MIT and BGU open lab in Beer-Sheva

Meet NUR (Negev Urban Research), the first lab of its kind in Israel, launched by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on Sunday on the edge of the new innovation district in Beer-Sheva as part of MIT's City Science Network - ten similar labs operating worldwide.

The lab, a collaboration between the City Science Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the School of Design and Architecture at Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, and numerous government ministries, focuses on providing solutions to urban and spatial issues through advanced technology.

Extreme climate, rapid population growth, multiculturalism, and a shortage of vital resources are just some of the challenges facing cities in Israel and around the world today. More and more of those cities are like Beer-Sheva – located in desert climes. The lab will develop multidisciplinary collaborations to develop innovative data-based and digital processes and tools to address urban issues on the edge of the desert.

The lab was established as part of Government Decision 625, which focuses on the development of the Negev, and in collaboration with task forces from the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of the Negev and Galilee, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Economic Council.

The lab is purposely located on Rager Boulevard, the main thoroughfare of Beer-Sheva, as one of its major goals is increasing citizen participation in planning.

NUR is part of MIT's international City Science Network that includes ten similar labs operating worldwide (Spain, Mexico, Chile, Germany, USA, Canada, China, and Taiwan), with each lab focusing on local challenges with global implications. As part of its activities, experimental applied technologies will be integrated into significant planning processes in Beer-Sheva and the South. In addition, the lab will initiate unique research on the development of climate-dependent regional areas in the Beer-Sheva metropolitan area and the future of desert cities.

Architect Merav Idit Battat, head of the lab: "The Israeli landscape is fraught with challenges, some global such as the climate crisis, and others unique such as the demographic challenge. We have much to learn from other places in the world, and the world has much to learn from the Negev. During a difficult and complex time for Israel, together with all our partners, we have established a center aimed at planning for a better, more just, and sustainable future through multidisciplinary collaborative platforms and the development of innovative data-driven tools."

The lab operates in the Negev region and throughout Israel, connecting academics, engineers, entrepreneurs, and designers with local authorities, government ministries, and communities to develop innovative data-based processes and tools through activities, workshops, conferences, and making data accessible to the public.

President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Prof. Daniel Chamovitz: "The NUR lab is an implementation of the Ben-Gurion DNA and our vision: Collaboration with leading institutions worldwide, advancing the Negev, developing and using innovative tools for the benefit of all."

Beer-Sheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovich: "The opening of the NUR lab in partnership with MIT, the world's top-ranked university, in Beer-Sheva's innovation district is a pivotal moment in our vision of positioning the city as an international center for knowledge, innovation, research, and sustainable development. This is one of only ten such labs established worldwide, and it will connect leading minds from academia, industry, and the public sector, driving the creation of advanced solutions to urban, social, and environmental challenges. Beer-Sheva is becoming an international draw and is among the leaders in smart cities and sustainable spaces, working in global partnership for the benefit of future generations."

Vice President for Regional and Industrial Development at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Prof. Dan Blumberg: "Demographic changes in the State of Israel, including population growth, the desire to improve quality of life on the one hand and adaptation to climate change on the other, create enormous planning challenges. The establishment of the NUR lab, as part of the Media Lab, will assist in providing advanced technological solutions to many of these challenges. I congratulate Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on its success in establishing this important lab with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Faculty of Design and Architecture at Sami Shamoon College, and I thank the government ministries and partners in the region who have greatly assisted in advancing the lab."

Dr. Ariel Noyman, Research Scientist at MIT City Science and Co-Founder of NUR: "NUR serves as a unique platform for innovative research amidst the urban challenges characterizing life on the desert’s edge. By combining innovative approaches to digitization, data analysis, and advanced technologies for public participation and decision-making, we can help create sustainable and prosperous cities that are adapted to environmental, demographic, economic, and social changes. The collaboration with BGU, SCE, and international partners is a significant milestone in efforts to advance urban innovation with global impact. Amidst current challenges, NUR will lead research and action towards the rehabilitation and the future of urban life in the Negev region."