Benjamin Bental, (Ph.D University of Minnesota, 1979), is a professor of economics at the University of Haifa, and the Director of the Center of German and European Culture Studies at that university. Prior to joining the University of Haifa in 1997, Prof. Bental was a faculty member at the Technion, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, and served as Visiting Professor in several leading European and U.S. universities. His research interests include macroeconomics, economics of research and development, and aggregate implications of contractual frictions. Prof. Bental is serving as the chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Regional Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science, and participates regularly in accreditation committees of the Council of Higher Education in Israel. He has published extensively in leading economics journals.
The Role of Israeli Research Universities in the National R&D
This study was commissioned by the National Council for R&D (NCRD). Its purpose was to examine the influence of Israeli research universities on the national R&D system and the reciprocal relationships between the two systems in creating new knowledge and advanced technologies.
Tax Benefits for Business R&D in Israel
This project examines the tax incentives system to encourage R&D in the business sector in Israel. More than two thirds of OECD countries and many others encourage R&D activities in the business sector with tax benefits based on the volume of R&D expenditures reported by the firms.
Sectorial Specialization and Diversification Indices for R&D
Economic activity that is concentrated in a small number of sectors could indicate specialization and that competitive advantages are being exploited. However, it can also render the economy vulnerable to risks arising from technological and economic shocks.
