The Broadcom Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Tel Aviv University to establish a two-year program to promote multidisciplinary research toward a new generation of authentication methods. In the presence of Dr. Henry Samueli, Chairman of the Board of the Broadcom Corporation, and Prof. Joseph Klafter, President of Tel Aviv University, the agreement was signed on November 22, 2013.
According to the agreement, the Broadcom Foundation donation will establish a research fund for TAU scientists that will focus on finding breakthrough solutions for cyber threats. The aim is to develop a new generation of authentication methods, enabling more secure interaction between users and their digital environment – smartphones, e-banking, and e-health devices – and future technologies such as smart watches, connected cars, and wearable devices.
The Broadcom Foundation says that this two-year research program is the first of its kind outside of the United States.
A single authentication system to address all needs
"The new program will combine researchers from the Broadcom Foundation and students and senior researchers from TAU to develop a single authentication system that can identify those entering all types of systems, from bank accounts and medical files, to sensitive security facilities," said Prof. Klafter. "The new authentication system will be secure against break-ins. The entire project presents a challenge in both the hardware and software aspects of the research."
"This new, unique program will enable us to forge a deeper alliance with academia and with the proven creativity, innovation and quality of Israeli science and technology," said Dr. Samueli.
Broadcom Foundation was founded to inspire and enable young people around the world to enter careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through partnerships with local schools, colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations. The Foundation's mission is to advance science education by funding research, recognizing scholarship and increasing opportunity.
American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel's leading, most comprehensive and most sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). Rooted in a pan-disciplinary approach to education, TAU is internationally recognized for the scope and groundbreaking nature of its research and scholarship — attracting world-class faculty and consistently producing cutting-edge work with profound implications for the future. TAU is independently ranked 116th among the world's top universities and #1 in Israel. It joins a handful of elite international universities that rank among the best producers of successful startups.