Innovation cooperation between Israel and Switzerland

Last October, Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann travelled to Israel with a delegation from business and science, including several members of Innosuisse’s board of directors. The focus of the trip was the subject of innovation. A tangible result of this trip is now the Joint Declaration of Intent between Innosuisse and the Israel Innovation Authority, the state organisation for the support of innovation. The details of the cooperation between Innosuisse and the authority need to be clarified. Possible are for example the support of Swiss-Israeli innovation projects or start-up camps in Israel for young Swiss companies.

As a start-up location, Israel is one of the global benchmarks. More than USD 5 billion of venture capital flowed into Israeli start-up companies last year, with exits totalling more than USD 20 billion. In addition, large international companies are also very active: nine of the 10 most valuable companies globally have R&D centres in Israel.

On the other hand, Switzerland’s strengths are thematically broad cutting-edge research, numerous innovative SMEs and a worldwide standard-setting talent base, ranging from scientists to specialists. But there are similarities: both countries are strongly export-oriented, focusing on technology products and investing heavily in research and development.

These conditions provide a good basis for collaboration and the first joint event between the two partners in Bern showed that not only are the economic conditions right, but the mutual interest really exists.

Nearly all the speakers pointed to the opportunities for cooperation. Aharon Aharon, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, said Israel is more IT-driven, while Switzerland is traditionally one of the most important locations for life sciences, providing a good basis for exchange.

Aharon also addressed areas in which Israel could benefit from Switzerland’s experience, including the issue of how to persuade multinational corporations not only to operate R&D centres in the country, but also to build larger branches.

This openness showed the optimism of the mood at the event in Bern. Innosuisse chairman André Kudelski emphasised that an exchange in a good atmosphere was the first step towards a fruitful partnership.

In addition to several keynotes, four companies presented themselves at the event: NetGuardians and Biowatch from Switzerland, and IntSights and Check Point from Israel. The latter demonstrates once again the strength of Israel as an IT location: the company was founded in 1993 and has a current valuation of about USD 16 billion.

Picture: Jacob Keidar, Ambassador of Israel to Switzerland, Nili Shalev, Managing Director ISERD, Dani Biran, Vice President, International Division, IIA, Annalise Eggimann, CEO Innosuisse, Aharon Aharon, CEO Israel Innovation Authority, André Kudelski, President Innosuisse (from left to right)