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The Seventh Programme seeks to resolve disputes and differences of opinion that troubled the Fifth and Sixth Programmes, and solutions to past criticism. One issue was the tremendously cumbersome processes and the lack of flexibility. The new program endeavors to simplify processes concerning the implementation of methods to calculate overheads, financing rates and the adoption of a two-stage screening system. The Framework Programme’s Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, concurs with the importance of the simplification process in the Seventh Programme. “The Seventh Programme should touch people’s lives,” says Nanotechnology: Good things come in small packages Cima NanoTech ltd. develops materials that are changing the face of the electronic manufacturing industry / Daniel Efrati It may sound like science fiction, but nanotech (the capacity to create materials on the scale of one millionth of a meter) offers the capacity to create new materials with extraordinary qualities, such as a substance stronger than steel, yet significantly lighter. Theoretically, one could manufacture a car with a chassis strong enough to pass the toughest crash tests, yet light enough to lift with your bare hands. In medicine, it may be possible to build molecular structures capable of being inserted into individual cells to fight cancerous growths. Nanorobots could also supervise controlled drug release, and conduct other medical tasks that once seemed impossible. Nanotech also has exciting applications in electronics and computers. Current methods of electronic component production seem to have achieved their full capacity for miniaturization, creating the need for even smaller new materials. New trends are focused on manufacturing transistors (several dozen nanometers in size) and component platforms the size of a single molecule. The level of development and production of nanotechnologies in Israel is highly regarded. In certain fields, Israeli industry is even considered the world leader. Cima NanoTech is one of the most prominent Israeli nanotech firms in electronics. The high quality of its products has achieved international recognition, and a joint initiative with a Japanese company is poised to lead to a marketing breakthrough. While headquarters for Cima NanoTech Inc., are located in the United States and managed by Mr. Jon Brodd, most product development and manufacturing takes place in the Israeli subsidiary, in recognition of the experts in this field concentrated in Israel. The company has a multidisciplinary team of 24 experts in material engineering and chemistry. The Israeli offices are led by Dr. Fernando de la Vega, an internationally recognized expert. Cima NanoTech has developed two types of nanomaterial based Potočnik, “and one way to achieve this is to simplify. When I saw the structure of the Sixth Programme, it was not so easily understood. Our first aim was 'Let's make the programme so simple that even the commissioner can explain it.’” In an interview with Cordis News, the EU’s Internet news site, Potočnik explained that the simplification of the procedures is essential to researchers. “When you see what it takes to get a contract, and you see how much reporting there is, you try to really push in the opposite direction. This is not only my political message, but what I hope will be a reality.” technologies: transparent-to-light, electrically conductive coatings, of the sort used in plasma screens; and ink which allows the use of ink jet printers to print advanced electric circuits manufactured by nanometallic powders. Development is focused in three areas: First, varied applications of conductive transparent films, intended for use in various screens, smart windows and innovative electronic fixtures. Second, material to full printing of miniaturized electronic components. Third, the development of materials for solar cells. In Europe there is a great deal of interest in nanotechnologies, given expression by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development. The European Framework Programme was founded in 1984 as part of the trend to improve European competitiveness in the field of R&D, and it is renewed every four years. The Programme's research committee declared nanotechnology to be a preferred area of development, and Israeli is the only country outside of Europe to take part in EU nanotech programs. Cima NanoTech is one of the few Israeli companies to integrate itself into this program, and has partnered in two EU projects. The company is also a partner in a consortium comprising 13 industrial firms and 12 academic research groups. This group advances research in nanotechnology under the auspices of the magnet program of Israel's Ministry of Industry and Trade, guided by Mr. Ilan Peled. Dr. de la Vega, heads this consortium, which is also a partner in the EU research program. The project is examining health and environmental aspects of nanomaterials. The Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research and Development will advance alternate energy sources through the use of advanced materials. Cima NanoTech's proven research and manufacturing capabilities make it a leading candidate for this program, as well as other challenges.
