(Wall Street Journal) Sara Toth Stub - As the new chairman of the EUREKA Network, an organization of mainly European countries working to promote industrial innovation and research and development, Israeli chief scientist Eli Opper said his priorities include developing innovative funding tools, enhancing cooperation with Asia and North America, and promoting the development of cleantech. At a meeting in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, EUREKA approved a total investment of 51 million euros in 56 R&D projects in member countries, including 17 projects in Israel or with Israeli participation. Israel, which joined EUREKA in 2000, is the only member country that is not also a member of the EU or geographically in Europe. Coined the "Start-Up Nation" in a 2009 book by Saul Singer and Dan Senor, Israel, with 3,800 start-ups, has the most start-ups per capita. In 2009, the Israeli government spent 4.9% of GDP on civilian R&D, compared with 2.8% in the U.S., according to the OEDC.
2010-10-29 09:05:31Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive