Overview
Israel's large concentration of talented and innovative people makes it an ideal place for investment . Characterized by groundbreaking entrepreneurship, Israel yields pioneering technologies, profitable business opportunities and high investment returns. Israel's large concentration of talented and innovative people makes it an ideal place for investment . Characterized by groundbreaking entrepreneurship, Israel yields pioneering technologies, profitable business opportunities and high investment returns.
This is why have so many major multi-nationals - Microsoft, Berkshire-Hathaway, Motorola, Intel, HP, Siemens, GE, IBM, Philips, Lucent, AOL, Cisco, Applied Materials, IBM, J&J and more - chosen to invest in Israel. Listed below are highlights of the record, resources and support that make Israel a smart investment today and tomorrow .
The Record
The World Economic Forum has designated Israel is one of the leading countries in the world in technological innovation. In the 2008-2009 WEF Global Competitive Index Report, Israel received an overall rank of the 23rd most competitive country. The 2008 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Israel as the 20th most competitive country in the world.
Further Israeli highlights from the reports include:
· ranked 1st for total expenditure on R&D *
· ranked 1st for business expenditure on R&D *
· ranked 1st for availability of qualified scientists and engineers *
· ranked 2nd for venture capital availability *
· ranked 2nd for information technology skills *
· ranked 3rd for Quality of Scientific Research Organizations **
· ranked 3rd for Registered Patents Per Capita **
· ranked 3rd for flexibility and availability of the workforce *
· ranked 4th for higher education achievements *
· ranked 6th for overall innovation **
* IMD Global Competitiveness Yearbook 2007-2008
** WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009
The Resources
With the world's highest percentage of
engineers and scientists, Israel's
greatest natural resource is its
skilled workforce. Highly motivated,
resourceful and independent, they enable
Israel to stay ahead of the competition.
Israel’s workforce is particularly
competitive because of the informal but
effective get-down-to-business culture,
exceptional ingenuity and entrepreneurial
spirit. The combination of culture, skill
and initiative creates a flexible, working
system that allows for great adaptability
while producing breakthrough technologies
and quick time-to-market solutions.
Israel offers one of the world's most
advanced infrastructure and the services
required to conduct business efficiently
and effectively. Israel boasts a
sophisticated communications system; reliable energy infrastructure; well-developed transportation system with modern international gateways; protection of trademarks, patents, and other intellectual property; highly developed and transparent financial system and a legal system based on common and corporate law .
1st in R&D investments
Israel invests 4.7% of its GDP in R&D,
which is the highest ratio in the world
(IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook
2007).
Preferred choice of leading global players
Microsoft, Berkshire- Hathaway, Motorola,
Intel, HP, Siemens, Samsung, GE, Philips,
Lucent, AOL, Cisco, Applied Materials,
Winbond, IBM and J&J, are just a few
examples of multinationals that run core
activities in Israel.
Profit-driving innovations
Disk-on-key technology, IP Telephony,
Zip compression, the ingestible pill size camera, modern drip-irrigation technology, ICQ instant messenger and many more were all Israeli breakthroughs.
Highly-educated available workforce
Being 1st in the world for availability of
qualified scientists and engineers, Israel
provides multinationals with a professional
and skilled labor market (2007-8 IMD Global
Competitiveness Yearbook).
Flourishing start-up and VC industries
Ranked 2nd in the world for Venture Capital
availability, Israel provides its entrepren
eurs with the necessary backing to turn the
ir innovative ideas into profitable
businesses(IMD Global Competitiveness
Yeabook 2007-8).
Deeply integrated into the world economy
Israel has the largest number of companies listed on the NASDAQ outside of the United States and approximately 70 Israeli companies are traded on various European exchanges.
Nobel laureates
4 Israelis have won Nobel Prizes within the last 5 years in the fields of chemistry and economics.
Sophisticated and comprehensive infrastructure
Ranked 3rd in the world for technological readiness, Israel provides multinationals an environment suitable for the most demanding business requirements (2006-7 WEF Global Competitiveness Yearbook).
Business Sectors - Israel
Life Sciences
Fourth in the world in biotechnology patents per capita, Israel not only has the talent to innovate, but the skills to transform technology into successful enterprise. A generous government incentives program is a major factor for pushing progress forward.
Water Technologies
Since its founding, Israel has been coping with water scarcity and has been treating the subject as a national priority. The country has been constantly developing novel and efficient water technologies, which can benefit the world as it is increasingly dealing with water scarcity concerns due to global warming. Israel's success in answering the country's water needs stems from its ability to incorporate an extensive variety of solutions under multiple constrains.
Communication
In the past decade, Israel has emerged as a leading supplier for the global telecommunications industry. Producing cutting-edge, innovative technologies, Israeli communications companies continue to attract top-tier institutional investors, raising a tremendous $88 million from venture capitalists in 2004.
Homeland Security
As a top national priority, Homeland Security in Israel is more than just an exportable commodity. Israel’s self-reliance has created a diversified and cutting edge security industry, adding innovation to existing technologies as well as developing new ones. Israel today has earned its worldwide reputation for providing leading security solutions and continues to successfully partner with key world players to protect airports, seaports, government offices, financial institutions and recreational centers.
Semiconductor Industry
Israel has long been recognized as a leading force in the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor sector drives growth in many markets including microprocessors, data and voice communications, wireless, IP and networking communications, consumer, automotive, defense and more, representing prime opportunities for investment and cooperation.
Chemicals
Israel is one of the leading chemical-producing nations in the world, and chemicals are a primary export. The industry formally began at the beginning of last century, when efforts commenced to extract minerals from the Dead Sea. When the State was founded, the new government established several state-owned companies to mine the raw materials and process the derivatives.
Agro-technology
Israel is internationally recognized as a leader in cutting edge agricultural advancements. Israel’s high level of development is due to the close cooperation between scientists, extension advisers, farmers, and agriculture-related industries, who contribute to the manufacturing of advanced technologies used locally and around the world .
Source: Invest in Israel- Israel's Investment Promotion Center, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, Israel
