Photo Credit: Haim Zach/GPO
At a festive ceremony held last night, President Isaac Herzog awarded the Presidential Medal of Honour to Prof. Hossam Haick of the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to science, human health, innovation, education, and the advancement of society.
The Presidential Medal was awarded to Prof. Haick “for breaking glass ceilings and serving as a role model and inspiration to young people throughout the country, and for his unique contribution to human health, innovation, values-based education, and making knowledge accessible to humanity; for his scientific work, which created a new paradigm in disease detection through the analysis of volatile molecular markers, integrating advanced materials and artificial intelligence; for scientific breakthroughs reflected in the creation of a field that brings together chemical engineering, materials science, clinical medicine, data science, and applied innovation, incorporating technological developments for the early, affordable, accessible, and non-invasive diagnosis of diseases; and for his far-reaching global scientific impact, including some 500 articles in leading scientific journals, books, and tens of thousands of citations in the world’s foremost academic forums – an impact that places Israeli science and innovation at the forefront of international scientific endeavor.”
Prof. Haick is regarded as one of the world’s leading scientists in the field of non-invasive diagnostics. His research has paved the way for the development of innovative technologies based on nanomaterials and artificial intelligence that enable the rapid, early detection of diseases through simple breath and skin tests, alongside portable systems for chemical imaging. International recognition of his work includes several prestigious ERC grants, extensive collaborations with the European Union, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Health Organization, as well as dozens of international honors and awards for science, innovation, and social impact. These include the French government’s Knight of the Order of Academic Palms (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques). In 2025, he was elected a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors – one of the world’s most prestigious honors for inventors.
Prof. Haick has also long distinguished himself as an educator, entrepreneur, and academic leader. During his tenure as Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the Technion, he led wide-ranging initiatives for the benefit of the entire student body, improving the learning experience, strengthening academic and personal support, expanding access and opportunities, and promoting an inclusive, attentive, and equitable environment. As part of these efforts, he also worked to establish extensive support systems for students facing complex personal and national circumstances. Through his work, he has demonstrated that true academic excellence is not at odds with humanity, responsibility, and social sensitivity; rather, it demands them.
Prof. Haick is an outstanding example of a researcher who has successfully translated deep science into entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and economic impact. He is named on more than 100 patents and is among the founders of five companies that grew out of academic research, including Feelit Technologies, which already markets solutions internationally, and Nanose Medical. His achievements demonstrate how groundbreaking science can be transformed into industrial innovation, a platform for high-quality employment, and a means of strengthening Israel’s position as a global leader in deep technology.
The Presidential Medal, established at the initiative of Israel’s ninth president, Shimon Peres, has been awarded since 2012 to individuals who have become exemplary figures in their fields. It is presented to “those who have made an extraordinary contribution to the State of Israel or to humanity through their talent, service, or in any other way.” This year, the medal was awarded to 11 women and men.
