The study was commissioned by the Israel Academy of Sciences and will be published in UNESCO’s series of studies on Science, Engineering, Technology, and Innovation (SETI) policies during 2015.
The aim of the project is to map the SETI system in Israel, to describe it using relevant metrics, and to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Israeli science and technology and innovation policy, while placing special emphasis on policy tools and best practices.
The report includes seven major chapters. The first chapter reviews the historical background of the national SETI system, focusing on the key achievements of the Israeli academy and industry. The second chapter analyzes and maps the economic framework for innovation and the catalysts of economic growth using economic indices and comparative R&D metrics. The third chapter examines, using bibliometric indices (scientific publications and patents), Israel’s status in relation to other OECD countries. An analysis of Israel’s SETI cycle and mapping of the local R&D organizational system are described in Chapter 4. SWOT analysis of Israel’s SETI policy is presented in Chapter 5. The sixth chapter presents three inventories: an inventory of institutions involved in research activity and innovation; an inventory of the R&D instruments (the tools and programs through which the SETI policy is promoted); and an inventory of the legal tools (laws, regulations, and international treaties concerning SETI activity).
