European Commissioner Janus Potočnik: "I hope that Israel's accession to the 'Seventh Plan' meets Israel's interests and not only the European Union's"

The Commissioner said these things at the Israeli Science Summit held in Bar Ilan. Additional participants: Director General of the Ministry of Science: "The government must immediately budget for Israel's inclusion in Europe's science program" * Prof. Moshe Koa: "If there is no immediate turnaround, most of Israel's scientists will work in countries abroad and Israel will lose its advantage in the world"

 Roof: Commissioner for Science and Research in the European Union, Janš Potčnik, in a conversation with DailyMaily and the science site:

Israel is an ICT powerhouse, and this is the area in which the highest investment is made in the Seventh Framework Program

According to him, the partnership in the Seventh Framework Program is important for both Israel and the European Union and not only for financial reasons
Avi Blizovsky
"Since investment in ICT is the largest of the technological investments in the seventh framework program of the European Union and since Israel is particularly strong in this field, it would be worthwhile for it to join the framework program because its chances of winning are relatively high. This is what the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Dr. Zanesh Potchanik, says in a conversation with the editor of the science website.
The European Commissioner for Science and Research, Dr. Janš Potočnik, expressed his excitement following the launch of the 'Seventh Plan' in Germany last Monday. "But it is symbolic that the first country I visit after the approval is Israel, Potočnik said, noting that by doing so he is sending a clear message according to which the research financed by the Union concerns common challenges outside the borders of the continent. The Commissioner noted that Israel's accession to the 'Seventh Plan' should be closed in the near future. The "Seventh Plan" is the largest public research program in the world. I am happy to see that the European Union is the second largest source of funding for academic research in Israel - after the Israel Science Foundation," said the Commissioner.

Potchanik was the main guest at a conference held at Bar-Ilan University organized by the Ministry of Science and the University and which dealt with Israel's participation in the framework programs of the European Union, upon the entry into force of the seventh framework program.
"Both Israel and the European Union should be satisfied with the partnership in the last ten years. This participation contributed to both sides in exchanging ideas, industrial cooperation and creating business opportunities. Science and research are the best bridge builders between cultures."
Referring to the fact that the cost of participating in the Seventh Plan is greater than it was in the Sixth and Seventh Plans, which may cause Israel not to join it, Potchanik said: The cost is 40% higher, but the return will also be much greater. In general, it is important for us to increase investment in research and science in Europe. Each country member of the program examines the economic aspect - what it receives in return. From the financial point of view, Israel returned the investment on it, but this is not the only factor. It is important for us to achieve scientific breakthroughs and only by combining the strength of all of us can we achieve this. It should be remembered that besides the immediate economic benefit, there is also a benefit in creating a business relationship between companies in Israel and Europe, and this ultimately increases exports and GDP.
According to him, if before Israel entered the framework programs the ratio of international cooperation in the fields of science and technology was 20% with Europe and 80% with the USA, now after ten years the ratio is half and half.

The Director General of the Ministry of Science, Eitan Brushi mentioned some of the activities to which the European Union has dedicated a budget, such as the "Sages at Night" activity which included events for youth in the science museums, peace promotion activities, and the highlight of course was Israel's participation in the European R&D programs. Broshi called on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to immediately budget for Israel's participation in the Seventh Plan. Failure to participate will result in damage that will be very difficult to repair.
The president of Bar Ilan University and head of the committee of heads of universities, Prof. Moshe Kove said that within a few years the brain drain could lead to a situation where most Israeli scientists will live outside of Israel.
MK Zebulon Orlev, chairman of the Knesset's science committee, harshly attacked the government for its lack of knowledge in the scientific field. "Actually, the State of Israel does not have any organized national policy in the field of science. When there is no permanent minister in the Ministry of Science for several months, it is clear that there is no policy." Orlev also called on the government to take an emergency plan to prevent the escape of the scientists. "Actually, the State of Israel does not have any organized national policy... the government did not discuss and in any case did not make any decisions on a national science policy. When there is no permanent full-time minister in the Ministry of Science for several months, it is clear that there is no policy either." MK Orlev called on the government to immediately define an emergency plan to prevent the flight of scientists: "We have not yet discovered natural treasures that can guarantee our future and existence, therefore it is very important to internalize the matter of human treasure...the brain drain phenomenon is gaining momentum. Every seventh scientist is not with us. Israel has become a leader in the export of scientific and technological minds at the highest level...if we are to live, it is necessary to formulate a national science policy that will set goals and objectives, formulate methods of action, establish a schedule and allocate resources."
In his speech to the gathering, Potchanik said that he believes that Israel's accession to the Seventh Plan will be signed soon. He believes that it is in the interest of Israel as well as of the European Union. "After all, the seventh program is the largest publicly funded research program in the world. FP7 increased not only in terms of the budget (by about 40%) but also in the number of participants from third countries such as China and Russia. Since August 1996, Israel is the only non-European country that is a full member of the framework programs of the European Union. Since then - the research ties have been a success story. As part of the Sixth Plan, Israel has already received back more grants than the amount it paid as membership fees and most of the budgets went to Israeli universities for which EU budgets are the second largest source of academic research after the National Science Foundation.
In the sixth plan, ICT was Israel's clear priority and accounted for about a third of the Israeli participation. In the number of start-up companies, Israel is second only to the USA and that ICT constitutes almost 50% of Israel's industrial exports. Research in the field of life sciences accounted for about a fifth of Israel's participation and there were other important fields such as aeronautics, space, nanotechnology, smart materials. He noted that there were surveys that gave positive feedback regarding the experience of the sixth plan. 86% of the participants from academia and 70% of the participants from industry said that their participation in the sixth program was very important for their company or their field of research.

The Director General of the Ministry of Science Eitan Broushi announced this morning (Thursday) that he will contact the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance with the demand to immediately budget for Israel's participation in the 'Seventh Plan' for research and development. "The relationship with the European Union is an important means of promoting science and technology and will allow Israeli scientists access to partnerships, major research rights and unique research facilities. Israel's resilience requires preservation and strengthening in the fields of science. The reduction of budgets in recent years is dangerous and will cause damage that will be difficult to repair. The brain drain must be fought in every way and the issue must be brought to the top of the public agenda", said Broshi at the Gonda Brain Research Center at Bar Ilan University, which is hosting the second national conference on science policy - the summit of Israel's science policy.
The president of Bar-Ilan University, Prof. Moshe Koa, who also serves as head of the RA, said at the conference that within a few years there may be a situation where the majority of Israeli scientists will work outside the State of Israel. "We are losing with our own hands the science that is the basis of Israel's economy and Israel's security." Prof. Keva called on the government to immediately join the European Science Program, which is currently the most important source of research grants and industrial applications of Israeli science.
Also participating in the conference were Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Minister of Health Ben Yazari, Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Ofer, Chairman of "Yishkar" Steph Wertheimer, former Director General of the Ministry of Finance Dr. Yossi Bachar, Chief Scientist of the Ministry Health Prof. Rami Rahmimov, the chairman of the National Council for M.E.D. Prof. Dan Zaslevski, the heads of universities and national research institutes.