Gov. Bruce Rauner will lead a delegation to Israel next week to explore opportunities for expanded business and research ties to the “Start-Up Nation,” the moniker used to describe Israel’s remarkable economic advances through technological innovation.
The trip builds out of the governor’s announcement last week that the University of Illinois System will launch the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) in Chicago and the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) by creating research partnerships with world-class universities here and abroad. U of I President Tim Killeen is joining the Israeli trade mission. He and the governor will meet with officials at four Israeli universities: Technion, Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv and Hebrew.
“We hope to establish research partnerships that augment the work U of I System universities will do at the Discovery Partners Institute,” the governor said. “We also want to make our plans known to companies in Israel so they consider investments in our initiatives and in our state.”
“Our meetings in Israel are a critical first step toward creating new relationships for DPI, and for the U of I System’s three best-in-class universities,” Killeen said. “The discussions will build bridges for research collaborations that lead the way to progress, and exchange programs that prepare students to succeed in the increasingly global workplace that awaits them.”
Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Aviv Ezra, who was instrumental in setting the itinerary for the mission, will travel with the delegation.
“We look forward to sharing our expertise as the startup nation with Illinois,” he said. “The future partnerships between the world-renowned universities in Israel and Illinois are sure to produce groundbreaking solutions to world challenges. The projects that emanate from this win-win collaboration will be acknowledged on the world map as revolutionary.”
The delegation from the governor’s office will include the governor, Deputy Gov. Leslie Munger and a staff member. From the University of Illinois, traveling are: Edward Seidel, vice president for Economic Development and Innovation; Andreas Cangellaris, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Jeffrey Brown, dean of the College of Business in Urbana-Champaign; Mark Rosenblatt, chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and Pradeep Khanna, Associate Vice Chancellor for Corporate Relations and Economic Development.
The delegation departs for Israel Sunday, Oct. 29, with the state of Illinois group returning on Friday Nov. 3, and the university group returning Saturday, Nov. 4.
- Annonin' - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:19 am:
Thank goodness GovJunk won’t be boggin’ himself down with any other university folks
- Albany Park Patriot - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:20 am:
When I was in high school, I was prohibited from field trips if I didn’t get good grades.
- Retired Educator - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:27 am:
Anything that gets him out of the State for a while is a good thing. If he is somewhere else the damage is lessened.
- Macbeth - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:29 am:
Rauner announces his re-election — and he’s in hiding. Now he’s gonna go out of the country.
Shouldn’t he be barnstorming the state?
- DeseDemDose - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:31 am:
Wingman Munger sure has got the life of Riley after losing the Comptroller election. She travels the World on the taxpayers dime.
- FLEA - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:31 am:
Does any elected official have a clue about the agriculture industry in this fine state? 1 in 4 jobs in this state are tied to agriculture industry yet nobody even pays attention to the vast array of jobs available for graduating students in that sector. Does Rauner know about the College of Agriculture at UI? or does anyone else for that matter….Geez.
- Flynn's mom - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:38 am:
@DeseDemDose-I think that Munger feels entitled to live the of Riley. Where do you think they hide her portion of the payment for this trip? Do they just keep sticking it to DHS?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:39 am:
Hopefully Rauner will discuss why he refuses to fully fund higher education, and trying to close other state universities too.
That would be fun.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:43 am:
Flea, some university and ag types would certainly be interested in checking out the booming Israeli med mar industry.
Israel leads leads the world in legal r&d on weed, and the government this year approved marijuana for export. Innovators and entrepreneurs are getting rich on weed.
Sampling the wares is easy and risk-free, too, especially in swinging’
- walker - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:44 am:
Rauner touting “DPI”?
Threw me for a second.
- Just Observing - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:48 am:
=== Wingman Munger sure has got the life of Riley after losing the Comptroller election. She travels the World on the taxpayers dime. ===
She may very well be travelling on the taxpayer’s dime, but it’s not uncommon for overseas trips like this to be paid by some other organization. I don’t know in this case though.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:50 am:
Flea, some university and ag types would certainly be interested in Israel’s booming med mar industry.
