SNPI played a significant role at the OECD Global Forum on Technology’s event, which brought together high-level leadership, technology, and policy experts, collectively exploring the challenges shaping our technological future.

Our Chairman, Prof. Eugene Kandel, delivered a keynote address on shaping innovation ecosystems. Drawing insights from Israel’s experience as a global leader in innovation, he emphasized the need for a groundbreaking vision and a long-term smart policy, the pivotal role of public-private partnerships, and strategies to navigate both local and global challenges.

In these difficult times, the importance of international collaboration and cross-sector dialogue cannot be overstated. It’s noteworthy that the event was originally planned to be hosted in Israel, jointly led by the OECD, SNPI, and our partners the Israel Innovation Authority and the Israel National Digital Agency. However, in light of the brutal attack of October 7, it took place virtually.

We express gratitude for the opportunity to share our insights and experiences with the global community. By fostering collaboration and leveraging collective expertise, we can forge a brighter future for all.

Our CEO Uri Gabai and Senior Policy Fellow Danny Biran had the honor of presenting the Israeli innovation model and its ecosystem development over the last decades, to the President of Zambia Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, accompanied by Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Felix Mutati, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Stanley Kakubo, together with Ambassador of Israel to the Republic of Zambia Ms. Ofra Farhi and a delegation of prominent Zambian officials and private sector leaders.

The meeting was highly insightful, and as reported by Lusaka Times, the President expressed that “Zambia has drawn a lot of lessons from Israel through a presentation by Start-up Nation Policy Institute on the need to incorporate technology and allow the private sector to participate in the economic development of the country”.

Excited to see Zambia’s interest in strengthening its innovation ecosystem, we at SNPI believe in the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Israeli experience can inspire Zambia’s ambitious journey toward innovation-driven growth.

A New Era of Data Flows.

SNPI hosted a special conference that focused on the evolving landscape of global data protection. Alongside our partners – Israel Tech Policy Institute, Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co., and the U.S. Commercial Service Israel – we explored the groundbreaking CBPR system. This event served as a unique platform for connecting with stakeholders worldwide and staying informed about the latest cross-border data privacy protection developments.

Assaf Patir, our chief economist, introduced the CBPR system and presented our latest report, which examines Israel and the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules. Two captivating panels followed: The first panel focused on US data protection compliance and emerging enforcement priorities. The second panel revolved around trusted data flows and the CBPR framework.

When so much data is shared and transferred across borders every day – safeguarding personal information is becoming increasingly important.

The WOMEN IN TECH – Global Movement Summit brought together over 400 women from 50 countries in Paris to discuss the most pressing technological issues and to encourage women to pursue STEM careers. This event was a celebration of women’s achievements and contributions to the technology industry.

Yam Atir, our VP of Strategy and Policy, focused on the important topic: AI Ethics and Policy Making. She revealed the key element of Israel’s remarkable technological success: the cooperation between the public and private sectors. “Technology is a flowing river – it cannot be stopped, but it must be directed,” she said.

This insight sparked a passionate debate about the importance of cross-sector collaborations in realizing the full potential of revolutionary technologies like AI.

The ICI-SNPI Innovation Conference, in partnership with Crown Family Israel Center for Innovation (ICI), was a two-day event that brought together dozens of academics from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, for workshops and lectures on innovation.

The conference featured valuable insights from our leading team, alongside experts from Harvard University, Yale University, UCLA, MIT, London School of Economics, and more.

They included talks and workshops on the success of the Israeli high-tech industry, emphasizing the critical role of government support. As innovation leaders, we were proud to share our knowledge and experience, exchange ideas, and contribute to the development of innovation policy beyond Israel.

Photos: Vered Farkash

SNPI Chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel, CEO Uri Gabai, and Chief Economist Dr. Assaf Patir, along with representatives from the Israel Innovation Authority – presented an updated review of the current state of the Israeli high-tech industry.

We discussed trends in investment and employment in the Israeli hi-tech industry, our future outlook, and the implications for the Israeli economy.