- Posted 06-Dec-2021
Israel joins Horizon Europe research and innovation programme
On 6 December, the agreement associating Israel to Horizon Europe enters into force, following the signature between Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Mr Haim Regev, Ambassador of Israel to the EU and NATO. Israeli researchers, innovators and research entities can now participate in the EU’s €95.5 billion programme for research and innovation on equal terms with entities from the EU Members States.
The association supports the ’Global Approach to Research and Innovation’ and reconfirms Europe's commitment to a level of global openness needed to drive excellence, pool resources for faster scientific progress and develop vibrant innovation ecosystems.
Israel’s association is an opportunity to continue and further deepen research cooperation with the focus on mutual priorities such as the twin green and digital transition, public health as well as ground-breaking innovation. The country has a long history of association to the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. Since 1996, it has been a successful cooperation with over 5000 joint research projects on record.
Multiple success stories arose, including the most recent award of the 2021 EU Prize for Women Innovators to Israel’s Daphne Haim Langford for her work on disruptive medical solutions to cure specific ocular diseases. Other examples of successful cooperation under Horizon 2020 include: an IT platform to handle extreme weather events - beAWARE; the hand-held sensor to detect cancer through a person’s breath - SniffPhone; Nano packaging material to reduce food waste - NANOPACK; greener aluminium production - ENEXAL; and smart road studs for greater road safety – InRoad - among others.
Background
Israel has been associated to the EU Framework Programmes for research and innovation since 1996 with very high participation rates. In Horizon 2020, amongst the Associated Countries, Israel ranked third in terms of overall participation in the programme and was among the best performers in the European Innovation Council Pilot and in the SME instrument. Israel excelled in ICT, health, advanced manufacturing, food and biotechnology as well as environment and energy.
Source: European Commission I Research and Innovation (https://bit.ly/300l4iV)