneur I value the many developments that started right here, in the Technion's Historical Building. I have no doubt that in order to continue to lead scientific advancements, we have to encourage youth to take an interest in science; hopefully, the seeds we are sowing today will yield the inventions of tomorrow". Leon Recanati added "there is nothing more exciting than to see the way young students are drawn to science and its applications. It enables us a glance into the future. I am optimistic".