A new year, and a new source of pride

The new year affords us space to look forward with hope and to kvell at a recent Israeli achievement. 

In a testament to the brilliance of Israeli academia, Tel Aviv University (TAU) has achieved a major milestone: securing more European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants than any other institution, outperforming universities across Europe. 

More than just a statistical victory, this accomplishment reflects the deep-seated nature of Israeli culture’s scientific curiosity and rigorous inquiry. An ERC Starting Grant is the gold standard for early-career researchers in Europe, providing substantial funding to visionary scientists poised to build research teams and pioneer transformative ideas. 

The ERC, established by the European Union, aims to fund trailblazing research on the basis of scientific excellence. The notoriously fierce competition draws thousands of proposals from top-tier talent across Europe and associated countries.  

Securing just one ERC grant is a career-defining achievement for a young academic. For TAU to claim five grants underscores the world-class quality of its faculty, and the fertile environment it provides for high-risk, high-reward innovation. 

The projects selected for funding span a wide variety of disciplines. Each project addresses a fundamental question with the potential to transform both technology and human well-being:  

• Dr. Sharon Fleischer, biomedical engineering: Her advanced “heart-on-a-chip” offers a new platform to test medications, model heart conditions, and understand how circadian rhythms impact cardiac performance. 

• Dr. Amit Vinograd, neuroscience: He deploys precise neuroimaging and circuit-mapping techniques to chart the neural pathways responsible for emotional transitions. The findings lead to novel therapies for mood disorders, anxiety, and neuro-psychiatric conditions. 

• Dr. Or Zamir, computer science: Next-generation algorithms that overcome fundamental computational bottlenecks will streamline decision-making computations and lay the foundation for faster, more scalable AI architectures. 

• Dr. Michael Chapman, abstract mathematics and quantum mechanics: New theoretical bridges help structure and stabilize quantum information processing, quantum computing to fulfill its promise of revolutionizing cryptography, materials science, and complex optimization. 

• Dr. Ran Finkelstein, quantum information: He utilizes atoms and photons to advance the fields of quantum computation, metrology, and simulation, using advanced arrays of ultracold atoms. 

Six other Israeli researchers—hailing from Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and The Technion—also received grants this year. 

Their significance extends far beyond university laboratories. When international bodies like the ERC invest heavily in Israeli scientists, the funding allows young faculty members to build state-of-the-art labs, recruit top-tier graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from around the globe, and acquire high-precision equipment. In turn, their breakthroughs transition into intellectual property, biotechnology ventures, and industrial applications that benefit society at large. 

Not to mention its impact on Israel’s internal morale and global image. Israel’s economy, and global identity, are intertwined with its tech sector and scientific ecosystem; the country is often referred to as the “Startup Nation.”  

Tel Aviv University’s outstanding showing in the ERC awards—alongside the strong representation of its fellow Israeli universities—serve as an inspiring reminder of what vision, dedication, and intellectual freedom can achieve. As these researchers and their peers embark on their five-year grant journeys, the international scientific community will undoubtedly be watching closely, waiting to see what new frontiers they will uncover. 

Much is happening in Israel on any given day, but perhaps the most Jewish thing we can do at the beginning of a new year is not simply to hope for a better future, but continue to actually build it. 

Ofer Bavly is a JUF Vice President and the Director General of the JUF Israel Office.