What damages and losses occurred to the Israeli’s Weizmann Institute of Science as a result of an Iranian missile attack?

Members of the Israeli Knesset’s Science and Technology Committee on Sunday visited the sites of destruction at the Weizmann Institute of Science, which sustained significant damage from an Iranian missile attack during the recent confrontation.

The tour was led by the institute’s administration, headed by President Professor Alon Chen, who briefed the committee members on the extent of the damage to the site.

According to data presented to members of the Knesset, approximately 112 departments within the institute’s complex were damaged, including 65 research departments and scientific service facilities.

Five departments sustained severe damage, and one completely collapsed.

In addition, vital infrastructure was disrupted, with 52 research laboratories, as well as six service laboratories in the Biological Research Infrastructure Division, out of service.

At the end of the tour, committee chairman MK Yasser Hajirat said, “I regret that we came here due to the extensive damage caused by an Iranian attack… We would have preferred to come under different circumstances to witness your magnificent work… However, we come today with a clear position – the work being done here is a national asset”.

He added, “The committee will work to ensure that this work continues, develops, and flourishes… We’ll examine how to repair the damage and secure appropriate funding… You are at the forefront of science in Israel, and it’s no coincidence that you are considered a target… We see you as such, and we will work to support you”.

The head of the Weizmann Institute, Professor Alon Chen, explained to the Knesset members that the damage to the institute was unprecedented, estimated at between one and a half and two billion shekels ($597 million), “Some laboratories were completely out of service due to the shock of the missile strikes… This is a fundamental blow to the epicenter of scientific research in Israel… The Weizmann Institute is a national asset—that is why the attackers targeted it… There is a sense of widespread support for us, and this is essential because this institution works for the benefit of the entire world”.

He added that the institute’s economic model is based on donations, endowments, and self-development, while government funding only accounts for 20-25% of the operating budget, “We offer full scholarships and no tuition fees… 40% of the budget comes from a permanent fund created from patent profits and donations, in addition to 30% from the scientists’ own income… This is a unique model that maintains the institute’s sustainability, but it’s now under threat”.

He added, “Our annual budget is 4 billion shekels ($1.94 billion) … We’re leaders in Europe in research funding, with a rate five times the European average and a success rate of 63%—the highest since the institute’s founding… Since the Iranian attack, about 60% of international researchers have left, and we believe they will soon return”.

Chen emphasized that there is currently no government budget for development or equipment purchases, “Everything falls on donations—and that’s a huge burden… Even before the war, we were striving to double our research space… There are three times as many talents in the country as there is physical space available to us… This is in the national interest—the state should double the Weizmann Institute’s capabilities or establish an additional research facility”.

“Every dollar invested here will return tenfold its value to the economy,” he added.

“Property tax may cover 50% of the damage, but we still need to raise about a billion shekels more… We’ve already transferred tens of millions from the institute’s reconstruction fund, but time is of the essence, and our request is in advance… Without additional funding, the recruitment process will be affected,” he said.

Regarding compensation for damaged equipment, Chen noted that the gaps are significant, saying, “If we purchase an advanced microscope worth 5 million shekels, the property tax assesses its value at only 200,000 shekels… This gap doesn’t cover the damage to knowledge and capabilities… This is an investment in Israel’s future, in its scientific foundation, and in the growth engine of the next generation”.