The government approved today, Sunday July 18, 2004, the appointment of the National Council for Research and Civil Development (the National Council for Civil Research and Development) and recommended to the President of the State that it be formed
The council's role is to advise the government, the ministerial committee for science and technology, the forum of the chief scientists in the government ministries and other bodies that play a similar role in issues related to government R&D.
The MLM will have 15 members, whose appointments are for a period of 4 years. The council's role is to advise the government on planning, organization and regulation of civil research and development and on development budgets. To recommend to the government lines for an overall national annual and multi-year policy, to recommend to the government the establishment of R&D infrastructures and the implementation of projects in the field of science and technology. As mentioned, the government's decision requires the president's approval.
Prof. Dan Zaslavsky from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Technion is expected to be appointed as the Chairman of the Council.
Prof. Zaslavsky specializes in agricultural engineering, a world-renowned expert in irrigation technology. He served as the chief scientist at the Ministry of Energy ('83-'84), as the water commissioner ('91-'93), as the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at the Technion, as an external consultant to government ministries, and more.
Other members of the council:
The representative of the National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Yehudit Birak.
Four scientists with experience and reputation in research and development from a recognized higher education institution engaged in research:
Prof. Uri Sion (Technion), Prof. David Horn (Tel'a University), Prof. Miriam Faust (Bar Ilan University), Dr. Yitzhak Pishov (Ben Gurion University).
Four experts, representatives of the knowledge-rich industry with experience and reputation in industrial R&D and its management: Elisha Yanai - Chairman and CEO of Motorola Israel, Uziah Galil - winner of the Israel Prize, Dr. Orna Berry - Chief Scientist of the former TMS Ministry, Yigal Ehrlich - CEO of a venture capital fund and chief scientist of the former Ministry of Taxation.
Four scientists with experience and reputation in the field of policy and determining the priorities and needs of the research and development necessary to carry out the functions of the government:
Prof. Leah Bem - responsible for technologies and international cooperation in the aerospace industry and formerly chief scientist at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Prof. Hermona Sorek (Hebrew University) - Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and former chairman of the Science Infrastructures Committee of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Prof. Michel Rebel (Weizmann Institute) - winner of the Israel Prize and chief scientist of the Interfarm company, member of national committees and councils at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Dr. Moshe Oron (Technion) - Chief Scientist at the former Kollameda Company, Chairman of the National Committee for Microelectronics and Electro-Optics Infrastructures at the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Another member of the committee is: Doron Kochavi - an economist with experience and reputation in the field of R&D economics, partner and manager of the tax department at Arsent & Young, a member of professional forums and a lecturer on tax issues.
Uzi Elam, a scientist with experience and reputation in defense R&D, will serve as an observer on the committee. Elam, recipient of the Israel Security Award for Lifetime Achievement, served as Director General of the Atomic Energy Commission.