Israel leads the world in legal weed R&D, and the government recently approved exports of Israeli weed. Innovators and entrepreneurs are getting rich on the product, legally.
Sampling the wares is easy and risk-free in decriminalized Israel, especially in swingin’ Tel Aviv.
- Texas Red - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:54 am:
Such open minds here-LOL. Try Removing the Rauner name and just think of a Governor doing Governor stuff like pushing trade and technical partnerships oversees; or better yet imagine if Pat Quinn were heading this trip - and them make your comments.
- Torda - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:00 am:
So where is DCEO? Nobody left over there? Did intersect finally get busted for impersonating a non profit without 501c3 status?
Or did we just stop trying to make it seem like Rauners cares about the economics and business climate of Illinois?
Rauner doesn’t care
Rauner just wants the perception.
- Chris Widger - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:02 am:
==Rauner just wants the perception.==
I am excited for our next several governors, people who want to improve the State and are not simply in it for “the perception.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:04 am:
Macbeth, this is an election trip, as was the trip to
China and Japan. I believe Rauner has said he has a Poland trip set, too. Ireland would be a gimme, I would think.
Standard incumbent stuff. Look like a bigshot overseas, where nobody is yelling at you.
- Midwestern Independent - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:05 am:
FLEA makes an important point. Ag is the largest industry in Illinois. Also, U of I’s College of Agriculture is an innovation leader. So, absolutely Ag and U of I’s Ag should be showcased in these types of trips.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:08 am:
What Rauner is doing is looking gubernatorial enough to face Downstate voters. Conservatives are pro-Israeli. So Rauner is trying to rebuild credibility after signing them all up to pay for abortions which has destroyed his relationship with his last voter base.
Rauner is trying to change the subject. Expect a lot of PR, media events, campaign videographers and cornball during this stunt.
- Langhorne - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:10 am:
Discovery Partners Institute = DPI
DPI = Democratic Party of Illinois
Nice work, BTIA
- S. Grobnik - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Didn’t Emanuel do the same trip literally a month ago… BTIA couldn’t get seats for that one?
- Big Joe - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:42 am:
Let’s hope that Rauner stays there for a LONG time. Munger has no business being on this trip.
- FLEA - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:47 am:
Wordslinger and Midwest independent…
Rauner and company could learn a great deal about the medical marijuana industry they are trying to stymie here to the detriment of patients and cultivators. This is an ag based industry as well with very important job opportunities in varied ag science fields.
- Illinois Native - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:49 am:
===What Rauner is doing is looking gubernatorial enough to face Downstate voters. Conservatives are pro-Israeli.===
I fully agree. From a trade mission prospective the chances of selling much of anything to Israel to put Illinois residents to work is rather small. For every year in the last 10 years the US has imported about twice to three times as much from Israel as we have exported to Israel. It looks like mainly a political move by Rauner rather than an economic one.
- JS Mill - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:52 am:
=and them make your comments.=
So you are good with the failed Leslie Munge making the trip?
The state #1 welfare recipient travel like royalty.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:55 am:
TR, your victim complex is duly noted.
As I wrote before, overseas trips for incumbents is standard in run-ups to re-election.
Feel better now? Does that soothe the
Raunerbots of the species notoriously thin skin?
- tobor - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:04 pm:
Main export to Israel is $$$$ in the form of military hardware.
- Downstate University - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
Meanwhile the other public universities in Illinois are locked out from any such opportunity to showcase their talents on the global stage. It’s UIUC or nothing for Bruce.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
===Meanwhile the other public universities in Illinois are locked out from any such opportunity to showcase their talents on the global stage. It’s UIUC or nothing for Bruce==
“I don’t want you showcased, I want you closed.”
- Fake Bruce Rauner… “Maybe”
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
Strategic trip, good for Illinois.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
Oy
- TKMH - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:44 pm:
I take it Carlos Ramirez-Rosa wasn’t invited?
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:57 pm:
Rauner should travel to Canada. They grow lots of wheat. Wheat is used to make…..
- Generic Drone - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
Rauner says….Nobody from Illinois believes me anymore. Maybe another country will.