In view of the political, economic and social challenges in the Middle East, scientific exchange with the region is more important than ever. With a delegation trip to Israel, the Helmholtz Association, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) sent a clear signal for intercultural dialogue and increased cooperation in research, teaching and entrepreneurship.
During the two-day trip, the delegation visited several partner institutions of the Helmholtz Association in Israel to discuss current research projects and future cooperation plans. Stops included the Weizmann Institute, Tel Aviv University, the Academic College of Tel Aviv and the German Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Expansion of bilateral transfer cooperation
‘Research institutes and universities in Israel are among the most important partners of German science. Hardly any other country invests so heavily in research and development and has comparable innovative strength. The dynamic start-up scene is a role model for us,’ says Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association. ‘Over the past few days, we have been able to gain an impression of ground-breaking developments in the fields of artificial intelligence, physics, biomedicine and climate research at the Weizmann Institute and Tel Aviv University, among others. We also intensified our contacts with the Israel Innovation Authority. Particularly in the current difficult geopolitical situation, it is very important to us to further expand our scientific interactions.’
A central topic of the talks with the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) was the expansion of cooperation between science, industry and start-ups in both countries. In particular, possibilities for implementing the ‘2+2 Programme’ and other bilateral transfer collaborations of the IIA were discussed. The 2+2 Programme promotes partnerships between two players from each participating country – typically one company or start-up and one research institution on each side. The aim of the programme is to intensify the direct exchange between academic research and industrial application.
The second part of the trip focused on the signing of agreements on exchange programmes between KIT, Tel Aviv University, the University of Haifa and Hasoub, the first Arab innovation centre in Israel.
Innovation as a bridge for cooperation and understanding
‘Science knows no borders. Especially in times of geopolitical tensions, it is crucial to use science and innovation as bridges for cooperation and understanding,’ emphasises the President of KIT, Professor Jan S. Hesthaven. ‘I am very pleased that we are creating precisely such connections with the new exchange programmes.’ The signing of the cooperation agreement between the Helmholtz Office Israel, KIT and Hasoub took place in the presence of the German Ambassador Steffen Seibert and the President of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) Professor Walter Rosenthal at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. KIT also signed co-operation agreements with the University of Haifa and Tel Aviv University.
‘We are pleased to strengthen our long-standing fruitful cooperation with Hasoub and to expand the KIT portfolio of bilateral exchange programmes with Israeli universities. The internationally renowned KIT, with its symbiosis of university and research centre and its strong focus on entrepreneurship, is a perfect cooperation partner for this,’ adds Andrea Frahm, Head of the Helmholtz Office in Israel.
Hasoub is a non-profit Israeli organisation that has been working to increase the participation of the Arab population in the Israeli high-tech sector since it was founded in 2014. Its aim is to make the start-up nation of Israel more inclusive. The cooperation between KIT, Hasoub and the Helmholtz Office Israel includes not only an exchange of students, but also of researchers and start-ups. The Helmholtz Office Israel is also planning to expand its cooperation with German industrial partners.
Source: Helmholtz (in German)