InnovNation Summer & Winter Program

InnovNation provides students, entrepreneurs, and professionals behind-the-scenes access to the high- tech industry and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Israel – a country world-renowned as the Start-Up Nation. As a participant in this course, you’ll learn practical strategies, models, and tools from the the experience and insights of Israel’s top innovative companies and entrepreneurs and take an up-close look at disruptive technologies that are shaping tomorrow’s world.

Get a glimpse into the future with visits to leading research hubs and top tech innovators in Israel. As a participant, you’ll gain insights from their knowledge and experience while also learning about practical approaches to entrepreneurial pursuits.

Summer

The summer program is made up of two complementary courses that can be taken together or separately:

• Start-Ups and Innovation: The Israeli Model
• Breakthrough Technologies: Shaping the Future

Follow the links above to learn more about these two specially designed courses.

Winter

The Winter Program is an intensive two-week session which is ideal for students and professionals. This program focuses on the highlights from the summer, including trips to key sites, meetings with leaders and activists, and lectures.

Course Components 

• Meet with scientists, researchers, executives, and R&D staff through guest lectures and visits to high-tech companies and research centers.
• Create a report on one of the breakthrough technologies studied during the course. Your report will analyze the innovation and its potential effects.
• Work in teams to create a business plan for an online venture, based on the tools and methods learned during the program.
• Present the project to your classmates following the format of an investor presentation.
• Complete assigned readings on business models, start-ups, innovation, marketing, Israel’s entrepreneurship culture, and more.

Download the brochure to learn more.

Syllabi: 

• Start Ups and Innovation – The Israeli Model (SPEC202)
• Breakthrough Technologies: Shaping the Future (SPEC203)
• InnovNation Winter Session

You’ll be invited to participate in a wide array of trips, tours, and activities offered by the Office of Student Life. From a tour of the Old City to a trip to the Dead Sea to checking out the local festivals, you’ll build your own unique impressions and memories of Jerusalem and Israel. Read what students have to say or check our Facebook page.

While residing in HebrewU dormitories with other international and Israeli students, you’ll have a chance to form new friendships and get involved in campus life. A team of multilingual Israeli students, called madrichim, is also there to help you adjust to your new surroundings and give you tips on things to do. Learn more about student life at HebrewU.

Apply by

• Summer: May 15, 2017
• Winter: November 1, 2017

Arrive on campus

• Summer: July 3 or July 28, 2017
• Winter: December 27, 2017

Program length

• Summer: four weeks
• Winter two week

Application fee: US$ 80

Summer

Course: US$ 3,150 (two courses) US$ 1,750 (one course) 

Housing: US$ 775

Winter

Course: US$ 1,875

Housing: US$ 450

The InnovNation program is offered in collaboration with Israel Beyond the Headlines (IBH).

Tuition is to be paid in two separate payments to RIS and IBH.

Learn more about fees, cost of living, and paying for the program.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships based on demonstrated need or merit are available.

This program is open to students, professionals, and entrepreneurs who have completed at least one year of study in the areas of business, NPO management, economics, natural and applied sciences, engineering, and entrepreneurship.