Mountain View, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today signed a broad agreement to develop joint projects and conduct mutually beneficial research in California and Israel.
"Through this agreement, California and Israel will build on their respective strengths in research and technology to confront critical problems we both face, such as water scarcity, cybersecurity and climate change," said Governor Brown.
The agreement will boost economic, cultural and academic cooperation between California and Israel, with an emphasis on water conservation, alternative energy, cybersecurity, health and biotechnology, education and agricultural technology.
The agreement will also enable Israeli companies to access California's Innovation Hubs (iHUB), an innovation network that includes 16 clusters of research parks, technology incubators, universities and federal laboratories, together with economic development organizations, business groups and venture capital funds.
The agreement, signed today, is copied below:
Memorandum of Understanding On the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership for Joint Innovation, Exchanges and Cooperation Between The Government of the State of California, United States of America And The Government of the State of Israel
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA (hereinafter "the Participants") RECOGNIZE THAT:
WHEREAS, two-way trade between Israel and California totaled over $4 billion in 2013 - one of the largest two-way trade relationships between Israel and a U.S. State; and
WHEREAS, the State of California and the State of Israel share close ties and are global leaders in the alternative energy, environmental technology, and other technology-based industry sectors; and
WHEREAS, the State of California is home to the largest in-state innovation network in the United States, which offers technology-commercialization opportunities for the State of Israel; and
WHEREAS, the Participants seek to expand the current level of cooperation between Israel and California in, but not limited to, alternative energy, environmental technology, health, food and agriculture and other technology based industry sectors, business innovation, research and development.
THEREFORE, IT IS DECLARED AS FOLLOWS:
The Participants hereby sign this Memorandum of Understanding for the purposes of establishing a formal relationship between them to foster economic cooperation and economic development, facilitate joint industrial research and development, and enhance business relationships and educational opportunities to foster job creation and incubate global solutions from joint California-Israel innovation initiatives.
To achieve these aims:
1. The Participants intend to seek to convene bilateral, interagency and inter-ministerial working groups with international expertise to coordinate initiatives.
2. The Participants plan to facilitate collaborations between Israeli and Californian entrepreneurs and researchers through (though not exclusively limited to) the California innovation hub (iHub) network - a network consisting of self-funded, collaborative regional innovation clusters, uniting government, universities, foundations, national labs and the private sector.
3. The Participants intend to support and encourage their people and competent authorities to further develop interpersonal contacts and exchanges, and to promote mutual cooperation, understanding, and friendship by encouraging ad hoc task forces, trade delegations, and professional exchanges between Israel and California in key sectors including, but not limited to:
a.) Water Conservation and Management
b.) Alternative Energy and related Clean Technologies
c.) Health and Biotechnology Solution
d.) CyberSecurity
e.) Arts & Culture
f.) Education
g.) Agricultural Technologies
4. The Participants intend to support and encourage the creation of public-private partnerships between Californian and Israeli entities in these areas of economic development, social entrepreneurship, or academic research related to the above activities.
5. The Participants intend to support and encourage the strengthening of sister city programs between Israeli and California cities, which are designed to enhance opportunities for cultural and educational exchanges, economic partnerships, and social entrepreneurship on the local level.
6. The Participants intend to encourage collaboration between California and Israeli universities, public and private research institutions.
This Memorandum of Understanding is intended to become effective on the date it is signed and does not create any legally binding rights or obligations for either Participant. This Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Mountain View on the 5th day of March, 2014, corresponding to the 3rd day of Adar II of 5774.
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