Nimrod Vromen, Companion at Arnon, Tadmor-Levi, CEO of Consiglieri Ltd
“The New Minister of Science and Expertise ought to do not forget that throughout COVID, Israeli high-tech represented 10% of the nationwide workforce, produced 25% of Israel’s tax revenues, and 43% of its export. This trade ought to due to this fact not be taken without any consideration; its mobility shouldn’t be underestimated. The federal government must make it possible for these within the trade keep right here in Israel and are joyful. They need to achieve this with any motion or means deemed attainable. For instance, one of many issues the brand new authorities ought to result in is taking constructive motion to scale back tax publicity: many parts of the tax code will be interpreted in onerous methods to Israeli entrepreneurs, reminiscent of capital positive aspects, remedy of worker choices, exit-related taxes, and extra. As well as, the brand new authorities should deliver again the ‘outdated hits’: in the event you improve authorities investments in tech, by way of incubators and different extra novel applications, it will likely be troublesome for Israeli founders to argue that they’re ‘subsidizing’ different much less productive sectors with out return.”
Dorel Ishai, CEO StartPlan
“The expansion of ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) and Arab populations in Israel is without doubt one of the most outstanding phenomena we have now witnessed within the final twenty years, and it’s clear that this can be a pattern that will not go away quickly. Based on some research, by 2030 these populations will make up a majority of the Israeli inhabitants. It needs to be our objective to efficiently combine these populations into the high-tech sector in preparation for this. Since high-tech would be the engine for Israeli financial progress for years to return, such integration is pivotal for our economic system. With consent moderately than coercion, the federal government ought to promote coaching in English, software program engineering research, math, and different high-tech instruments and expertise within the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities. It’s only by making this modification that we are going to proceed to steer within the high-tech trade because the Startup Nation.”
Sarit Moussayoff, Companion at M. Firon & Co., M&A and Head of China desk
“Now that the Republic of China is beginning to take into account the right way to lower their Covid-19 restrictions, and is wanting again to advancing cutting-edge applied sciences which will help China and its inhabitants in progressing day-to-day life (whether or not AI applied sciences, G-5, life science, automation, robotics, and many others.), it could be advisable if one of many issues the newly appointed authorities examines it to re-encourage China funding within the Israeli tech trade. This could clearly be restricted solely to such applied sciences which can be solely designed for civil makes use of (i.e.: no twin kinds of utilization in anyway). Such a transfer could have an upside, and be a win-win state of affairs for either side. At first, it would help in re-activating the Israeli tech trade in exporting superior applied sciences to China, and from there to the far east; it would re-boost capital that the sector wants, particularly throughout this era of market turbulence. It has been troublesome for companies to have the ability to elevate capital for ongoing operations so this may most notably assist. Such investments in Israeli tech will permit the Chinese language to depend on core Israeli applied sciences to advance its inhabitants and its nation.”
Yoachai Zeid-Ronen, CEO, Large-Tech 50
“The brand new authorities will face each quick and long-term challenges. Within the quick time period, there are various layoffs; in the long run, they should maintain steady progress.
Proper now, there isn’t a doubt that the layoff of 1000’s of staff have to be addressed. We’re at the moment seeing firms shedding staff to develop into extra environment friendly and burn much less cash, nonetheless, within the coming 12 months, we are going to possible see primarily younger firms shutting down and shedding all remaining staff. Add the rise in the price of dwelling and housing costs to the unemployment and also you get a mass variety of upper-class residents attempting laborious to make ends meet.
In the long run, rising the high-tech sector and its wants is a continuing problem to each authorities, however can be particularly for this one because the new authorities doesn’t symbolize what the high-tech sector appeared like. Which means, rising the sector requires a certified workforce and ease of doing enterprise. Growing the variety of certified folks requires bettering the extent of training and pulling new lessons into the high-tech sector together with orthodox and Arab males. This inclusion appears to be the alternative of what the brand new authorities needs.”
Ido Eylon, CEO of 3DM Digital Manufacturing
“The brand new authorities must take care of present geopolitical, macro-economic forces and turbulence worldwide which can be associated to the nation’s economic system in a really vast method, from unemployment and inflation by way of the price of dwelling and poverty.
Although perceived as one in all Israel’s strongest sectors, the Israeli high-tech sector could be one of many challenges the federal government must face, and most undoubtedly one of the essential ones.
With a major contribution to the GDP, and immense affect on the Israeli economic system general, the Israeli high-tech ecosystem is of nice significance to the nation, and given the present circumstances – it wants assist.
Contemplating the difficult funding ambiance, each within the non-public and the general public sectors, it will be clever for the federal government to take care of present burning points instantly whereas sustaining a long-run perspective. By that, I imply selectively offering momentary liquidity assist for firms that align with well-defined standards that assist long-term nationwide strategic capabilities and belongings.
Carried out responsibly, and with the proper set of phrases and circumstances, such a coverage would profit all, particularly these high-potential small and medium enterprises. Moreover, it would encourage productiveness by way of investing in it as a substitute of an unemployment allowance.”
Keren Leshem OCON Healthcare’s CEO
“Israel’s Innovation Authority and Ministry of Expertise play a major position in supporting Israeli girls’s high quality of life by funding initiatives associated to girls’s well being. It will be important that sources can be directed to targeted analysis round girls’s, anatomy, physiology, and associated illnesses and to make sure these devoted budgets are allotted for the wants of half of Israel’s inhabitants.”
