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Research and innovation

Policy background

The European Union (EU) and Israel have a long history of successful scientific and technological cooperation. The Association Agreement, signed in Brussels on 20 November 1995 and having entered into force in June 2000, provides the legal framework for EU-Israel relations. It establishes a regular dialogue on scientific, technological, cultural, audio-visual and social matters. Israel is also part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and under the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan, ten sub-committees were established, including one on research, innovation, information society, education and culture.

Israel has been associated to the EU’s research and innovation framework programmes since 1996. The agreement on Israel’s participation in Horizon 2020 was signed on 8 June 2014.

Israel’s association agreement to Horizon Europe was signed on 6 December and entered into force on the same day. Israel’s association is an opportunity to continue and further deepen research cooperation with the focus on mutual priorities such as the twin green and digital transitions, public health as well as ground-breaking innovation.

The country has a long history of association to the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. Indeed, Israel figured as an Associated Country since 1996. 2016 marked the 20th anniversary of the country’s association the framework programmes. The celebrations started in Israel in January 2016 and concluded with a festive conference in January 2017. Throughout this time, cooperation has been successful with more than 5000 joint research projects on record. Israel also has a number of agreements with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.

Horizon 2020 key figures

Funding opportunities

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion available over 7 years (2021 to 2027).

Horizon Europe website

Projects and results

Research project database (CORDIS)

The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded research projects. Here you can find International cooperation projects related to Israel.

EU funded projects

Project success stories

Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects involving Israel.

Examples of international cooperation projects

  • SNIFFPHONE (2015-2019), coordinated by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, has developed an accurate and non-invasive way to detect gastric cancers through a person’s breath. The hand-held sensors can be used by anyone without medical supervision in combination with a smart phone. A mobile phone app provides instruction on how to use the breath analyser and instantly delivers results back to the user
  • SOCRATES (2016-2020) explores ways to improve how robots interact with users given a range of tasks and circumstances. The application focus is on robotics in eldercare. It addresses interaction quality – a concept for characterising how a specific mode of interaction is fit for a given task, situation and user - from several standpoints: emotion, intention, adaptivity, design and acceptance. The program involves the training of 15 PhD students.
  • G2P-SOL (2016-2021) aims to gather, improve and disseminate genetic and phenotypic information on the four major Solanaceous crops: potato, tomato, pepper and eggplant. When undergoing adaptation for human use, Solanaceous plants lose much of their genetic richness and become more sensitive to environmental stresses and damage from bacteria, insects or climate change. The gathered information by the project participants, including three organisations from Israel, can be used to recover the diversity of Solanaceous crops and increase their productivity, adaptability and nutritional value.

Contact

National Contact Points

The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

European Commission

Andrea Carignani di Novoli
Minister Counsellor
Delegation of the European Union to Israel
Telephone: +972-3-6000931 | email: andrea [dot] carignani-di-novoliateeas [dot] europa [dot] eu (andrea[dot]carignani-di-novoli[at]eeas[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Ludmila Nistor-Mihajlova
Liaison Officer
DG Research and Innovation , Unit 03: Horizon Europe Association
Email: ludmila [dot] nistor-mihajlovaatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (ludmila[dot]nistor-mihajlova[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Documents

 

  • 6 DECEMBER 2021
Agreement associating Israel to Horizon Europe

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