July 24, 2012 — Ottawa, Ontario
Representatives from the Government of Canada and the Government of Israel are in Ottawa today to deliver on their commitments made during the Canada-Israel Technology Innovation Summits held in 2010 and 2011. Canadian and Israeli companies as well as their collaborators may now submit their proposals for research and development projects in areas of mutual priorities which include water, renewable energy, and brain-related research.
"We look forward to working together on more collaborative projects that will benefit our economy and will strengthen our industry," said John R. McDougall, President of the National Research Council of Canada. "Canada and Israel share common strength in industry and technology fields, and we are confident that this call for proposals will result in tangible benefits for both countries."
"This joint Israel-Canada R&D cooperation enables both countries to leverage their research and technology strengths for addressing some of the most pressing challenges the world is facing," said Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor of Israel. "We are confident that this new cooperation is an important addition to the existing support mechanisms and will intensify and deepen the methods of technology collaboration between Canada and Israel and create new opportunities for our industries".
The collaboration between Canada and Israel is a result of a meeting in May 2010 between the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Canada’s Prime Minister, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. It is implemented jointly by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Israeli Industry Center for R&D (MATIMOP), on behalf of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor.
It is also the first Canadian initiative under EUREKA - a European-based network raising productivity and competitiveness of business through technology. Proposals will be submitted through the EUREKA National Offices for Canada and Israel, which will provide guidance and approval for projects. Eligible projects will be funded by both countries.
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is the Government of Canada's premier organization for research and development. Every year NRC scientists, engineers and business experts work closely with Canadian industry to take research impacts from the lab to the marketplace. This market-driven focus delivers innovation faster, enhances people's lives and addresses some of the world`s most pressing problems. The National Research Council has the people, expertise, services, licensing opportunities, national facilities and global networks to help Canadian businesses bring new technologies to market.
The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, empowered by the Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development, oversees all Government-sponsored support of research and development in Israeli industry. This broad spectrum support stimulates the development of innovative state-of-the-art technologies and enhances the competitive power of the industry in the high-tech global market. MATIMOP, the Israeli Industry Center for R&D acts on behalf of the OCS and facilitates international cooperation programs through various bi- and multi-national industrial research and development agreements aiming to enhance cooperation in research and development and technological innovation between Israeli and foreign enterprises and academic research institutes.
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