Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and California Governor Jerry Brown have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for R&D cooperation between Israel and California. The agreement stresses four main areas: water technologies, energy, storage technologies and cyber security through collaboration between research institutes in Israel and California.
Brown said stressing Israel's ability to help California overcome its drought, "10% of San Diego's water will be a result of this collaboration and an outcome of Israeli technology."
Netanyahu said, "Our population has grown and the rain we receive has decreased but we have no water problems, because we are number one in the world in recycling wastewater, and we have done exceptional work with desalination, and developing innovative technologies in the area of drinking water."
In storage technologies and energy, Brown and Netanyahu also detailed the joint achievements of Israel and California. Netanyahu said, "There is no limit to our ability to renew, invent and refresh, and if we work together this collaboration is good news for the world. As a graduate of MIT myself, I am aware of the importance of education here in the US and the important role of academic institutions in promoting and developing technology. It is a matter of great pride that leading research institutes led by Stanford University are included in this agreement."
Brown stressed the importance of cyber security, "We can develop no end of inventions and innovations in water and energy but if we cannot make this secure then it is worthless. Israel's ability in the field of cyber security is exceptional, and we are happy and grateful for the opportunity to use these capabilities, and contribute our abilities."
During his speech Netanyahu also stressed the need for the establishment of direct flights between Tel Aviv and San Francisco.
Netanyahu had come to California after meeting with President Obama in Washington on Tuesday. Later Wednesday, he met Apple CEO Tim Cook and other senior executives from the company, and proposed they increase their presence in Israel. Netanyahu's entourage described the meetings as "friendly and productive."
Netanyhu also met at Stanford University with WhatsApp CEO and co-founder Jan Koum, a Ukrainian Jew who immigrated to the US as a teenager.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 6, 2014
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