OCP Group, ICL Group Partner to Support Sustainability Programs at UM6, BGU
The OCP Group and Israel Chemicals (ICL Group) signed on Tuesday in Benguerir, a memorandum of understanding for the promotion of applied research and academic excellence through the funding of programs focused on sustainability conducted jointly by the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) for students, faculty staff of the two universities. This partnership, which provides an institutional framework for the two universities’ commitment to sustainability, is built around multidisciplinary areas focused on the challenges of the contemporary world including, food security, sustainable agriculture, climate change and renewable energy. This collaboration will enable experts and scientific researchers from the two universities to hold a series of scientific meetings (seminars, conferences, workshops, symposium) on these themes. To execute these goals, OCP Group and ICL will provide financial support of 600,000 dollars. Accordingly, OCP will provide UM6P with 300,000 dollars in funding, while ICL will give BGU a total of 300,000 dollars. “We believe that one of the best ways to support sustainability and move from research to impact is to collaborate with institutions such as Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and Ben-Gurion University,” Chairman and CEO of OCP Group, Mostafa Terrab said. Terrab noted that “investment in research with strategic partners such as ICL Group is essential to ensure science-based solutions sustainably help the world.” For his part, President and CEO of ICL, Raviv Zoller explained that “positive developments in Israel’s foreign relations have opened up opportunities to build new relationships and create new collaborations,” adding that ICL “is delighted to take this historic step with OCP to advance sustainability research and support local universities in their efforts to make a difference in their communities and beyond.”