Innovation Minister: “We must think big - and long term”

“The high-tech industry broke new records in 2021 and is not only a strategic engine in Israel’s economy, but also a diplomatic source of strength,” Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israel's Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology told Calcalist’s Mind the Tech 2022 Conference in New York. Regarding where the industry is headed, the MK stressed, “We must think big - and long term.”

When speaking about US-Israel cooperation in the fields of science and technology, the MK noted that “while the United States is Israel’s most important trade partner, 80% of the funding in the Israeli high-tech industry originates in America, in contrast to that the cooperation between Israel and the U.S. is lacking.” She went on to describe various programs her ministry has initiated to improve cooperation.

Farkash-Hacohen concluded her remarks by issuing a call to American VCs and investors: “To all the international VCs that are here, investors, multinational representative companies, I urge you, we want to see more of you operating and based in Israel as we have an amazing industry that we truly believe in.”

You can watch her full remarks in the video above.