At a meeting that discussed Israel's participation in the European Union's 6th Framework Program for R&D, and which took place on 25/2/2004, it was revealed that in the current program proposals are rejected only because they are Israeli. "The game is addictive and it is becoming political"
A Science and Technology Committee chaired by MK Mali Polishok-Bloch discussed today the participation of the State of Israel in the 6th framework program for research and development of the European Union, for the years 2002-2006, in order to examine the extent of Israel's integration into international R&D programs.
At the meeting it became clear that in the 6th framework plan, Israel's situation worsened significantly compared to the 5th framework plan.
Dr. Moshe Harel, from Intergam: "In the 6th plan, the proposals are no longer anonymous, as was the case in the 5th plan, which causes the decisions to be largely political. There is a possibility that proposals are rejected outright due to being Israeli. The game is completely different and it is to the benefit of large countries and to our detriment, since most of the money goes to large projects and only some to small projects, where our relative advantage is. The game is addictive and has become more political than business".
"The damage to Israel in Europe is now reaching science as well," said MK Polishok-Bloch. "We must act to change the policy, so that the 6th plan does not go down the drain. It is necessary to cooperate with other small European countries that were affected by the 6th framework to change the policy, such as for example that the proposals will be anonymous again. In any case, Israel's strategy must emphasize the integration of Israelis in European R&D."
The chairman of the committee also added that all the parties concerned with R&D must immediately establish a comprehensive policy and be in contact with the chief scientists and all government ministries dealing with R&D. MK Polishuk-Bloch also said that every trip to Europe by scientists in general and chief scientists in particular must include a trip to Brussels.
The European R&D programs, which operate within a four-year framework, are the most extensive cooperation frameworks in the fields of science and technology in the world. "Israel was accepted into the fourth framework program in August 96. The 5th framework program operated in the years 98-2002. For four years of participation in the 5th Framework Program, the State of Israel transferred approximately 150 million euros," said Marcel Staun, CEO of ISERD, the Israeli administration for the Union's 5th Framework Program.
MK Miki Eitan, who initiated the debate, said that "the investment is worthwhile not only because of the financial reason, but because of the added value of participation."
In June 2003, Minister of Science Modi Zandberg signed the 6th framework of the European R&D program, when MK Eitan was one of the leaders in making the decision that Israel would join the program. The uniqueness of this program is that in the current program emphasis will be placed on primary research rather than development. The scope of the 6th plan, which will operate until 2006, is 17.3 billion euros, and Israel has access to a variety of programs, which do not include nuclear research, totaling 16.3 billion euros.
