Research topic
Anchor institutions surface topics for advancement, and FourWard also initiates partnerships with industry, government ministries and public bodies.
Jerusalem Innovation District · Research Alliance
Four institutions. One address for applied research.
FourWard was established by
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The Hebrew University of Jerusalem -
Shaare Zedek Medical Center -
Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem -
Jerusalem College of Technology - Lev Academic Center
FourWard is a partnership of four anchor institutions in Jerusalem’s Innovation District, advancing joint applied research. The company initiates and leads connections between researchers, research capabilities and needs arising from the anchor institutions, industry, government ministries and public bodies. In this way, it forms multi-institutional research groups and advances research with implementation potential.
Explore FourWard’s activity FourWard’s first open call
Ideas for joint research in Bio-Convergence
An opportunity to propose a distinctive research topic that requires multidisciplinary capabilities and can bring together researchers and capabilities from the four anchor institutions.
The FourWard research community
Professional dialogue that connects researchers
A place for professional dialogue, connection among researchers from the four institutions, sharing opportunities and creating new links.
From a research topic to an open call and joint action
Anchor institutions surface research areas and topics for FourWard to advance. Around these topics, FourWard leads joint action: it connects researchers with the capabilities required, develops the operating framework and publishes open calls for ideas or for joining research groups. In parallel, FourWard initiates partnerships with industry, government ministries and public bodies, translating professional needs and challenges into research topics and opportunities for collaboration.
Connecting capabilities
FourWard brings together the researchers, expertise, laboratories and infrastructure needed to explore the topic.
Open call and joint action
The company publishes an open call, builds an operating framework and advances the next action with the appropriate partners.
FourWard is active today and building the next step
- Open call for research ideas
- Researcher community on WhatsApp
- Professional meetings and connections
- Building multi-institutional research groups
- Support tracks and joint submissions
- Further partnerships with industry and public bodies
Community, industry and Jerusalem
How joint research activity creates professional and economic value for the city.
An active research community
Professional familiarity and exposure to the capabilities, laboratories and researchers of the four institutions.
Connection to local industry
Companies gain access to knowledge, research capabilities and high-quality talent. Researchers encounter challenges, partners and professional opportunities.
Impact in Jerusalem
Strengthening local industry, expanding professional development opportunities and contributing to the retention of high-quality talent in Jerusalem.
A municipal and national initiative for an innovation district that strengthens research, development and quality employment
The Jerusalem Innovation District is a municipal initiative advanced by the Jerusalem Municipality and backed by Government Decisions 1830 and 1367. It focuses on the Greater Givat Ram area, where academic, medical, research and engineering institutions are concentrated alongside companies, entrepreneurs and developing urban infrastructure.
At the heart of the initiative is a connected urban environment where proximity, public transport, public spaces and research infrastructure support collaboration, advanced employment and new initiatives. The district connects research and development, industry and entrepreneurship with the city and its communities.
Remarks by Ran Wolf, CEO and owner of Ran Wolf Urban Planning and Project Management
From strategic planning to a connected urban environment
Ran Wolf presents the Innovation District concept and the conditions that connect institutions, research, industry and the city itself.
Video source: FourWard launch event, 24 May 2026 District overview
Jerusalem Innovation District: from planning to city
This video presents the district area, its anchor institutions and the planned links among research, employment, infrastructure and the city.
Footage: Ran Wolf | Video source: Kol HaIr Jerusalem FourWard
Integrated capabilities, one address
FourWard continuously maps expertise, researchers, laboratories and research infrastructure across the four anchor institutions, together with each institution’s research and commercialisation teams. When a research need arises, it identifies institutions with complementary capabilities and selects the researchers, laboratories and infrastructure best suited to the task.
This creates a cross-institutional, multidisciplinary research team for each challenge: a team built on a full professional fit for every part of the task. Depending on the research question, the group can work with companies, public bodies and other partners.
Learn more about FourWardThree entry points, one shared purpose
FourWard operates through three pathways, based on where the need originates. In every pathway, the work begins with a precise definition of the challenge, draws on mapped research capabilities across the four institutions, and leads to an appropriate research group and next step.
For researchers
Discover researchers, capabilities and infrastructure at the other institutions, with professional formats, calls for proposals and opportunities for collaboration.
For researchersFor industry
Work with one company, a group of companies or a sector-wide challenge to form applied research around a professional need and a relevant path forward.
For industryFor public bodies
Examine recurring challenges, translate them into research questions and build applied research that helps compare options using evidence.
For public bodies FourWard
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