The University of Chicago and Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science will support joint research in quantum information sciences and artificial intelligence in a partnership that also includes the Toyota Institute of Technology in Chicago.
This expanded partnership builds on the existing Marshall and Arlene Bennett Family Research Program, which funds research between UChicago and the Weizmann Institute of Science in the life sciences, physical sciences and engineering. Led by UChicago’s Office of Science, Innovation, National Laboratories and Global Initiatives, the partnership will prioritize new research that uses AI for new discoveries in biology and materials science, and will advance fundamental discoveries in quantum information sciences and engineering. Collaboration between institutions can create solutions that can be scaled globally to benefit humanity.
In the first phase, the expanded partnership has awarded more than $1 million in research funding to three field-advancing collaborative projects with significant impact in science and technology, as well as travel grants to three additional research teams. The research topics of the funded projects include the application of artificial intelligence in medicine and material science, as well as quantum information science with applications in communication networks.
“The University of Chicago’s commitment to scholarly work that shapes and defines fields of study is strengthened by such international and cross-institutional collaborations,” said University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos. “The Weizmann Institute of Science is a world-class partner, and together we can create a much deeper understanding of the fundamentals of data science and artificial intelligence and develop new useful applications.”
“The Weizmann Institute has a long history of international collaboration that has inspired scientists to collectively impact global challenges,” said Weizmann Institute President Alon Chen. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the University of Chicago to join forces in this new era of artificial intelligence and quantum science.”
“I am thrilled to see my family’s research program inspire a global initiative between these three renowned institutions,” said Bea Bennett, director and president of the Bennett Family Foundation.
The Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, one of the world’s leading fundamental research institutions, consists of 250 experimental and theoretical research groups in five faculties—biology, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science and physics.
The Toyota Institute of Technology in Chicago is an academic computer science institute engaged in basic research and graduate education. The institute is located on the UChicago campus and is closely affiliated with the University of Chicago’s Department of Computer Science.
AI projects in health and biology will seek to use artificial intelligence to improve our ability to understand the rules of life, from the molecular scale to multicellular organisms and ecosystems. In materials science, researchers will explore how to use AI to predict properties and guide the design and synthesis of new materials.
“Artificial intelligence and quantum information science can drive innovation that will span multiple fields,” said Juan de Pablo, executive vice president for science, innovation, national laboratories and global initiatives at the University of Chicago. “It is through cross-institutional efforts like these that real success comes. We are honored to partner with these institutions, and these grants are the first step in a long and fruitful partnership that will lead to exciting, field-defining advances.
