A message to Singapore companies

Industrial R&D partnering can be a highly effective way of expanding the technological scope of a firm. Furthermore, collaboration in R&D often entails joint effort in commercialization whereby each partner benefits from the presence of its partner in other markets. For Singaporean companies, there are many reasons why looking for such partnerships in Israel makes a good deal of sense.

Like many other small countries, Israel has implemented well defined scientific and technological policies aimed at enhancing its competitive position. In science, it encourages the establishment of centers of excellence around outstanding scientists, while maintaining a level of quality across the broad spectrum of scientific fields. In technology, Israel strives for high performance through concentration on a limited number of areas. The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D), in relation to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are among the highest in the world.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has classified Israel as one of the leading countries in the world in technological innovation. In the 2011-2012 WEF Global Competitive Index Report, Israel received an overall rank of the 22nd most competitive country. The 2012 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Israel as the 19th most competitive country in the world.

The country’s main strengths remain its world-class capacity for innovation (3rd), which rests on highly innovative businesses that benefit from the presence of the world’s best research institutions geared toward the needs of the business sector. Israel’s excellent innovation capacity, which is supported by the government’s public procurement policies, is reflected in the country’s high number of patents (4th). Its favorable financial environment, particularly evident in the ease of access to venture capital (3rd), has contributed to making Israel an innovation powerhouse.

• ranked 1st for quality of scientific research institutions *
• ranked 3rd nd for venture capital availability *
• ranked 4th for PCT patents, applications/million pop *
• ranked 5th for strength of investor protection *
• ranked 6th for companies expenditure on R&D *
• ranked 6th for Capacity for innovation *
• ranked 10th for Production process sophistication *

*WEF The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013

Israel’s successful track record of market-creation and profit-driving innovations includes:

• VocalTec Communications of Herzliya, Israel, developed the first practical Internet phone software.
• Similarly, those who enjoy chatting with friends over the Internet might be interested to know that this online phenomenon originated in Israel. Although the technology now belongs to AOL, Israel’s Mirabilis developed the first popular Internet chat program, ICQ.
• Every day, millions of Americans watch online streaming video for entertainment or educational purposes. Metacafe, the world’s third-most-popular video sharing website, was founded in Israel.
• Intel 8088 processor, was developed by Intel’s Israel division. More recently, the Pentium M series of processors for laptop computers using the Intel Centrino platform, as well as some of Intel’s latest processors (Yonah, Merom, Woodcrest), were also designed by Intel Israel.
• In addition, Amazon.com’s Kindle e-reader owes much of its success to technology developed in Israel.
• M-Systems was the first to offer Disk-on-Key and Disk-on-Chip flash memory products which changed the way people store and handle information.
• The Philips Brilliance CT Scanner, developed in Israel, takes a comprehensive picture of a patient in seconds, instead of minutes, in the emergency room where every second counts.
• ZIP compression technology was developed by two professors at the Technion Israel's Institute of Technology.
• Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera to view the small intestine from the inside, and help doctors diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.
• Comverse invented voice-mail.
• Revolutionizing present day agriculture techniques, Netafim developed modern drip-irrigation technology and Israeli companies continue to lead this field with innovative breakthroughs.
• Insightec from Israel has developed the first MR guided focused ultrasound a combination of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology for various of non-invasive surgeries applications.
• Kamada from Israel is a biopharmaceutical company developing, producing and marketing a line of specialty, life-saving therapeutics using its proprietary chromatographic purification technology.
• In June 2012, Ormat Technologies with the proven expertise in geothermal and recovered energy power generation received an order to build and supply a power plant to be constructed on the Ngatamariki Geothermal Field in New Zealand. The project’s estimated value is $130 million.

The Singapore-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (SIIRD) is especially well networked with the industrial sectors of Israel to identify for your firm an appropriate technological partner. SIIRD can also offer co-funding support for collaborative industrial R&D projects, which have technical and commercial merit.

If your company is interested in seeking a technology partner in Israel, you are welcome to complete the R&D Partner Search Form, describing your company's profile and capabilities, as well as the profile of your desired partner. The profile will then be matched with our database so that we can provide you with a list of Israeli firms for your consideration. SIIRD will be pleased to assist you in making the initial contact with your shortlisted firms.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.