A variety of ongoing support programs offered by the Authority provide financial and developmental resources for entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes and stages within Israel. Funds and support programs include: Tnufa Program (Ideation),[1] the Technological Incubator Program,[2] The R&D Fund,[3] Technology Transfer Program[4] and Applied Research in Academia Programs.[5]
The Authority is also responsible for Iserd[6][7] management within the European Union Framework, as well as international R&D agreements and partnerships with countries such as USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and more.[8]
Fabio Faria visit to Israel Innovation Authority, March 2022
The Office of the Chief Scientist was established in 1965. It was renamed the Israel Innovation Authority in 2016. The main aim of the Authority is to increase economic empowerment within the civilian sector of the Israeli economy. Main activities include the funding of R&D and policy-making within its sphere of influence. The development and prominence of the OCS was further strengthened by the development of the venture capital industry within Israel in the 1990s.
The mission[9] of the Authority has been defined through the country's "Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development—1984" (The R&D Law) and its operations are facilitated through Israel's R&D Fund, as well as a variety of international programs, agreements and collaborations. Its mission is to assist the advancement of Israel's knowledge-based science and technology industries in order to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship while stimulating economic growth.
Legal aspects of agreements which may include R&D funding, as well as royalties, are governed under the Regulatory Framework of the Authority.[10]
According to the Israel Innovation Authority, 54 percent of Israel's exports are high-tech products and services.[11]
In 2022 the Israel Innovation Authority led a delegation of Israeli startups fighting the Climate crisis, to the UN Climate Conference at Sharm el-Sheikh (COP27).[12]
In October 2023, The Israel Innovation Authority announced a 100m NIS matching fund for startup companies encountering difficulties because of the outbreak of 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[13] Later on the amount was increased to 400m NIS.[14]
Programs
Technological incubators
The Technological Incubators Incentive Program was established in 1991 and is designed for entrepreneurs, interested in establishing a startup company based on an innovative technological concept. In addition to funding, the technological incubator offers a supportive framework for the establishment of a company and development of a concept into a commercial product, providing technological, business and administrative support. Incubators are selected through competitive processes for a license period of up to five years and are spread across Israel in sectors such as Medical Devices, Pharma, Bioconvergence, Agricultural technology, Foodtech, Renewable Energy and more. In any time, there are about 15 active incubators[15][16] in Israel. Startups in the Incubators Program typically receive a join public-private budget of up to 5 million Shekels.[17]
Magnet
The Magnet Program was established in 1994, and manages the partnership between academic and commercial R&D programs. Significant activities include facilitation of the transfer of knowledge between academia and commercial R&D companies. Under the auspices of the Magnet Program,[18] the NOFAR[19] program was established to provide support and funding in the field of biotechnology, nanotechnology and development of medical equipment.
Diversity
The Israel Innovation Authority are also working to expand the variety of the Israeli high-tech on three different aspects – thematic (disciplinary), demographic, and geographic, launching a variety of programs for high-tech employment and entrepreneurship among underrepresented social groups such as women, Israeli Arabs[20] and Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim), as well as training programs in advanced and emerging technological fields that require additional human capital.
Chief scientists and CEOs
The following is a list of Chief Scientists of the Ministry of Economy (1965-2016).
