Avi Hasson, Chief Scientist at Israel’s Ministry of Economy: "Accelerating the integration of minorities into the hi-tech sector is in the national interest"
As part of the State's efforts to promote entrepreneurship in minority sectors and to transform them to an integral part of the Israeli innovation scene, the second hi-tech conference for minorities will be held on September 10, 2015, with the Israeli Minister of Economy and the Israeli Minister of Social Equality attending.
The conference is a collaboration between the Office of the Chief Scientist at the Israeli Ministry of Economy and the Authority for Economic Development of Minorities at the Israeli Ministry of Social Equality, and aims to bring together entrepreneurs who are promoting entrepreneurship in minority sectors - including investors and mentors. In addition, the conference will present participants with employment framework assistance and tools offered by the Office of the Chief Scientist.
The conference joins a series of initiatives by the Office of the Chief Scientist to encourage entrepreneurship and promote Arab and ultra-Orthodox integration in Israel's economy. Among other measures, the new companies program was launched in December 2014 at the Office of the Chief Scientist. In this program, entrepreneurs from minority populations receive special privileges. The program promotes early stage companies and entrepreneurs from minority sectors, with government support as part of the program reaching 85% of R&D costs, up to NIS 2 million. For comparison's sake, in programs for the rest of the population the state subsidizes up to 50% of these expenses.
Minister of Economy and Minister of the Negev and Galilee Aryeh Deri said: "Integrating minority sectors is essential for leveraging the Israeli economy, for integrating the Arab society in Israeli society and for closing the gaps between the periphery and the center. The government has given, and will continue to give, the necessary tools for this effort to be realized."
Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel said: "Israel is one of the leading countries in hi-tech and technological innovation and there is no reason that not all segments of society take part in technological enterprises and enjoy the fruits of success and progress. The Ministry of Social Equality is promoting, through the 'Digital Israel' program, long-term strategic plans for the integration of Israeli Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox in the field of technological innovation and works intensively to promote their place in Israeli society."
Anya Eldan, Director of Early Stage Companies and Technological Incubators at the Office of the Chief Scientist, said: "From the beginning of this year we have been witnessing a significant rise in the number of companies asking for support as well as a change in the type of activity by Arab entrepreneurs. If in the past most success stories came from the pharmaceutical field, today there are more companies dealing with software and electronics. As a result of the privileged conditions, 19 new requests were made as part of the program and we expect this trend to continue."
According to Chief Scientist at the Israeli Ministry of Economy, Avi Hasson, "We have defined our goal to work to integrate all sectors of society in the Israeli culture of innovation and technology. The plan enables minority sectors to take part in the Israeli cycle of innovation and there is a constant rise in the number of companies and entrepreneurs which become part of the Israeli hi-tech industry."
Ayman Saif, Director of the Authority for Economic Development of Minorities at the Israeli Ministry of Social Equality, adds: "Arab society must become part of Israeli innovation and technology if it wants to improve its quality of life. I am delighted with the cooperation with the Office of the Chief Scientist and with the growth in the number of businesses and entrepreneurs from Arab society who take advantage of the tools and programs we have formulated with the Chief Scientist, like the grants (85% support) for enterprises coming from Arab society."