According to Prof. Ruth Arnon, it is not only about the financial matter but about Israel's participation or non-participation in the most prestigious competition in the scientific world: "This is participation in the "championship" knowing that we have an excellent chance of winning even first place in the scientific world."
The President of the Israeli National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Ruth Arnon makes an urgent call and urges the Israeli government to sign the scientific cooperation agreement with the European Union 2020 Horizon. About a month ago, she turned to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu With a similar reading, but the issue has not progressed, and at the end of the year - that is, in about a month - Israel will find itself outside the European R&D program with the end of the Seventh Framework Program for R&D.
"The agreement is extremely essential for the future of science in Israel, and not signing it, God forbid, would be an irreversible failure and a disaster for Israeli science in particular and for the country in general" - this is how Prof. Ruth Arnon, the president of the Israeli National Academy of Sciences, emphasizes today and adds that it is not only about the financial matter but about her participation Or Israel's non-participation in the most prestigious competition in the scientific world: "This is participation in the "championship" knowing that we have an excellent chance of winning even first place in the scientific world."
In a conversation she had this morning with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is in charge of the negotiations, together with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and MK Ze'ev Elkin, the president of the academy urged the government, on behalf of the academic community in Israel, to do everything and sign the continuation of the scientific agreement with Europe.
Prof. Arnon emphasizes that in the seven years that Israel participated in the programs, the receipts were about 50% higher than the payment. Furthermore, Israel has been a partner in the scientific system of the European Union for over 15 years, a full partner and equal rights of a single country outside of Europe entitled to participate as a company with equal rights in the project. If Israel does not sign the Horizon 2020 agreement, it will be an irreversible step, which will harm our scientific ability and there is a fear that we will not be given a second chance to be accepted in a similar status. Arnon emphasized in her conversations with Minister Livni and others that there is no substitute for the benefits arising from the scientific cooperation with the European Union, both of the research institutions and of the knowledge-rich industry in Israel. The mutual exposure of the scientific and industrial system in Israel to the European system brings an added value that is priceless.
The scientific and technological cooperation is mainly expressed in the establishment of corporations consisting of partners from several countries engaged in one project. Industries also participate in these projects, and through them Israeli scientists and its industries are exposed to what is happening in Europe. Also, Israeli science and industry are recognized by the European system as a whole, and beyond that, the acquaintances and connections created lead to irreplaceable collaborations.
In recent years, another channel has been opened in the European Union, with the establishment of the European Research Council (ERC), which supports the projects of individual scientists on the basis of excellence only. There are two types of grants - for advanced sciences and for starting scientists. The latter entitle the winning scientist to a grant of one and a half million euros for a period of five years and allow him to build an independent scientific career.
In the last round of summer awards, this year's results were shown: in total, over 3000 research proposals were submitted to the ERC, of which 289 were approved, meaning a winning rate of about 9% on average. Of the 289 approved grants, 32 are for young scientists in Israel, i.e. 12%! We are in absolute third place, after Great Britain (60) and Germany (46). Countries like France, Switzerland, Italy, Holland and all the Scandinavian countries - they are all behind us. Compared to the number of residents, we are in first place, with Israel's average winning rate of 60% and ranging from 40% to 70% in the various research institutions (compared to the 9% European average). Prof. Arnon emphasizes that this is an extraordinary achievement and an impressive certificate of honor for Israeli scientists who are recognized and appreciated by their colleagues in Europe.
Prof. Yitzhak Ben-Israel, head of the National Research and Development Council (NRCD) added, "The opinion of the professionals in Israel, whom I represent, is that not signing the agreement is not even a shot in the foot, but a shot in the head. There are several reasons for this: First, it is an agreement that brings money to the State of Israel. We get more money than we have to pay. Second, even if we had no financial profit from the program, it is difficult for me to describe science in Israel without the cooperation and connections we have in this field with Europe. A famous recent example is the particle accelerator at CERN, where they discovered the Higgs boson. It is hard to imagine Israel doing scientific projects like this without Europe. We do not have heavy infrastructure because we are not the richest country in the world. I think the Minister of Science, Yaakov Perry, understands the bad situation our science will reach if we do not participate in the program and is working to reach an agreement within the government."
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Prof. Ruth Arnon, she is 80 years old it will be better to write it next time. in the public service if you are not elected like s. peres it will be better if you will go home at this age.
Someone, donations from leftist parties…. And from the right-wing parties and from the top parties and from the bottom parties - zero shekels. If the right opposes science, I oppose it. If the left opposes, for example, genetic engineering, then I also criticize that. There is absolutely nothing to do with politics except that this is a study by an institute belonging to Tel Aviv University that reveals statistical data, if the reality is uncomfortable for you that is your problem because the site is designed to slap the scientific reality in everyone's face.
It's a shame for the website that used to be excellent and dealt only with science and now, probably because of donations from leftist elements, half of its topics are political propaganda from the left against ultra-Orthodox, Israel and Zionists and propaganda about global warming.