Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Event category

Content archived on 2022-07-06

Article available in the following languages:

EN

EUREKA will become the preferred support organisation for European cooperation in industrial R&D

EUREKA High-Level Representatives gather for the third meeting of Israeli Chairmanship year, in Haifa and Nazareth. The Israeli Chairmanship will present the research findings showing the impact and contribution of the EUREKA program on participant companies. The mayors of Haifa and Nazareth, and Dr. Eli Opper – Chairman of the Israeli Chairmanship of EUREKA – will address the conference.

5 April 2011 - 8 April 2011
North Macedonia
European leaders of research and development and high-level representatives from the EUREKA Network, Europe's leading platform for R&D-performing entrepreneurs and industries, are gathering in northern Israel this week to take part in the third meeting of Israel’s Chairmanship year. Representatives from 40 member countries of EUREKA will address representatives of the European Commission to demonstrate how EUREKA is to become the preferred support organization for European cross-border cooperation in industrial R&D. The country representatives will be discussing upcoming steps of the network this week in Haifa and Nazareth.

The Mayor of the city of Haifa, Mr. Yona Yahav, and the Mayor of the city of Nazareth, Mr. Rames Jarrisi, will address the conference participants, the third in a year-long (July 2010 – June 2011) chairmanship that puts Israel at the reins of the EUREKA Network and will provide European industries with unprecedented exposure to Israeli innovation, technology, its wealth of knowledge and its entrepreneurship. The participants include industry leaders, scientists, European Commission representatives, and EUREKA's High Level Group Representatives and National Project Coordinators from 40 countries – the leading decision makers and project generators of EUREKA. These government representatives promote industry, technology, R&D, and international cooperation.

The conference is also hosting several Jewish and Arab entrepreneurs from the Galilee region, including: Nasri Said, CEO of NGT (Next-Generation Technology); Tariq Awad, CEO of Awad Gas; Assaf Barnea, CEO of Kinrot Ventures; Klara Oren, CEO of Green Technological Incubator; Inas Said, CEO of Galil Software; and Bader Mansour, CEO of Nazdaq.

One of the focuses of the meeting is the efficiency and impact of the EUREKA program on participant companies. Kalman Gaier, owner of Applied Economics, which conducts financial and business research, will present the findings of his survey on this issue at the conference. Ms. Anne Laperrouze, a representative of the European Commission appointed to examine the efficiency of the Eurostars program, will also present her findings during the conference. EUREKA’s Eurostars is the first European funding and support program to be specifically dedicated to SMEs.

Additional speakers at the conference include John McDougall, President of Canada’s National Research Council, and Yoav Stern, Director of the Business and Economics Department at the Peres Center for Peace.

Dr. Eli Opper, Chairman of the Israeli Chairmanship of EUREKA and former Chief Scientist of Israel, said that “The Israeli Chairmanship of EUREKA encourages international cooperation in the field of R&D in the business sector, Jewish and Arab united. During the chairmanship year, we chose to expose to the 40 EUREKA member countries, and indeed even from outside Europe in Canada, to the variety of labor forces in local Israeli R&D.”

Israel Shamay, Chairman of EUREKA's National Coordinators, said “the Haifa-Nazareth gathering is very significant in realizing the vision of EUREKA to continue working as the most preferred industrial R&D platform in Europe, in light of the program’s achievements in the 25 years since its founding. There is no doubt that the program is the most useful and beneficial of its kind to European industry. During the Haifa-Nazareth gathering EUREKA will approve 89 cooperative projects, in all industrial fields.”

On a yearly basis, EUREKA supports more than 300 collaborative projects in a variety of industries, totaling over 1.5 billion Euros. These industrial projects match up partners from two or more member countries – including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large industry, and research institutes. Projects can be launched in virtually all industry fields and technological areas – IT, manufacturing, water technologies, communications, biotechnology and energy, among others. EUREKA initiatives look to meet challenges such as climate change, energy security, and limited water resources.

Israel’s chairmanship of EUREKA is being led by former Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper and the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade, through MATIMOP – the Israeli Industry Center for Research and Development, which is the executive agency of the Chief Scientist's office. The Israeli leadership of EUREKA will provide an opportunity to showcase Israel’s culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Indeed, at the ripe of age of 62, Israel has been coined the "start-up nation" of the world. With over 3,800 technology-based start-up companies, innovation has become a key factor in the country's economic stability and success – assets reflected in its participation in EUREKA projects. From all of EUREKA's 40 member countries, Israel is actually one of EUREKA's most active participants. The Chairmanship provides enormous opportunities for Israeli and European companies and highlights Israel's unique contributions to European innovation and R&D.
My booklet 0 0