El 2 de marzo de 2016, el presidente del Instituto Weizmann de Ciencias de Israel, Daniel Zajfman, pronunció en la Fundación Ramón Areces la conferencia 'El impacto global de la investigación básica: el modelo del Instituto Weizmann'.

1. Weizmann Research Philosophy
Non-for Profit
Curiosity Driven
Impactful
Prof. Daniel Zajfman
President
Weizmann Institute of Science

2. Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Graduate school and
Public Education
Basic Science only Imbedded multidisciplinary
approach
High level education program Intellectual Property rules
and technology transfer
Weizmann Approach:
Basic Research Landscape

3. Math and
Computer
Science
Physics Chemistry Bio-
chemistry
Biology
Feinberg
Graduate
School
Davidson Institute
of Science
Education
Yeda
Tech-transfer
The Weizmann Institute of Science
Dept.
Science
Teaching
~250 research groups
1,000 graduate students
350 post-docs
250,000 kids

4. Budget and Facts
240 Faculty members
180 Staff Scientists
1,000 Graduate Students
400 Post-Doctoral Fellows
~2,000 engineers, lab technicians,
construction, finance, etc…
4,000 Trees
340 M€
380 M$

5. Science and Technology
Research and Development
Technologies
and products
Scientific Research
Reservoir of knowledge
Curiosity
Industry
Market

6. One of the major driver of innovation is curiosity
No amount of R&D on the candle
could ever have done that.
Michael Faraday
1791-1867

7. We invest in excellent people with excellent ideas
Curiosity driven
The basic philosophy of the
Weizmann Institute of Science
We hire scientists who are…
Knowledgeable
Curious
Passionate
…about their own ideas

8. The Weizmann Institute of Science
transforms money
into knowledge
The industry transforms
knowledge into
money
Science and Technology
Research and Development
Everyone should have a well defined role

9. How do you create new and valuable scientific knowledge?
What’s the business plan?
Hire excellent scientists who are knowledgeable, curious, and
passionate about their own ideas.
Offer them top quality human and physical infrastructure
Provide them the opportunity to take risk
Protect their freedom to think

10. Advanced Research
Basic Research
Applied Research
Research Risk/Uncertainty
ResearchReturn/PotentialPayoff
HighestPayoffLowestPayoff
Highest Risk Lower Risk
Applied vs. Basic Research
Risk and Return
Weizmann Institute of Science

11. Weizmann culture:
• Risk taking and failure management
• Little respect for “authorities”
• Multicultural environment
• People driven
• Chutzpah
What makes the Weizmann Institute of Science
a successful scientific institution?
Regular University
Weizmann

12. Does it work?

13. 2006-2009 2007-2010 2008-2011 2009-2012 2010-2013
Citation ranking based on scientific publications only
Are the scientists of the
Weizmann Institute of Science
having an impact?

14. Does it work?
Top Biotech drugs on the market today

15. Technology Transfer from the Weizmann Institute of Science
Yeda Research & Development Co. Ltd.
www.YedaRnD.com
Cooperation with industrial partners

16. Prof. Jonathan Gressel developed
herbicide resistance methods for
battling parasitic weeds, which
ravage crops in several parts of the
world, particularly in the Middle
East and Africa. An estimated 100
million farmers in Africa have
doubled their yield since then.
Prof. Leo Sachs groundbreaking
research in the 1950's on the use of
amniotic fluid to diagnose a fetus's
genetic properties has formed the basis
for today s prenatal diagnosis of human
diseases.
Prof. Michael Sela and
Ruth Arnon have discovered
the first drug for multiple
sclerosis (Copaxone)
Prof. Adi Shamir, together
with two colleagues from the US,
developed an algorithm (now called
RSA) that is the basis for
internet secure transaction.
Examples of Weizmann technologies that
are making a difference

17. What keeps us busy today?

18. Big Data: Using existing
medical record for
bio-medical research
The Integrated Cancer Center:
Computer Science, Math and
Physics for fighting cancer?
Intelligent Material:
Learning from nature?
New Opportunities?
Microbiome:
Our second genome?

19. Quantum computation:
Solving “unsolvable problems”
and breaking the classical
silicon limit.
Science education: Convincing
kids (and adults) that science
is fun to study
New Opportunities?

20. What will be the next scientific revolution?
Who will make the next scientific revolution?

21. The next scientific revolution will be driven by scientists who
have a multidisciplinary view of science,
the opportunity to take risks,
the infrastructure to work,
and the freedom to think.
Thank You