Israel first neighbouring country to join EU competitiveness program
Posted on November 11, 2007 • By Miriam Schwab
Category: Business | Tags: | Comments
Israel is the first neighbouring country to join the European Union’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). This program promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to eurofundingMag, “The participation of Israel in community programmes is an important step in the process of progressive economic integration between Israel and the EU in the framework of the ENP.” It seems like Israel plans on being a pretty active participant in this program, having already joined one pillar in the program, and expressing interest joining the other two pillars.
Israel has been involved in other EU innovation-related programs, such as the “Research and innovation” program of the sixth Framework Program.
And you thought milk was boring [funny video]
Posted on November 7, 2007 • By Rebecca Markowitz
Category: Videos | Tags: | Comments
A funny take on the web2.0 culture. In Israel. In a supermarket. In English.
[Hat tip: Viral blog]
Here 4 The Year – a new web resource for students in Israel
Posted on November 6, 2007 • By Miriam Schwab
Category: Art and Culture | Tags: | Comments
Every year, thousands of students come to Israel to spend a year studying in various overseas programs. For most of these students, this is the first time they will be separated from their families for such an extended period of time. A new site has been launched aimed to help students in their new environment by providing useful information to both students and their parents related to their year in Israel. Called Here 4 The Year, (www.here4theyear. com) the website provides touring tips, a calendar of key events, nutritional information, and valuable tips on navigating the “system.” The website also provides information for the parents, including a column by a clinical psychologist. Read more»
Israel backing new Thomson budget flights to Tel Aviv
Posted on November 4, 2007 • By Miriam Schwab
Category: Art and Culture | Tags: | Comments
The Guardian, one of England’s largest papers, has published a review of Thomson airline’s new budget flights to Israel. Apparently, Israel’s tourist board is wisely contributing to this new offering by covering a percentage of Thomson’s marketing budget.
The writer asks a representative from Israel’s tourist board if Tel Aviv is safe, and he is told that “you can walk down the street at night without fear.” The writer says that he didn’t mean crime, he meant bombs. I guess that if you can walk down the street at night that doesn’t indicate safety for some reason. But anyways, Uzi Gafni and a Thomsonfly rep answer him as follows:
Travellers face such dangers elsewhere in the world, Mr Gafni points out, and adds that there have been no attacks in Tel Aviv for a year.
Guy Stephenson, from Thomsonfly, argues that Egypt, Turkey and Morocco have suffered more from terrorism recently, although he concedes the perception remains that Israel is particularly badly afflicted.
And then, in typical British fashion, man-on-the-scene makes sure we all remember that “None of these arguments, of course, will convince people who abjure travel to Israel because of the country’s stance on Palestine.” Does he write these types of caveats when he’s reviewing travel to, say,
[Hat tip to Michael Horesh for pointing out this article and the typical British caveat]
Excellent interview with Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer
Posted on November 4, 2007 • By Miriam Schwab
Category: Business | Tags: | Comments
The Council on Foreign Relations recently posted a video of an interview with Stanley Fischer, the Governor of the Bank of Israel. He is interviewed by Jacob Frenkel, a former Governor.
The interview is really interesting (if you find this kind of thing interesting). Fischer gives a perspective on the Israeli economy that you won’t get in the media or elsewhere, such as how poverty is measured, how Israel has managed to cut government spending, and how taxes will be reduced to 44% in total by 2010! I’m hoping that includes Bituach Leumi (social insurance). Read more»
Samsung makes first acquisition in over 10 years – and it’s Israeli
Posted on November 2, 2007 • By Miriam Schwab
Category: Business | Tags: | Comments
Samsung Electronics hasn’t bought a company since April 1997. Until this past Wednesday, that is, when the company acquired Tel Aviv-based TransChip Israel Ltd., reportedly for $70m. (If you try to visit www.transchip.com, you are redirected to a page on Samsung’s site about imaging solutions.)
TransChip was founded in 1999, and specialises in designing, developing, and marketing image sensors used in digital cameras — complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors. Read more»
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