Comverse's start-up development manager Carmel Vernia will be the next Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Minister of Industry and Trade Ran Cohen said today: "Vernia is the chief scientist of the Israeli economy and its future. I chose him because he topped the list of the committee set up to screen candidates for the post, and because he was willing to do his utmost for Israeli industry".
Cohen and Chief Scientist Orna Berry expressed great satisfaction with Vernia's consent to assume the post. Berry said she wanted to be succeeded by someone better than herself, who would help Israel move from the start-up stage to a more advanced phase that would improve the country's economic prospects.
Cohen said that the handover period between Vernia and Berry will be in March-April, and Vernia will formally assume his new post on May 1.
Cohen added that the challenges facing the Chief Scientist include drawing up the new Research and Development Bill by June 2000, so that it may go into effect at the beginning of 2001. Another challenge pointed out by Cohen is to focus government investment in industrial product R&D. According to Cohen, "A decision in principle must be taken whether we want Israel to have two Nokias or 20 companies whose turnover if $1-3 billion".
The third challenge mentioned by Cohen and Berry is breaking into new areas, such as biotechnology and avoiding R&D elitism, so that funds are also channeled to traditional industries, and used to reduce social gaps and contribute to society as a whole.
Vernia said that the size of the budget the government allocated to the Chief Scientist reflected the importance it attaches to the issue. "My job will be to persuade the government to put as much money as possible into the Chief Scientist's coffers, because that's where the future lies. At the same time, my job is also to take whatever I'm given and get the maximum out of it".
Published by Israel's Business Arena February 2, 2000