UK and Israel intensify science collaboration
The UK and Israel are set to deepen scientific and academic co-operation through a series of bilateral programmes.
It’s anticipated the programmes will benefit hundreds of researchers from the two countries. The announcement was made by the British Embassy and the British Council in Israel on the biannual UK-Israel Science Day.
British Ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey, said: “The UK is proud that more Israeli students and scientists will now be working together with their British peers. Both countries are science superpowers, with a great talent pool and academic infrastructure. Collaborations between British and Israeli scientists can have real impact in tackling global health challenges such as heart disease, Parkinson’s and diabetes, as well as in protecting the environment and enhancing understanding of our societies.”
Reflecting on bilateral co-operation made so far, Alan Gemmell, director of the British Council in Israel, which oversees many of the bilateral programmes, added: “Over the last three years our partnerships with world-leading medical research foundations, donors and universities in Britain and Israel have invested millions of pounds in world class research, creating opportunities for scientists to work together to tackle global health challenges and access to water.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Science, Technology and Space announced that it will partner with the UK Government’s Science and Innovation Network on a new set of Researcher Exchange Programmes, doubling the number of scientists reached for the next four years. The schemes are set to enable hundreds of British and Israeli researchers to work together on water science, agrisciences, nanoscience and neuroscience.
Also announced was the launch of the third round of the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX), a £10m (~€14m) initiative that funds joint UK-Israeli cutting-edge research to tackle major diseases.
