Mission Statement

The Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation Institute for Interdisciplinary Applications of Computer Science (C.R.I.) was established at the University of Haifa in 2001 with a grant from the Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation. C.R.I. is an advanced research institute which is unique in Israel in that it specifically promotes research in interdisciplinary applications of computer science. While a number of computer institutes exist, few are specifically devoted to interdisciplinary research.
With the support of the Institute, many different disciplines are advanced through research, education and study programs, and the encouragement of greenhouse experiments and start-ups. The common denominator of all programs undertaken is that they are of an interdisciplinary nature.

The Institute has three main tracks:

1. The Research Track promotes academic activities related to interdisciplinary research. For example, the organizing and sponsoring of international workshops and symposia, the running of an extensive visitors program with visitors being able to spend varying periods of time engaged in research and academic activities at the Institute, and initiating and supporting a variety of interdisciplinary research projects.

2. The Education Track initiates and assists in the formation of new interdisciplinary study programs between computer science and other departments, for both undergraduate and graduate students. It also includes supporting the preparation and running of new courses and providing merit scholarships to students in these new programs.

3.  The Technology Track provides support and encouragement to advanced students and faculty members who wish to investigate and develop inventions and ideas that may have commercial or social value. All areas of technology, which involve a substantial computer science component, are suitable.

ISF international workshop on User Modeling and Recommender Systems