(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Tuesday, 15 October 2013), announced the winners of the
2013 Eric and Sheila Samson Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation in Alternative Fuels for Transportation – the largest prize in the world in the field of alternative fuels:
Prof. George A. Olah and
Prof. G.K. Surya Prakash from the University of Southern California, for their work on
methanol economy.
The prize will be awarded at the
Bloomberg Fuel Choices Summit – which is being organized by the
Prime Minister's Office Alternative Fuels Administration – next month in Tel Aviv.
Prime
Minister Netanyahu said, "Until the 19th century, the world was
dependent on salt in order to preserve various products and this was the
accepted method since time immemorial. The 19th century saw the
development of refrigeration. We can and must reach a similar change in
the awful dependence on oil, with all its negative consequences. We
decided to take action and enact a multi-year move and an effort that is
not dependent on the ups and downs of the oil market. This is the main
thing that we are doing. This prize is significant and prestigious. It
symbolizes this commitment to the researchers and gives them a true
return for their efforts."
Science, Technology and Space Minister
Yaakov Peri said, "This is not the largest prize in the field of
alternative fuels for nothing. Israel aspires to find a solution to the
global challenge and both free itself from the dependence on oil and
change the agenda on the regional-strategic, economic and environmental
levels."
PMO Alternative Fuels Administration Director Eyal
Rosner said, "Israel has set an ambitious goal for itself – reducing the
use of fuel in transportation by 60% by 2025. Innovation, creativity
and – no less – a prudent and strong policy are necessary to reach this
goal. Israel is posed to be a global leader in this area. We must reduce
the dependence on oil and on the oil-producing countries, and thus
strengthen the global economy."