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Photo: Guy Ravitz
Greetings from the Chief Scientist
Israel's Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports
Israel’s successful integration into the European
Framework Programme for Research and Technological
Development is a significant achievement for Israel.
It advances science, but perhaps, just as important, it
Mina Teicher promotes links between Israeli and European industry,
technology transfer, and boosts the balance of payments
and Israel’s status in the international arena.
Israel joined the Fourth Framework Programme, and has been a partner
to the Fifth and Sixth Programmes. Israel will continue its partnership
in the Seventh Programme.
Israeli universities are playing a growing role in European studies,
and in the Seventh Programme this participation will probably be even
greater, thanks to the establishment of the European Research Council
(ERC), whose key goal is to promote basic research.
Modern science exists in an international context that serves as an
important and essential foundation for high standards of originality
and relevance. Research projects on the frontier of science express
binational and multinational cooperation and multi- and inter-disciplinary
collaboration among scientists of diverse nations. Israel nurtures
cooperation with overseas scientists as a matter of policy, and Israel’s
participation in the Framework Programme is a central component of
this policy.
Participation in multinational European frameworks offers Israeli
scientists access to large research facilities and involvement in major
international scientific collaborations. Thus, Israel gains the opportunity
to express positions on R&D policy issues and accrues recognition for
the country's role at the forefront of scientific-technological progress.
Israel's Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports is responsible for the
advancement of fundamental R&D in Israel, and our participation in
the Framework Programme aids in achieving this goal. The Programme
cultivates basic R&D in fields from the environment and energy, food
safety, space and the information society, and ensures cooperation
among European research groups from different countries. Israel - as
an associate member - derives the maximum benefit from participating
in these projects.
The Framework Programme places considerable emphasis on bringing
science closer to the community. Israeli government ministries and
research organizations participate in these endeavors. Among the highprofile
activities was an evening for researchers, held in Israel on
September 19, 2006. Events were held at eight research institutions
and science museums open to the general public, presenting scientific
research endeavors. The event was an overwhelming success and was
part of a pan-European event.
Israel recoups the investment in the Framework Programme through
research grants to academia and industry, and via scientific and industrial
collaborations. The result is shared research and foreign investments
many times greater than the original Framework Programme participation
fees. The ERC’s new program is also likely to attract more funding to
basic research being conducted by Israeli scientists.
Israel will continue to be an associate member in the Seventh Framework
Programme, promoting continued strategic cooperation with Europe,
for the benefit of one and all.
Professor Mina Teicher
Chief Scientist
The Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports
Photo: Lior Mizrahi
Greetings from Israel's Council on
Higher Education
Our anticipation of the Seventh European
Union Framework Programme for Research and
Technological Development offers an opportune
moment to review our accomplishments and
Dr. Shlomo Grossman look forward to continued achievements.
Our challenging start in the Fourth
Programme gave us valuable experience, though we attained
few research grants. There were improvement in the Fifth and
Sixth Programmes. We applied our experience and potential
to earning many more grants, whose monetary value exceeded
the cost of our participation in both the Fifth and the Sixth
Programmes. This measurable achievement represents only
the tip of the iceberg with respect to the advantages of our
involvement. Our exposure to new ideas and connections
with industry, research institutions and leading European
universities are among the other significant advantages of
Israel’s participation in the program.
For Israeli universities, the Framework Programme has
become the second largest source of research budgets after
the Israel Science Foundation. Thanks to the program, Israeli
and European researchers are advancing more shared scientific
publications, almost equal in number to collaborations with
American researchers. Recently, a Framework Programme has
enabled Israeli universities to bring home young and promising
Israeli scientists working abroad (mainly in the United States)
and they are being welcomed to the ranks of senior academic
staff.
In the Sixth Framework Programme, Israel led all other
participants in bringing home scientists under the auspices
of the Marie Curie Actions program for absorbing returning
scientists.
We anticipate continued success in the Seventh Programme,
especially in light of the establishment of the European Research
Council. Allow me to wish Mr. Marcel Shaton and the entire
staff of the Israel Europe Research and Development Directorate
continued achievement and satisfaction. I would also like to
express appreciation to the Framework Programme’s steering
committee, headed by Dr. Eli Ofer, the chief scientist at the
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. May they continue their
wise leadership in this extraordinary program.
Professor Shlomo Grossman
Chair, Planning and Budgeting Committee