From the Front Lines to the Forefront of AI: Israel Invests NIS 10 Million in Its Reservists
750 reservists and discharged soldiers to be trained as AI leaders in high-tech, combining advanced artificial intelligence skills with real-world industry experience
The Israel Innovation Authority, together with the Division for Discharged Soldiers and Reservists at the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Labor, announced today the launch of a national initiative to train reserve duty personnel and discharged soldiers as leaders in artificial intelligence within the Israeli high-tech industry.
With a total investment exceeding NIS 10 million, approximately 750 reservists will take part in dedicated AI training programs, many of which combine advanced professional training with practical experience in a first industry role. The initiative is designed to strengthen participants’ integration into the labor market, bridge knowledge gaps created by prolonged reserve service during the war period and position them at the forefront of AI adoption and implementation in research and development environments.
The selected programs focus on equipping participants with applied, up-to-date AI capabilities, enabling them to lead innovation processes, optimize organizational workflows, and support productivity growth across the high-tech sector. By targeting reservists already serving in technological core roles, the initiative leverages their existing experience while accelerating their ability to work with rapidly evolving AI tools.
The launch follows a joint report by the Israel Innovation Authority and the Brookdale Institute, published in November 2025, which highlights the deep penetration of AI tools in Israeli high-tech over the past two years. According to the report, widespread AI adoption has led to significant improvements in productivity, output quality, and efficiency across the sector.
Dr. Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, said: “Reserve duty personnel and discharged soldiers bring to Israeli high-tech a unique set of skills, responsibility, leadership, decision-making under uncertainty, and intensive work in complex environments. The programs we are advancing are designed to connect these capabilities with the most advanced Artificial Intelligence tools and to turn participants into leaders in AI implementation within companies’ R&D processes. This initiative creates dual value: strengthening human capital while accelerating the innovation capacity and global competitiveness of Israeli high-tech.”
Eyal Hens, Head of the Division for Discharged Soldiers and Reservists at the Ministry of Defense, added: “This program serves as a vital and unique lever for integrating discharged soldiers and reservists into the innovative labor market. It does so by providing tailored artificial intelligence tools and specialized knowledge, with a focus on the AI domain. The practical experience programs in first industry roles were developed out of a desire to recognize this important population, at the forefront of Israeli society, and to open an exceptional window of opportunity to new horizons in high-tech.”
Yirmiyahu Gur, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Labor, said: “This program presents an exceptional opportunity to deliver a focused response for integration into high-quality employment in high-tech for reservists, particularly in the western Negev region. I am confident that the reservists participating in the program, including reservists from the Ultra-Orthodox community, will be able to open a new career path for themselves and for their families.”
In parallel, an additional program under the “Launch to High-Tech” model was approved to expand access to first industry roles for approximately 250 academic graduates who are reservists or discharged soldiers. These programs focus on hands-on internships, close industry mentoring, and job placement in knowledge-intensive companies, with particular emphasis on Priority Area A regions, the western Negev, and under-represented populations, including the Ultra-Orthodox community.
Together, the programs form a comprehensive national effort to support those who served, ensure their successful integration into Israel’s innovation economy, and strengthen the human capital foundations of Israeli high-tech in an era defined by rapid AI-driven transformation.
Selected Entities to Operate AI Training and Implementation Programs for Reservists in High-Tech
Made in Jerusalem
Training reservists through the AI Champions program, focused on leading the implementation and application of AI tools within organizations. The six-month program combines personal mentoring and practical projects, in collaboration with Schreiber Lev-Tech and the Machine & Deep Learning Israel community.
The Engineering and Technological Arena
A program designed to equip reservists, discharged soldiers, and others with knowledge and tools for AI-based geospatial data analysis, bridging gaps between engineering, data science, and mapping. The program aims to create a workforce suited to civilian and defense companies, while building applied capabilities to lead innovative AI-based projects.
Neat
A hands-on, experience-based training program in Embedded AI for reservists working in R&D, with customized content tailored to company needs
Logtal Computer Communications
A practical skills program focused on the use of AI tools by reservists for development and implementation of AI agents that automate business processes within organizations.
Jump In Impact
A program for training AI Champions in technology companies, startups, and software firms. The program targets R&D employees, with an emphasis on active reservists and discharged soldiers, and includes periodic training, soft-skills development to drive organizational change, hands-on training, and performance monitoring to support tool implementation and productivity growth.
Jump In Impact
A program for training AI Champions in technology companies, startups, and software firms. The program targets R&D employees, with an emphasis on active reservists and discharged soldiers, and includes periodic training, soft-skills development to drive organizational change, hands-on training, and performance monitoring to support tool implementation and productivity growth.
18xImpact
A second program by the organization, following its acceleration program aimed at startup creation. This initiative accelerates the use of AI tools among reservist software developers, strengthening R&D processes in high-tech companies and positioning participants as innovation leaders within their organizations.
Additional Programs under the “Launch to High-Tech” Model
In addition, five programs were selected under a call for proposals based on the “Launch to High-Tech” model, aimed at expanding the entry channel for approximately 250 academic graduates who are reservists or discharged soldiers into their first industry position.
The programs target graduates of academic degrees and non-academic training who have not yet gained practical experience. They include job placement support in knowledge-intensive companies, with an emphasis on Priority Area A and the western Negev, and on members of the Ultra-Orthodox community, while integrating participants into core company activities and providing support before and during the practical training period.
Selected Entities under the “Launch to High-Tech” Model
Jump In Impact Ltd. – TechJump Program
Designed to bridge the gap between inexperienced academic graduates and the high-tech industry’s need for high-quality talent. The program targets reservists, discharged soldiers, and under-represented populations, who will take part in at least six months of hands-on training for entry-level technology roles in partner high-tech companies, accompanied by career guidance and professional mentoring.
Place.AI.L (NPO)
A program for the western Negev, focused on reservists, discharged soldiers, graduates, and final-year students. The program combines applied training in AI-based development environments with internship-based practical experience, alongside personal and group mentoring.
ITQ Ltd.
A practical training program for junior discharged soldiers and reservists in roles such as Network Engineers, integration, and information security, based on the ongoing demand for high-quality professionals in these fields.
Kemach
The first program of its kind in Israel, focusing on internship and placement of reserve duty personnel and discharged soldiers from the Ultra-Orthodox community. Participants will receive up-to-date technological training, soft skills development, and interview preparation, followed by six-month internships in high-tech companies with placement support.
Cambium 2014 Ltd.
A practical experience program for reservists in the Negev, featuring structured mentoring and training for developers after formal studies. The program includes exposure to methods and tools used by experienced developers for effective software development management and the use of AI tools.