Targeting Israel’s scientific institutions will not stop Israeli leadership in the global tech arena

The extensive Iranian indiscriminate attacks against Israel targeted not only military sites, nor just populated cities or critical infrastructure, but also the country’s “soft power”: scientific research and technology. Among others, ballistic missiles were fired at scientific research institutions, and it was even reported that the Iranians said they have targeted a tech giant – Microsoft’s facility. The choice of these targets can be viewed as a move aimed at undermining Israel’s scientific-technological superiority and deterring international collaborations.

High-tech, innovation, and academia, all are integral parts of Israel’s strength and deterrence capability, its standing on the international arena, and its power to influence without firing a single missile. Our enemies understand this, too.

Vered Zlaikha.

Much has been written in recent days about the scale of destruction and the extent of the damage to the activities of the Weizmann Institute of Science and Ben-Gurion University in the Negev. Some reports refer to damage to about a quarter of the research activity at the Weizmann Institute, as well as significant damage to the infrastructure of Ben-Gurion University, possibly also affecting the ability to train physicians in the upcoming academic year.

Why did Iran choose to attack academic research institutions and perhaps also a tech giant?

Prof. Joseph Nye, who passed away lately, was a prominent American scholar and expert in political science and international relations, having held senior positions within the U.S. administration. He is best known for extensively studying and developing the concept of “soft power” in International Relations. Simply put, as opposed to the use of fighter jets, weapons, and missiles, soft power stems from the culture and values a country projects, which serve as a point of attraction and influence relative to other nations.

Israel’s technological and scientific culture forms a vital part of its soft power, shaping not only the fields of science and technology but also its global diplomatic standing. The Israeli high-tech industry, including the vibrant cyber industry, which is at the forefront globally, constitutes an important pillar in Israel’s security leadership and scientific-technological superiority, and has been a key driver of the country’s economic growth, particularly in the last two decades.

A direct attack on Israel’s scientific-technological superiority

This is not the first time that enemies and rivals have sought to harm Israel, including in the scientific-technological dimension, through various means such as “lawfare” ongoing outside the physical battlefield, in international courts, BDS boycotts, and the like. However, missile attacks targeting research institutions (and maybe even a tech giant in Israel), and physical, tangible harm to scientific research and educational infrastructure, provide clear and decisive proof of the importance of this dimension in Israel’s strength, and how much this importance “radiates” outward. Beyond the direct destruction and damage, it is possible that these attacks were intended by Iran to deter foreign researchers from conducting cross-border research in Israel, due to the fear that their research sites might be at risk of missile strikes and could be lost. It may also have aimed to send a message of vulnerability to tech giants and deter them from establishing research and development centers in Israel.

Quick action of all stakeholders in the Israeli ecosystem is necessary

The dynamic ecosystem in Israel serves as the foundation for Israel’s success as a leader in the scientific-technological world. Now, perhaps more than ever, collaboration and mutual support between government, industry, research institutions, and non-profit organizations, as well as new and groundbreaking international collaborations, are essential to advancing the technological-scientific ecosystem in Israel.

So, what needs to be done now? First, it is necessary to ensure the prompt restoration of research institutions to their regular and proper operations. Even if it will not be possible to recover all research that has been damaged, a swift action plan is required, combining the efforts of all relevant stakeholders, to guarantee rebuilding infrastructure, research continuity, rehabilitation, and renewed growth. The technological human capital in Israel is a critical component of these aspects, and it is important to formulate a plan to foster Israel’s scientific-technological workforce.

Second, despite the physical damage and war-related destruction suffered by those research institutions, the war and its outcomes have great potential to enhance Israel’s scientific-technological superiority. Among other things, Israel’s successes in the technological battlefield can be leveraged for new international collaborations, while simultaneously capitalizing on the unprecedented strengthening of relations with the United States during this war, also for the benefit of technological innovation.

Among the steps, now is the time to also maintain and advance the strategy that will strengthen Israel’s posture in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) for years to come. Artificial intelligence currently stands out at the top of international priorities at all levels—political, security, technological, commercial, and regulatory—and constitutes and will continue to constitute a central component of scientific-technological superiority in the coming years.

Adv. Vered Zlaikha is a Partner and Head of Cyber Affairs and AI practice at Lipa Meir & Co., and she is a member of the Advisory Experts Forum to the Government on AI policy and regulation.