New Danish Innovation Centre in Tel Aviv, Israel

Israel is the country in the OECD, which invests most in research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Investment in research makes up more than 4 percent of Israel’s GDP.

With the decision to open a new innovation centre in Tel Aviv, Denmark will have innovation centres in seven innovation hubs around the world; Munich, New Delhi, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley and now also in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The innovation centres play an important role in the internationalisation of Danish research, education and business, according to a new evaluation of the centres.

The Minister for Higher Education and Science Ulla Tørnæs emphasises that the new innovation centre will give Danish research and education institutions and Danish companies easier access to leading knowledge environments and relevant partners in Israel.

- We will strengthen Danish research by collaborating with the best environments internationally, and therefore I am pleased to announce the opening of a new Danish innovation centre. Israel invests heavily in research and development, and there is great potential for a strengthened Danish-Israeli knowledge collaboration, says the Minister for Higher Education and Science.

Before the opening of the innovation centre, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science will develop an action plan that will contribute to strengthening the cooperation between Denmark and Israel within research, innovation and higher education. The opening of the innovation centre will be a key element in the action plan.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen welcomes the new innovation centre and says:

- The opening of an innovation centre in Tel Aviv will greatly benefit Danish companies and research environments. Israel is a country of entrepreneurs with one of the world's leading innovation environments. Particularly within the healthcare sector and green technologies there are exciting opportunities for cooperation between Israeli and Danish entrepreneurial environments and companies.

The innovation centre will be located at the Danish Embassy in Tel Aviv and is expected to open in the autumn 2016.

For further information, please contact:

The Ministry of Higher Education and Science:

Head of Division Gitte Agerhus, Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, tel.: +45 7231 8250, e-mail: gha@fi.dk
Press Consultant Trine Søndergaard, tel.: +45 7231 8009, e-mail: tri@ufm.dk

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Head of Department Dorte Bech Vizard, Investment in Denmark & Innovation, tel.: +45 3392 1116, e-mail: dorviz@um.dk
Press Counsellor Poul Kjar, tel.: +45 4186 5975, e-mail: poukja@um.dk