10 / 11 European Framework Programme Scores Well with Israel's Research Community An overwhelming proportion of academic researchers and industry executives believe that participation in the European Framework Programme yields value A Dahaf survey, conducted by Prof. Mina Tzemach, reveals that most researchers in industry and academia believe the European Framework Program is worthwhile for Israel and we should continue to participate. Israel has participated in the European Framework Programme (FP) for the past nine years. The Programme requires academic researchers, commercial firms and even public offices to adopt management and practices in accordance with accepted practices of the various European research groups. Does the Israeli research community know how to integrate into the European program and get the most out of it? Important funding for academia The initial probe conducted by the ISrael Europe Research and Development Directorate (ISERD) revealed that successful outcomes justified the cost of Israeli participation in the EFP. Israel has paid 190 million euros to be a partner in the Sixth European R&D Framework Programme, and has, to date, recouped 203 million euros directly, via research grants awarded to Israeli organizations. Most of these funds - 112.4 million euros—were channeled to Israeli universities. Thus, the European Union has become the most significant source of academic funding in Israel, second only to the Israel Science Foundation. The value of knowledge Israel’s participation in the FP was not intended to serve as a source of revenue, but how does one estimate the Programme's true value? One possible answer is an assessment of the value of the knowledge gained by Israeli researchers. Data provided by ISERD, which facilitates the relationship between Israel and the EU in R&D matters, demonstrates that Israel' participates in a broad range of programs (with funding of 3.55 billion euros). The Framework has afforded Israeli researchers access to over NIS 200 million in grants, granting them access to knowledge whose monetary value is more than six times that sum. To gain feedback from participants in Framework programs, ISERD’s steering committee commissioned a survey. To assure complete anonymity, the Dahaf research institute, led by Prof. Mina Tzemach, was commissioned to conduct the survey. Strategic importance Although the results of the survey are not yet final, initial data reveals the participants’ attitude toward the FP. There were 316 persons interviewed for the survey: 291 researchers and 25 executives. When asked if the project was relevant to the main focus of their work, or addressed secondary subjects, 76 percent of industry respondents said it was relevant to their main work topic and the overwhelming majority felt their projects were of strategic importance to their company’s work: 18 percent defined the projects as “highly strategic,” while 48 percent defined them as “quite strategic.” Only 8 percent felt they were “of no strategic importance.” One survey question investigated the respondents’ assessment of their own contribution to the European projects: Among executives, 68 percent said their participation contributed to their marketing efforts. Seventy-four percent of executives said they were exposed to advanced knowledge (the rate was 71 percent among academics). The FP provided 74 percent of executives and 53 percent of academics with access to new technology in which they would otherwise not have been involved. A very high percentage of interviewees concurred that their participation in the FP made a qualitative contribution to their knowledge or careers: Ninety percent of executives and 93 percent of academics said they encountered new ideas. Ninety percent of executives and 89 percent of academics said they acquired new skills. Eighty-eight percent of executives and 89 percent of academics agreed that their involvement in the program advanced their professional connections, and 88 percent of executives said the projects had improved the image of their companies. Integrity of intellectual property The Dahaf survey also examined the issue of possible damage to researchers or their organization due to the exposure of their knowledge to the other participants in their specific projects. Only 2 percent of academic respondents reported any harm to their intellectual property, and there was no report of any damage from industrial researchers. The final questions, regarding the interviewees’ attitude toward their participation in the FP, revealed similar feelings among academics and executives. Ninety-five percent of respondents from academia and 92 percent from industry said their involvement in the projects was worthwhile or very worthwhile for them. Is the program worthwhile for Israel? One question noted that the government pays considerable sums for Israel’s partnership in the EU’s research program, and that not all of the funds are returned in the form of research grants. If so, asked the survey, is it worthwhile for Israel to participate in the program? Ninety-six percent of respondents from industry and 80 percent from academia felt that it would be worthwhile, even an the event that only 80 percent of the participation costs are recouped. Seventy-one percent of executives and 15 percent of academics felt it would be worthwhile even if only 60 percent of the participation costs were returned to Israel in the form of R&D grants.
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Page 3 and 4: Photo: Kobi Gideon BoBo agency / Gr
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Page 13 and 14: 14 / 15 Smaller is better: Israeli
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Page 25 and 26: 26 / 27 Strategies for Winning Prop
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