Global rankings of the top innovation ecosystems in the world consistently find Israel to be one of the world's top locations for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, together with the Silicon Valley in California and the economic capitals of Europe. Indeed, Israel's self-proclaimed "Startup Nation" title often comes as a surprise due to the country's small size, relatively young economy and culturally diverse population. Yet anyone who knows a thing or two about Israel knows that the country itself is a kind of "startup" endeavor that takes risks, constantly seeks improvement and knows that innovation and creativity will pave the way forward.

Israel's innovative journey was shaped by the first collective communities, or the ‘Kibbutzim', with immigrants from over 130 nations experimenting with new agricultural methods and social structures. Developing a knack for innovating and risk-taking, Israelis soon ventured into other sectors, contributing their knowledge and skills to create Israel's first industries. Because they were immigrants, they had the courage to experiment, learning the value of "chutzpah," which has encouraged the country's generations of entrepreneurs to pursue new endeavors. Team-work, problem-solving and technical skills learned during military service have also contributed to the success of Israeli entrepreneurs on a global scale. Israel's top educational institutions have cultivated a knowledgeable nation of scientists,engineers, doctors and professors that strives to lead research trends in their fields. As a result, Israel has a notably high concentration of Nobel Prize laureates in comparison to its relatively small population.

Israel is a highly attractive location for venture capital investment as a result of government institutions that encourage and support innovation, like the Office of the Chief Scientist. Israel has also made efforts to attract international technological companies to the wealth of engineering talent in the country, prompting major multinational companies like IBM, Intel, Motorola and Philips to establish research and development centers in the country. Not only is Israel's engineering and entrepreneurial talent among the brightest in the world, it is also one of the most creative and diverse.

Israeli innovation has come a long way since its first "entrepreneurs" met on the Kibbutz. From impressive progress in computing technology, to efficient agritech solutions and on to life-saving medical feats, Israel's list of contributions to human innovation is protracted when considering with its small size. Its immigrant population, go-getter "chutzpah" attitude, and wealth of opportunities to acquire important analytical and technological skills are factors that have helped foster an impressive ecosystem of innovation.

Still, in order to maintain its "Innovation Nation" title, Israel must not rest on its laurels. One of the key factors in ensuring that Israel benefits from its wealth of technology and entrepreneurship is the establishment of native multinational companies that will sustain Israeli economy and society into the future. Israel must also continue to engage all of the components of its society to ensure that innovation remains a key national industry. Yet until that time, Israeli innovation will continue to flourish freely, within Israel and outside of it, bringing breakthrough, life-saving and novel innovations to every corner of the world.