‘’I warmly welcome Israel to Horizon Europe. In the partnership with Israel, I hope to boost our innovation capacity in support of green and digital agendas and enhance science cooperation in the region,’’ said EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.
Israel’s association to Horizon Europe 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.
Israel and the European Union have signed an agreement associating Israel to the Horizon Europe landmark research and innovation program.
The agreement was signed by Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, and Israel’s Ambassador of Israel to the EU and NATO, Haim Regev.
The agreement enters into force following this signing, which means that Israeli researchers, innovators and research entities can now participate in the EU’s 95.5 billion euros programme for research and innovation on equal terms with entities from the EU members states.
‘’I warmly welcome Israel to Horizon Europe. Looking back to 25 years of research and innovation cooperation so far, I am proud of our breakthroughs in ICT, health, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and climate. In the partnership with Israel, I hope to boost our innovation capacity in support of green and digital agendas and enhance science cooperation in the region,’’ said EU Commissioner Gabriel.
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 to Horizon Europe 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.
Israel has been associated to the EU Framework Programmes for research and innovation since 1996 with very high participation rates.
In the previous program, Horizon 2020, amongst the associated countries, Israel ranked third in terms of overall participation in the program 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.