Israel will head the European Eureka Network for Market Oriented R&D in 2010-11, even though it is the only non-European country in the program.
Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper said, "During its year as president of Eureka, Israel will be able to set its agenda, which will enable us to promote important initiatives with European support, such as strengthening R&D in low technology industries or in other priority fields, such as the life sciences, water technologies, and the environment. In addition, we will be able to promote joint R&D ventures with European and Israeli venture capital funds."
Opper also pointed to the success of Israel's participation in other European R&D programs, especially the EU Seventh Framework Progamme for Research and Development and the Galileo global satellite navigation program, which enable Israeli industry and academic institutions to participate in Europe from a technology and business standpoint.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said, "This is important precisely now, because projects we finance in this framework not only create jobs for engineers and technological personnel, but also shorten time to international markets, and give access to foreign sources of funding. I have no doubt that the Eureka presidency, beyond the unprecedented prestige it gives Israel, will enable us to maximize these advantages for Israeli industry."
The Eureka program is the largest program of its kind in the world. It was inaugurated in 1985, and its 40 members currently include almost every country in Europe as well as the European Commission. The program's objective is to foster joint R&D ventures with the support of national R&D programs and to set policy at the pan-European level. Eureka funds hundreds of new R&D projects every year at an investment of €1.5 billion.
Israel joined Eureka in 2000, and has since become one of the five most active members in it.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 25, 2009
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