UK signs deal with Israel to collaborate on science, innovation and technology

Israel and the UK have signed a memorandum of understanding for “faster and deeper collaboration” on science, innovation and technology. 

The agreement, signed by the countries’ science ministers in Whitehall, commits the parties to a total of £1.7million in support to research focused on technologies critical to our future prosperity and quality of life.

George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, hailed the agreement, saying: “Israel is “known as the Start-up Nation for good reason: from its world-leading approach to R&D, to its flourishing biotech, cyber, space and agritech sectors, it is truly one of the world’s most innovative economies.

“That’s why I prioritised Israel alongside Japan and Switzerland as one of our first priority R&D collaborations, in our network of global collaborations, to better attract investment and support the global impact of UK innovation as part of our science superpower mission.”

Freeman said the collaboration is structured in the standard three pillars; research, commercialisation and bilateral government priorities.

The agreement will “take our deep and longstanding science and technology partnership to new heights, to the benefit of scientists, researchers, investors and companies in both nations,” he added.

Ofir Akunis from Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said he believes the agreement will contribute “significantly to the scientific and technological cooperation and networking between scientists and entrepreneurs across many sectors in both our countries.”

“Over the years, our two countries have developed excellent, cutting-edge technology in many fields. This collaboration will not only benefit our scientific communities but will also benefit the broader economy, and security of our nations,” he added.

The funding also includes £1.1 million earmarked for Universities UK International’s UK-Israel Innovation Mobility Scheme, supporting UK-based researchers to travel to Israel and work jointly with Israeli partners, at top Israeli institutions.