Technology can be developed in Israel, but for technological innovations to become solutions with impact, they need to meet the world: the right partners, real-world conditions, infrastructure, regulation, and the markets in which the technology is expected to operate.
This is the space in which the International Division of the Israel Innovation Authority operates. Its role goes beyond creating connections overseas or investing in joint projects. The Israel Innovation Authority creates specific programs that enable Israeli companies to develop technologies with international partners, test them in real-world environments, gain access to knowledge, infrastructure, and data not available in Israel, and adapt their products to the specific needs of different markets.
To this end, the Division operates a broad network of bilateral agreements, binational funds, pilot programs, and collaborations with corporations, research institutions, hospitals, cities, and public entities worldwide. In each of these programs, the international connection takes a different form: sometimes through joint R&D, sometimes through testing at a leading beta site, and sometimes by participating in global initiatives that address challenges spanning countries and industries.
An international partner can provide an Israeli company with access to an operating hospital, a smart city, unique research infrastructure such as a national laboratory, dedicated space infrastructure, industry partners, data repositories, or in-depth knowledge of the local market. In many cases, these are precisely the resources needed to move from a promising technology to a product that has been tested, validated, and adapted to real-world conditions.
International activity also enables companies to reduce risk. The Israel Innovation Authority shares the financial and technological risk, helps identify the right partners, and creates a framework in which both sides have a genuine interest in the project’s success. As a result, the international connection does not come only at the end of the process, once the product has already been developed. It can become part of the development process itself, supporting the entrepreneur and the company from midway and onwards.
This magazine presents several ways in which this model works in practice. The different stories show how countries, corporations, healthcare systems, cities, and international organizations become not just target markets, but partners in the innovation process. What they all share is the understanding that for Israeli technology to succeed globally, opening a door is not enough. The conditions to enable it to move through that door must be created.