Israel was admitted as full member of Eureka in 2000.
The pan-European network for market-oriented industrial R&D - Eureka - has selected Israel to serve as program chair in 2010-2011. Eureka was founded to promote joint R&D ventures supported by state-administered R&D management authorities, and to set out an R&D policy at the European level. At present, nearly all European countries (36 in all) are partners in the program together with the European Commission, which approves projects worth a combined €1.5 billion annually.
Israel was admitted as full member of the program in 2000, and Israeli companies currently take part in more than 10% of the projects that take place under the program.
Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper said that chairing the program would significantly upgrade Israel's standing in the European R&D community. He added that Israel would be able to use its tenure as program chair to set the agenda for the European program and secure European support for important ventures, such as the strengthening of priority fields including life sciences, water technologies and the environment. During its year as program chair, Israel will also host a series of meetings of officials in charge of R&D policy setting in member countries.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 17, 2007
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