Science and technology in Israel

Note: this article is about the exact sciences, natural sciences, and engineering.

Israeli contributions to science and technology have been significant. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, Israel has worked in science and engineering. Israeli scientists have contributed in the areas of genetics, medicine, agriculture, computer sciences, electronics, optics, engineering and other high-tech industries.

Israeli science is particularly well known for its military technology, from simple submachine guns like the Uzi, ranging to advanced anti-ballistic defense systems - like the Arrow. Moreover, Israel is among the small group of nations in the world that have the capability to launch satellites into orbit (the others include the USA, Russia, the People's Republic of China, Japan, India, and some European nations through the ESA).

As a dry land, Israel has pioneered in advanced agricultural technology such as water-conserving irrigation methods, salinity research, enriched compost, irrigation, and enhanced genetic engineered crops. Dry lands which have peace with Israel have received aid from and/or collaborated with Israeli experts in order to improve desert agriculture and produce more food. Israel has a world-wide reputation in this area.

Israel also has a high reputation in theoretical physics. Israeli physicists tend to deal more with theoretical and conceptual aspects of physics, especially in questions of time and space, and the paradoxes and strange phenomena of quantum mechanics.

Israel is also known for its well-developed and revolutionary medicine. Israel medical researchers and surgeons have worldwide reputation, in searching for new cures as well in high technology and reliability. Recently, a group of researchers from the Weizmann Institute developed a molecular bio-computer that may help cure cancer.

Scientific institutions

• The Hebrew University, Jerusalem
• Technion, Haifa
• Tel Aviv University
• Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
• Bar-Ilan University
• Vulcanii Agricultural Institute, Rishon LeZion.
• Weizmann Institute, Rehovot

High Tech companies

• Civilian
  • Amdocs
  • Checkpoint
  • Chromatis
  • El-Op
  • Teva - pharmaceuticals
  • Netafim - computerized drip irrigation, etc.
  • M-Systems - Leader in flash memory storage
  • Mercury - Leader in Software Quality tools
  • Zend Technologies - Web infrastructure software, inventors of PHP.
• Security\military\governmental
  • Elbit
  • El-Op
  • IAI - Israel Aircraft Industries
  • IMI - Israeli Military industry (TAAS)
  • Rafael - The Authority for weapons development
  • Soltam - military products and armor

Famous Israeli scientists

Nobel Prize Winners

See also: List of Jewish Nobel Prize winners

Three Israelis have won science Nobel Prizes. Biologists Avram Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover of the Technion shared the Chemistry prize in 2004. Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahneman had previously won the 2002 prize in Economics. In 2005 Robert Aumann from The Hebrew University also won the prize in Economics.

Additionally, 1958 Medicine laureate Joshua Lederberg was born to Jewish Palestinian parents, while 2004 Physics laureate David Gross partly grew up in Israel, where he obtained his undergraduate degree.

Other scientists

Prominent scientists are listed in List of Israelis. For a more comprehensive listing, see List of Israeli scientists.

Related topic

• Economy of Israel

External links

• Israel Science and Technology Homepage
• Isracast Science and technology section - News on Science and technology from Israel - Updated weekly (English)
• 2004 - The Year in science and technology in Israel
• 2005 - The Year in science and technology in Israel