Canada and Israel to strengthen science, technology and innovation ties

#JimCarr; #AmarjeetSohi; #IsraelInnovationAuthority;  #cybersecurity; Aharon Aharon; #CanadaIsraelIndustrialResearchandDevelopmentFoundation   

Ottawa, Sep 9 (Canadian-Media):  An announcement was made this week by Jim Carr, Federal Minister of International Trade Diversification, on behalf of the Amarjeet Sohi, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources,  together with the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (CIIRDF) and Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), regarding the launch of a pilot program to facilitate new cybersecurity solutions for the energy sector, media reports said. 

---

Amarjeet Sohi. Image credit: Facebook page

his is the first of its kind pilot program to would strengthen the ties of Canada with Israel, an important economic partner of Canada,  with the aim of "the ultimate creation and adoption of new cybersecurity solutions to enhance the security and resiliency of Canadian energy infrastructure," said Carr.

Enhancing cooperation in the innovation and technology sectors and combining the expertise of both countries’ entrepreneurs and innovators would lead to creating well-paying jobs in the process for both the countries.

Sohi said that this partnership apart from furthering Canada’s and Israel’s shared interests of greater energy security, would lead to "Reducing cybersecurity risks through collaboration and dialogue will help Canada continue to build a resilient North American energy system,” added Sohi.

Being aware of its internationally acclaimed and highly-developed local cyber ecosystem Israel looks "forward to a remarkable collaboration with Canadian companies in finding innovative technological solutions to help mitigate cyber threats in the energy sector, both locally and globally” said Aharon Aharon, CEO, Israel Innovation Authority.

Earlier also foreign multinational corporations, including Canadian firms had been funding ​Israel’s highly skilled workforce and innovation strengths which have led to  establishment of more than 400 research and development centres in Israel.

Calls for proposals which are now open will close on September 30.

Both governments of Canada and Israel would collaborate in funding to address fundamental cybersecurity challenges during the current fiscal year.

Strategic collaboration between CIIRDF and the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) -- the voice of Canada’s natural gas delivery industry --  would be directly supported by this pilot program.

Established in 1994, the CIIRDF has financed more than 125 collaborative R&D projects, which have contributed to the joint development and sale of more than 60 new global products.

For both Canada and Israel, Science and technology are driving forces for job creation and economic growth. 

Other Canadian provinces, such as Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, have bilateral science, technology and innovation agreements with Israel.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)​