To revolutionize the manufacturing sector, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, in partnership with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, launched an initiative to improve the research and development efforts of manufacturing companies across the country. The aim of this cooperation is to drive innovation, progress and competitiveness and ultimately increase the production capacity of the industry.
Under an agreement worth NIS 4 million, researchers at the Technion will join forces with Israel’s manufacturing industry and remove the barriers hindering about 100 factories, a preliminary study found. The recently signed agreement is expected to bring significant advances in enhancing the industry’s research capabilities and fostering a culture of innovation.
Amnon Merhav, Director of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, praised the ambitious project and stressed its potential to drive advanced research, innovation and production. “I congratulate the President of the Technion… Together we will use Israel’s relative advantage – the human factor – for the benefit of advancing the industry,” he said.
Over the past year, a joint team led by the Technion and the Industries Administration of the Department of Commerce and Industry conducted a comprehensive survey of the industry’s innovation needs in the northern region and the Academy’s ability to meet those needs.
Academics will help the industry solve problems
The investigation included meetings with Technion researchers at nearly 100 industrial facilities in the region. During these sessions, barriers to collaboration were identified and possible avenues for working together were suggested.
Can we decarbonize the industry? (Source: RICHARD HURD)
An important result of this assessment showed that the non-elitist manufacturing industry in particular is not realizing the full potential of collaboration with academia. While about 90% of these collaborations are conducted by high-tech and elite industrial companies, non-elite industrial companies face various obstacles that severely limit their participation.
Obstacles identified include differences in management resources, language differences between industry and academia, mismatched incentives between parties, and the bureaucratic complexities involved in establishing a collaboration.
Prof. Uri Sivan, President of the Technion, expressed the institution’s commitment to the welfare of society, national security and the Israeli economy. “The Technion always feels responsible for the society, its security and the economy of the State of Israel and in this tradition we see great potential in using the research taking place at the Technion for the benefit of the advancement of the manufacturing industry in the State.” Israels said he. “We are proud to be working with the Ministry of Economy and Industry on this important project.”
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