Economic ties between Canada and Israel continue to grow, with the announcement over the weekend that Grand Challenges Israel (GCI), which is modelled on Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), will fund 10 Israeli innovators offering solutions to health, water and agricultural challenges faced by developing countries.
The announcement came during a meeting on Sunday between Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Israeli innovators will each receive 500,000 shekels ($152,000 Cdn) from GCI, to further research and product development in a variety of areas, including early detection of pneumonia, malaria control and biotechnology development.
GCI is an initiative of the chief scientist in the Ministry of the Economy, the Prime Minister’s Office and MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Co-operation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It was created in consultation with Grand Challenges Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). GCC was founded in 2010 and is funded by the Canadian government. It supports innovators in low- and middle-income countries, as well as in Canada, who attempt to integrate science and technology to offer benefits in health and other social concerns around the world.
The partnership between GCC and GCI was discussed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Harper’s visit to Israel in January 2014.
Peter Singer, CEO of GCC, said the organization operates as a sort of venture capital program, injecting funds into early-stage efforts by innovators to produce products or solutions that will help developing countries in a variety of fields.
To date, GCC has provided $158 million to about 700 innovators operating in more than 70 countries. Other funders, including those in the private sector, have added another $224 million in later stages of product development.
Creation of GCI in co-operation with GCC “taps Israeli innovation and entrepreneurship to tackle global challenges,” Singer said.
“Canada and Israel are working together to do good in the world, using science and innovation,” he added.
GCC played an important role in introducing GCI into an international network of similar organizations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as others in India and Brazil, Singer said.
Fifteen years ago, the Gates Foundation began to fund a meningitis vaccine that has been introduced into Africa, leading to a 90 per cent reduction in incidents of the disease, Singer stated.
“That’s the kind of good people should expect from innovation.” Not all projects will succeed, but those that do “will be transformative. Innovation can be a game-changer,” he added.
“I think it’s something that Canadians in the Jewish community can feel proud of, the way Canada is supporting Israel to improve the lives of people in the developing world,” Singer said.
“Today’s announcement is the latest example of the significant mutual benefits to be found in burgeoning Canada-Israel research and technology ties,” said Shimon Fogel, CEO of CIJA.
“That Israelis looked to Canada for a model to nurture innovation is a direct result of the countless partnerships and connections that have been forged between Canadian and Israeli researchers, academics and relevant government ministries,” he said.
“CIJA was pleased to play a supporting role in bringing GCC to Israel. We look forward to seeing the results of their exciting projects.
We will continue working to strengthen Canada-Israel research partnerships – which have the potential to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today,” Fogel stated.