Horizon 2020 aims to enhance innovation as a driver of economic prosperity, with Israel playing a key role in international R&D cooperation, particularly with Europe. The program facilitates access to know-how and shared costs, while Israel has successfully participated in prior frameworks, yielding significant financial benefits. Moving forward, a joint effort from industry, academia, and government is essential to sustain high success rates and encourage new participants.

1. Launching Horizon 2020
Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist
www.moital.gov.il/madan.htm

2. “Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity”
(Michael Porter)
Employment
Growth
Innovation / R&D
Branding

3. Government plays a key role in optimizing the ecosystem
Infrastructure
Risk sharing
Social goals

4. Competitive
R&D
Pre-Competitive
Research
Basic Research

5. International Cooperation – Why cooperate?
•
Access to know-how, innovation and infrastructures
•
Share the risk and costs of R&D
•
Shortens the needed development period and
time-to-market
•
•
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Sharing of IP leads to future high-quality cooperation
Generate growth through technological cooperation

6. International Cooperation with Europe
European Bilateral
Cooperation:
Multinational
Companies
15 agreements with
European countries:
Germany
France
Italy
Sweden
Finland
Austria
Greece…
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Multinational
Cooperation:

7. The European Framework – A Strategic Program
•
Largest R&D program in the world
•
A bridge to Israel’s biggest trade partner
•
Total of ~80 Billion euros – largest ever EU research
and Innovation program
Israel will pay more 750 million NIS
•
per year for participating in the program
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8. Performance of Israel in FP7 – Mutual Success
•
8,880 submissions 2,110 successes
•
Academia – EUR 574M , Industry – EUR 203M
•
Total participation in 1,536 projects (signed agreements)
•
Benefiting from a total of EUR 834M EU contribution
(~1.6 NIS for every 1NIS we paid)
The “side” benefits to the Israeli research community in
both industry and academia are much more substantial
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9. Challenges and opportunities in H2020
•
Keeping the high success rate of academic
institutions
•
Enhancing the share of the Industry in the grants
•
Pushing new firms and researchers to participate
in the program leveraging gained experience and
new pillars
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10. Taking the initiative
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Understanding the rules of the game
•
Waiting only for call for proposals isn’t
good enough anymore –
Many decisions will be made
beforehand
•
Participation in setting the agenda
is crucial!
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11. What needs to be done
Joint effort – Industry, academia and government
What we plan to do:
•
•
Encouraging appropriate firms and researchers to be
active participants in the program
•
Helping new participants cross the bridge for the first
time
•
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Increasing the involvement of relevant ministries

12. Israel in the ERA - a successful partnership
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