Amir Zolty, Companion and Head of Hello-Tech Apply, Lipa Meir & Co.
“What ought to the brand new authorities do to help the native technological trade? My quick reply could be: go away the interior perimeter to the trade and professionals and use the governmental powers to advertise and facilitate a fertile and secure ecosystem which shall allow and assist the trade. Extra particularly, the federal government ought to improve the Israel Innovation Authority’s price range (or not less than keep away from any cuts), and go away it to the IAA, and to not politicians, the decision-making and initiatives on this area (but additionally move required laws – the place wanted).
The federal government ought to deal with supporting, selling, and even perhaps increasing the burgeoning enterprise and technological relations with a few of our neighbouring nations – following the Abraham Accords. Now we have already witnessed some promising industrial developments on this area, and alternatives are countless.
The federal government ought to put technological and Twenty first-century training as a serious goal – with an emphasis on the geographic and socio-economic periphery. The non-public sector is greater than keen to assist – however native and anecdotal initiatives aren’t sufficient.
The federal government ought to pay nice consideration to the potential impact of drastic political (inner and exterior), financial, and infrastructural adjustments on Israel’s picture as a secure and enabling expertise hub – dwelling to greater than 100 analysis facilities of multinational entities and a go-to place for the worldwide expertise and enterprise neighborhood.”
Yael Shimon-Many, Companion within the Hello-Tech Group at Pearl Cohen
“In recent times, we see a gentle improve within the incorporation of latest startups, alongside the participation of profitable Israeli firms (“unicorns”) within the race for an IPO on the Nasdaq. The present slowdown out there will open a possibility for Israel to protect exactly the great creating mid-sized firms right here within the native market. To do that, the state should create circumstances that may encourage Israeli expertise firms to develop and set up themselves in Israel, whereas protecting their headquarters and a lot of the manpower right here. This may be achieved by way of governmental help in technological infrastructures, easing regulation in related fields of operation and offering tax advantages for rising firms in Israel (whereas regulating the taxation of traders and funds that assist high-tech firms). All needs to be executed alongside the allocation of presidency funds devoted to constantly supporting innovation, together with by educating the youthful generations (and future Israeli manpower).
The brand new authorities ought to allocate sources and ease the forms as talked about above primarily in “conventional” fields which can be nonetheless lagging when it comes to applied sciences and innovation, reminiscent of actual property (proptech), insurance coverage (insuretech) and digital well being, in a method that may maximize worth for the high-tech trade in addition to for the state and the residents who eat these companies.”
Moshiel Biton, CEO & Co-Founder at Addionics
“Probably the most formidable process going through the Minister of Innovation is to proceed to bolster Israel’s standing as a worldwide expertise chief in all fields, from autos to power and cyber. Up to now, Israel has confirmed that it has each very good entrepreneurs and a very good atmosphere to develop expertise able to changing into large companies, however each entrepreneurs and firms require a supportive atmosphere and a authorities that is aware of the right way to promote such actions. A first-rate instance of that is the exercise happening within the area of transport and the EcoMotion Neighborhood.
So far as I’m involved, one of the essential sectors on which the Minister of Innovation must focus his/her consideration is the power sector. That is the trade with the quickest world progress price, with huge funding each by governments and personal firms – all of which is designed to develop power independence and expedite the shift to renewable power to scale back our carbon emissions and create a a lot greener future for us all.
If the federal government is sufficiently astute to assist such exercise enabling it to show right into a technological energy on this area, it will likely be capable of generate vital income for the state, funding from large companies, create jobs and maybe above all, to ensure a way forward for power safety with out having to depend on different nations, as is the case with many EU states immediately.”
Eyal Hoffman, Managing Companion at Highroad
“Whoever is because of enter the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Expertise will face a number of challenges, primarily as underneath the present state of affairs the high-tech “engine” that has been pulling the remainder of the economic system behind it’s now continually slowing down; the ecosystem is present process a profound change. This isn’t a query of a change for the higher or the more serious, however merely a change from what we have now develop into accustomed to in recent times. Given this example, the earlier the policymakers can tailor an acceptable answer and supply assist for the trade, the higher the probabilities of a speedy and robust restoration.
It’s exactly as a result of Israel is a small nation with quite a few vital challenges, particularly these affecting the assorted fields of infrastructure – transportation, water, and power – that we would have anticipated it to be comparatively straightforward to facilitate the event and software of options to issues and the infrastructure-related challenges with which we have to contend. In observe, the very fact is that it’s exactly these quite a few firms working in these areas that discover it extraordinarily troublesome to function in Israel – we’re coping with a really small market that’s not the goal market within the overwhelming majority of instances. Consequently, many traders chorus from investing in these fields, as in distinction to the world of software program – each improvement and progress are normally a lot slower and extra gradual processes.
If so, then in my humble opinion, one of many key duties awaiting the incoming Minister of Innovation, Science and Expertise is one that may additionally promote these initiatives with the flexibility to enhance folks’s lives, allow them to behave and acquire expertise within the native market, and enhance the businesses’ probabilities of success – to advertise investments and integration with a deal with infrastructure-related applied sciences, alongside supportive regulation.”