This is a 1-day convention, a series of TED-like talks covering exponential technologies, potential implications in different aspects, and a panel discussion. Ray Kurzweil’s talk is scheduled as the final talk before the panel discussion, about 20 minutes: 15:10 – 15:30. Following the panel discussion, we will have the finals phase of the Ramon Breakthrough SU project contest, 5 finalists presenting and a panel selects the 2 winners.

At the conclusion of the convention, they will have the Ramon Breakthrough SU contest finals. The Ramon Foundation, commemorating Ilan Ramon (the Israeli astronaut who was killed in the Columbia re-entry accident) and his son, Asaf (an IDF pilot who was killed 6 years later in a fight accident), acts to implement their heritage of social and professional excellence among future generations. The contest, now in its second year, is a cooperation between the Ramon Foundation and SU. In the finals stage each of the five finalists will present his/her project, and a panel of distinguished local people — business, science/tech, gov and academia — will select the 2 winners that will attend the next SU summer program. The finalists’ projects, and many that did not make it to the finals, will be supported by the foundation, the panel of judges, and the foundation community.