Four programs will integrate students into local high-tech companies, recruit and upskill workers, and attract technology talent from abroad
The Israel Innovation Authority and the Tkuma Directorate announced today the launch of a NIS 22 million initiative to strengthen tech human capital in the Tkuma Region. This comes as part of a broader effort to build long-term economic and employment infrastructure and establish a growing technology ecosystem in the region.
The initiative includes four programs designed to address the human capital needs required for the growth of a local tech industry. The first will connect students with industry while they are still pursuing their studies; the second will attract tech professionals from abroad to work and live in the region; while the third and fourth will focus on identifying and recruiting employees for companies in the region and upgrading the skills of existing employees.
Aviad Friedman, Head of the Tkuma Directorate: “The rehabilitation and prosperity of the Tkuma Region requires us not only to rebuild here, but also to build for the future. Alongside investment in infrastructure, education, and the community, we are working to create growth engines that will attract and connect people, companies, and opportunities. Investment in technological human capital is a central part of this initiative, and is intended to enable young people to build careers here, companies to find the employees they need here, and new families to see the Tkuma Region as a place where they can live, work, and grow.”
Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority: “Alongside the massive investment in R&D infrastructure, we must simultaneously build the human capital that will enable high-tech companies in the region to grow, expand, and establish operations in the region. The new programs address the entire continuum: from students taking their first steps in the industry, through employee training and recruitment, to attracting technology professionals from abroad. The goal is to create a growing pool of high-quality human capital in the region that will serve as the foundation for the growth of globally successful high-tech companies, the creation of high-quality jobs, and the long-term strengthening of the local economy.”
Four Programs: From Students to Talent from Abroad
Tkuma Internship: An Initiative Designed to Connect the Future Generation of High-Tech with Industry in the Region
The program is designed to create a practical pathway for STEM students to enter the local industry while they are still pursuing their studies. At least 500 students, academics, and practical engineers will participate in practical experience at companies operating in the Tkuma Region for a period of six to nine months.
The programs will include identifying, screening, and guiding candidates, as well as assisting companies with the onboarding, training, and professional guidance of students. Short training programs may also be incorporated to develop skills required by the industry, with an emphasis on AI skills. The goal is to recruit at least 10 employers to take in students, with priority given to programs that create structured cooperation with academic institutions and in which practical experience becomes part of the academic curriculum or leads to students being hired for positions in the region.
From the Diaspora to Tkuma: Bringing Technology Professionals from Abroad to Work and Live in the Region
The program is intended to attract new immigrants, returning residents, and individuals eligible under the Law of Return with tech education and professional experience, with the goal of connecting them with high-tech jobs in the Tkuma Region and encouraging young, professional populations to settle in the area.
The programs may include identifying candidates in countries with significant potential for immigration to Israel, targeted preparation for the Israeli labor market before immigration, strengthening professional and AI skills, preparation for integration into the Israeli market, screening, guidance, and placement.
Under the program, at least 300 candidates will be referred to and supported through matching processes and interviews with employers. Alongside placing employees in existing positions, the program is also intended to support the creation of new technology jobs in the region and the expansion of existing companies’ operations.
Tech Skills Boost: Training Employees for a Changing Labor Market
The fourth program focuses on employees already working in the region, as well as those interested in joining the knowledge-intensive industry.
At least 500 participants are expected to take part in training and skills-upgrading programs in AI, data, and automation. The program is intended both for high-tech employees seeking to upgrade their capabilities and for residents and employees from non-technological industries who want to acquire skills that will enable them to advance into new roles.
The emphasis will be on modular training tailored to labor market needs and on upskilling and reskilling aimed not only at acquiring knowledge, but also at improving earning potential, enabling mobility between professions, and increasing the productivity of employees and businesses in the region.
The new initiative continues a range of initiatives already operating on the ground. In recent years, programs have been launched in the region to connect technology, employment, and settlement. These include programs established in Sderot to train residents for tech professions and employment centers, alongside initiatives aimed at attracting high-tech professionals and young families to the Western Negev and creating communities, workspaces, and connections to local technology education around them.