Conference taking place at Knesset
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Prof. Yisrael Aumann. Keynote speaker
Photo: Ori Porat
Business leaders address European MPs
Israeli chairmanship of EUREKA welcomes over 30 parliamentarians from 18 countries across Europe to explore how governments can more effectively encourage industrial innovation as means of business generation in times of economic crisis
The Israeli chairmanship of EUREKA, the largest pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R&D and innovation, will host for the first time ever in Israel
the EUREKA Network’s 17th Inter-Parliamentary Conference (IPC) on Tuesday at the Knesset, which will welcome over 30 parliamentarians from more than 18 countries across Europe.
Organized on a biannual basis since 1990, the EUREKA Inter-Parliamentary conference brings together parliamentarians from throughout Europe to promote international cooperation in R&D.
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This year, the conference will take place at the Knesset, as Israel is the current chairman of EUREKA, which is today the largest industrial cooperation platform in the world.
With the participation of leading Israeli and European policy-makers, industry representatives, funding bodies, and academics, the conference sessions will explore how governments can more effectively support industrial innovation as a means for business generation in times of economic crisis.
They will also discuss effective ways of transferring technology from academia to industry and EUREKA’s contribution to this effort.
IPC participants will also outline concrete recommendations to European governments on how to implement more effective policies to generate growth in business and employment through industrial innovation and technological excellence.
The keynote address will be delivered by Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics Professor Yisrael Aumann. Additional speakers include Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Shalom Simhon, Minister of Science and Technology Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, and Chief Scientist Avi Hasson.
'Israel considered a success story in Europe'
“We are proud to host the Inter-Parliamentary Conference this year, allowing us to demonstrate our progress and achievements with the support of Israel’s government and Knesset," said Dr. Eli Opper, former Israeli chief scientist and chairman of EUREKA’s High Level Group.
"We hope that representatives of European parliaments will be able to benefit from the knowledge we developed this year in cooperation with our colleagues from EUREKA’s 40 member countries, and will see Parliamentary support across Europe for EUREKA, now in its 25th year, as a necessary and powerful means of continue the growth of the continent."
Israel Shamay, head of the Israeli EUREKA Chairmanship and executive director for European Programs at MATIMOP – the Israeli Industry Center for R&D – highlighted the extent of participation of European parliamentarians at the conference.
“Israel is considered a success story in Europe when it comes to translating scientific and technological excellence into economic success - and this is the main challenge for policy makers in Europe,” Shamay said.
He added that “the EU is currently engaged in formulating the Common Strategic Framework for R&D and innovation, so the timing of the conference presents a unique opportunity for EUREKA to influence the program’s design, especially taking into consideration industry needs.”
On the day following conference, the EUREKA Investors Shop will be held in cooperation with the 2011 Israeli High-Tech Industry Association's (HTIA) Annual Conference at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem.
This event, initiated by the Israeli Chairmanship and held for the first time by EUREKA, will provide investors from around the world and innovative companies specially selected from EUREKA’s member countries with the opportunity to meet and discuss cooperation and financing opportunities. The event this year will focus on three sectors: ICT, biomed and clean-tech.
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