November 2006 Science And Technology, the way to Europe Who leads the hit parade of Israeli success stories? Why do researchers believe that the Framework Programme yields value? What are the strategies for winning proposals? Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Israel Ministry of Science Culture & Sport Israel and the European Framework Programme for Research and Development Looking Ahead: the Seventh Framework Programme 2007-2013 commercial content / Contents 06 Israeli Participation in FP6: Organizations and number of projects 08 New and Improved: the Seventh Framework Program 10 European Framework Programme scores well with Israel's research community 12 Cars of the future: Motorola Israel is in the driver's seat 14 Smaller is better: Israeli nanotechnology is making an impact 16 The European Framework Programme: Stories of Israeli Success 26 Strategies for Managing the Proposal Process 28 Ten recommendations for writing a winning proposal 29 The fast lane between Israel and Europe: Interview with ISERD Director General Marcel Shaton 31 ISRED Staff: The Israeli Management Team for the European Union's Research and Development Programme Budget Overview for the Seventh Framework Programme (in millions of euros) Health 6,050 Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology 1,935 Information and Communication Technologies 9,110 Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials 3,500 and new Production Technologies COOPERATION Energy 2,300 Environment (including Climate Change) 1,900 Transport (including Aeronautics) 4,180 Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities 610 Space 1,430 Security and Space Security 1,350 Total COOPERATION 32,365 IDEAS European Research Council 7,460 PEOPLE Marie Curie Actions 4,728 Research Infrastructures 1,850 Research for the benefit of SMEs 1,336 Regions of Knowledge 126 CAPACITIES Research Potential 370 Science in Society 280 Coherent development of research policies 70 Activities of International Co-operation 185 Cover photo: TOTAL CAPACITIES 4,217 European Community, 2006 Source: http//cordis.europa.eu/fp7/budget.htm Editor Roni Lifschitz English edition editor Chava Weiss Copyediting Neta Peleg Translation Miryam Blum, Josh Friedland Graphic design Studio Orna Cohen Production manager Smadar Averbuch Advertising manager Micha Tayar Publisher Focus Ha'aretz Special Supplements Manager Hadas Hirshman-Hess Manager, Client Newspaper Division Inbal Peleg Tel. 972-3-512-1140 Fax. 972-3-513-2457 e-mail: [email protected] / Greetings from the Chief Scientist Israel's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Promoting international cooperation in research and development is among the most prominent goals of the Chief Scientist's Office. As the Sixth European Framework Programme draws to a close, and the Seventh Eli Opper Programme is about to begin, I would like to highlight Greetings from the Minister of the achievements and challenges ahead. Research grants Industry, Trade and Labor totaling 203 million euros were received by Israeli academic and industrial The State of Israel is considered a world research organization during the Sixth Programme, while the Israeli leader in technological innovation. The government invested NIS 190 million in the program. This impressive number of startup companies founded each achievement is further amplified by the value of the knowledge gained Photo: Kobi Gideon BoBo agency Photo: Kobi year, the relative number of inventions and by Israeli industry. The estimated worth of this knowledge is estimated Eli Yishai developments produced by Israeli scientists to be 400 million euros. and engineers is almost unparalleled anywhere Participating organizations made strategic connections with leading in the world. Israel’s positive results and successful integration European companies, academic institutions and research institutions in the Sixth European Framework Programme is further beyond the Programme. Israeli industry gained access to European evidence of the creativity and innovation of the Israeli markets. Their participation in the Framework Programme contributed economy. significantly to these advances. The European Framework Programme facilitates unique The Seventh Programme brings new and complex challenges. We are collaborations between Israeli industry and the European seeking to strengthen the systems that support the Israeli R&D community R&D community. R&D is recognized as an important and via ISERD - the Israel Directorate for the EU Framework Programme. fundamental growth engine for the Israeli economy, and One such system is the Small and Medium Enterprise Authority. bolstering knowledge-based industry is a guarantee for We also strive to increase Israeli participation in the Seventh continued growth. Programme’s projects. Analysis reveals that participation in the Sixth The participation of Israeli industry and academia in the Programme improves chances for future participation. Israeli organizations European arena, which currently numbers 420 million people, that have not yet participated in a Framework Programme will be enables Israeli industry to break out of the local market encouraged to do so. and benefit from a critical mass for basic and technological Israel’s partnership in the Framework Programme leads to cooperation research that could not be achieved without international between all areas of Israeli R&D - industry, academia and research cooperation in the European framework. institutions. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, the Ministry of I would like to point out that the welcome involvement in Science, Culture and Sports and the Planning and Budgets Committee the Sixth Programme also allowed industries from Israel’s of the Council for Higher Education are all represented on ISERD’s periphery, from the Negev to the Galilee to benefit from the steering committee. The chief scientists from the various government possibility of working with leading organizations in Europe ministries have also joined the committee, to promote the advancement and develop a beyond our limited geographical borders. of Israel's research and development. I hope that, with God's help, our work will enable Israel We must participate as fully as possible in the Seventh Programme, to continue to take part in the new Seventh Framework to advance academic and industrial R&D, promote economic growth Programme that will advance Israeli R&D, and Israel's and improve the welfare of Israel’s citizens. My appreciation to all those economy. This continued cooperation will help to blaze new involved in this effort, and best wishes for success. trails and bring Israel more impressive achievements. Dr. Eli Opper I wish the Israeli R&D community continued success. Chief Scientist Sincerely, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Eliyahu Yishai Chairman of the Interministerial Steering Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Committee at ISERD Greetings from the Commissioner for Science research organizations and universities through sharing experience and Research and access to EU markets. The European Union will soon adopt its Seventh Since Israel first participated in the Framework Programme in 1996, Framework Programme for research and technological R&D co-operation with the EU has enjoyed remarkable success. More development. This will be the biggest Framework than 700 Israeli companies, research institutes and universities took part Programme yet, with €54 billion over 7 years. The in projects under the auspices of the Sixth Framework Programme. We Janez Potočnik Programme represents continuity with past programmes, have a particularly strong track record of cooperation in information as well as new approaches which open the way for technology and life sciences, and I am particularly pleased to see the more ambitious research and development, not only for participants growing number of Israeli researchers taking part in our exchange in the European Union, but also in our partner countries. and mobility programmes. Scientific and technological cooperation is a significant element I very much hope that positive past experience will motivate Israel of relations between Israel and the European Union. Through joint to build on the momentum of its participation. I truly believe that projects, we pool our expertise in many fields of R&D to respond to we all will gain from strong cooperation in the field of science and the social and economic challenges that affect us all. At the same time technology with all of our international partners. we create links between people, a very important aspect of building Janez Potočnik solid international relationships. Scientific cooperation between Israel Commissioner for Science and Research and Europe has brought new opportunities for Israeli enterprises, European Commission Greetings from the Chief Scientist Israel's Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports Israel’s successful integration into the European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development is a significant achievement for Israel. It advances science, but perhaps, just as important, it Photo: Guy Ravitz Mina Teicher promotes links between Israeli and European industry, technology transfer, and boosts the balance of payments and Israel’s status in the international arena. Greetings from Israel's Council on Israel joined the Fourth Framework Programme, and has been a partner Higher Education to the Fifth and Sixth Programmes. Israel will continue its partnership Our anticipation of the Seventh European in the Seventh Programme. Union Framework Programme for Research and Israeli