SCIENCE POLICY AND R&D INFRASTRUCTURES:THE ISRAELI PERSPECTIVE

Jacob Ziv

Department of Electrical EngineeringTechnion, Haifa, Israel

CHAIR

TELEM FORUM FOR NATIONAL R&D INFRASTRUCTURS

Israel is known to be a Country of Science

Israel produces a disproportionate 1% of the world’s scientific journal articles.

Its scientific and technological innovation was used to increase its high-tech competitiveness in the world market.

All this occurred despite of (or is it because of) the fact that Israel had little in the way of true national level science policy and planning.

What breeds this success?

Despite what seems to be a random walk on the micro level, one can identify three major contributing factors which, together, form a coordinated national policy on the macro level, at least after the fact.

1. Higher education and basic research in Israel

A recognized national asset, protected by law that keeps it as an autonomous system that is heavily supported by the Government via the Council of Higher Education and its Planning and Grants Committee (UPGC).

IAS-initiated ISF plays a major role in supporting basic research in Israel (funded mainly by the UPGC).

1. Higher education and basic research in Israel

What breeds this success (cont.)?

2. Past capital investments in defense and advanced agricultural R&D

3. Support for Industrial Research and Development (R&D) (MOITL/OCS, MOS, Industry)

If Israel has done relatively well in the past, is national R&D evaluation and coordination suddenly necessary?

The ground rules and the nature of research are changing!

National R&D Evaluation and Coordination?

Massive investments in infrastructures are badly needed (e.g. CERN, ESRF, Nano-technology, Biotech, etc.).

The price tag for NOT joining such efforts is: FALLING BEHIND in some of the most seminal frontiers of modern research and technologies.

Academic research and Industrial R&D:a critical issue

We must establish more direct connections and communications between these two entities.

Areas of interdisciplinary character and wide application are obviously best for an ongoing dialogue.

Benefits versus potential dangers

Potential dangers and stumbling blocks:– IP issues.– Short-term horizons.– University attempts to emulate or absorb industry-based

research.

However, the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS

ON THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL: R@D infra-structure projects

ON THE STRATEGIC LEVEL:national R&D policies

TELEM: Forum for R&D Infrastructures (established:1998)

Informal high-level working group (UPGC, MOITL(OCS), MOS, Defense R&D, Treasury, IAS-chair).

Mode of operation: Sharing of financial resources for essential R&D infrastructures.

Total expenditure on TELEM-initiated projects: About 1.25 billion Shekel.

TELEM-supported Infra-structure projects: a few examples

Israel participation in the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility). The ESRF has been used extensively by Ada Yonat -Israel’s most recent Nobel laureate.

INTERNET 2.

Construction of a linear accelerator research facility

Largest TELEM -initiated project so far ($232 millions, 5 year span):

Israel National Nanotechnology Initiative (INNI)

Strong representation from academia and industry.

Developing highly diversified funding sources.

The INNI Mission: make nanotechnology the next wave of successful industry in Israel

Collaborative Government /University/ Industry initiative to allow Israel to reach a critical mass in Nanotechnology.

Focus on research areas of national priority: Nanomaterials, Nano-bio, Nanoelectronics, Energy, Environment / water desalination.

Investment program of $232 M.

Six Research Institutions

Bar Ilan University

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Technion Institute of Technology

Tel Aviv University

Weizmann Institute of Science

Triangle Matchmaking Model

Private Donation to

the University

Matching by

the University

Matching by the

Israeli Government

$232 Million

5 years program

2007 INNI Survey Key Findings

* Lux Research: "Ranking the Nations: Nanotech's Shifting Global Leaders,” published

October 2005.

About 325 research groups compared to 210 in 2005

Over 75 nano-based companies compare to 45 in 2005

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE

A successful triangle model of cooperation can not be applied in the future without an appropriate increase in the budget allocation for academic research.

Investment funds should, at least partly, play the role of private donations in any future triangle model.

Strategic Planning: National Research Council (NRC) (law passed in 2003)

Should provide systematic, comprehensive evaluation of R&D in Israel and its health.

Should advise the Government on R&D policies.

Thank you!