October 27, 2010 – TEL AVIV, Israel – Assembled in Tel Aviv for the first event held in Israel under the EUREKA Chairmanship year, EUREKA's High Level Group Representatives and National Project Coordinators approved a series of promising cooperative R&D projects in a variety of areas, including renewable energy and advanced environmental technologies, in accordance with EUREKA's strategic targets defined for the 2010-2011 Championship year.
During today's meeting led by its new Israeli Chairman, EUREKA's decision-makers approved 51 Million Euros of investments in 56 projects submitted by EUREKA member countries, which will collaborate to turn these R&D investments into viable technologies and products.
Investments in the following fields were covered: electronics, IT and telecom; industrial technologies; renewable energy; biological sciences and technologies; chemistry, physical and exact sciences, and technologies for protecting man and the environment.
17 of the projects approved have Israeli partners – representing more than 30% of the total. Remarkably, Israel is only one of 40 member countries in EUREKA but represents almost one-third of the project proposals being reviewed during this meeting. NPC (National Project Coordinators) Chairman and Head of the Chairmanship Organization Israel Shamay comments: "It is quite an accomplishment that more than 30% of the projects considered and finally approved have Israeli partners. This reflects Israel's deep involvement in EUREKA right from the first meeting held in Tel Aviv. I believe that more Israeli firms will be involved in submitting proposals, as the level of exposure to advanced Israeli technologies will grow during our Championship Year."
In the upcoming months, EUREKA plans to launch a "Clean-Tech Initiative" campaign aimed at encouraging project proposals focused on R&D cooperation in the clean-tech sector – renewable energy, environmental and water technologies.
On a yearly basis, EUREKA supports more than 300 collaborative projects in a variety of industries, totaling over 1.5 billion Euros. These industrial projects match up partners from two or more member countries – including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large industry, and research institutes. Projects can be launched in virtually all industry fields and technological areas. EUREKA initiatives look to meet challenges such as climate change, energy security, and limited water resources.
ABOUT EUREKA
Founded in 1985, the EUREKA network seeks to promote international, market-oriented research and innovation through the support they offer to small and medium-sized enterprises, large industry, universities and research institutes. Through EUREKA, these organizations are introducing new products, processes and services to the market, helping make Europe economically strong and socially sound.
Israel's chairmanship of EUREKA in 2010-2011 is being led by the Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper and the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade, through MATIMOP – the Israeli Industry Center for Research and Development, which is the executive agency of the Chief Scientist's office. Israel is actually one of EUREKA's most active participants; of EUREKA's 40 member countries, Israeli companies have partnered in more than 10% of all EUREKA projects. The Chairmanship provides enormous opportunities for Israeli and European companies and highlights Israel's unique contributions to European innovation and R&D.