Graduate students conference – 22/12/16
The GWRI was established in 1993 and is supported by funds from the American Technion Society, 
and a philanthropic foundation located in Israel. An agreement was reached in May 2001 with Stephen and Nancy Grand from Detroit through the ATS for a major naming gift
and the Water Research Institute (WRI) was named The Stephen and Nancy Grand Water Research Institute (GWRI).
The mission of the Grand Water Research Institute (GWRI) is to advance by research and 
development the science, technology, engineering, and management of water, through inter-disciplinary research and development and dissemination of information, with emphasis on the issues and problems facing Israel’s water sector. The GWRI also seeks to establish collaborative projects with other countries, particularly with Israel’s neighbors in the Middle East.
The national perspective of the GWRI expresses itself in the participation of researchers from 
various disciplines, in different institutions, in its projects. It has currently 54 members: 45 professors in 8 academic departments of the Technion and 9 professors/researchers from other Israeli universities. The Institute is managed by a Director, Prof. Ori Lahav.
Another national dimension of the GWRI is its contacts with the Water Commission, Mekorot 
Water Company, and other national agencies, to consider the research needs as perceived by the managers and planners of Israel’s water sector and to cooperate in meeting these needs.