What can Germany and Israel learn from each other when it comes to innovation? High-profile discussants from both countries addressed this question at the German-Israeli Research and Innovation Forum in Munich.
At the German-Israeli Research and Innovation Forum, experts discussed innovation processes in Germany and Israel at the Vorhoelzer Forum of the Technical University of Munich. Among the approximately 100 guests were 26 young scientists from both countries, who exchanged ideas with experienced experts from business and science during a two-day supporting program, sharing their own ideas and opportunities for technology transfer.
In his welcoming speech, Johannes Eberle, Ministerialdiricher in the Bavarian Ministry of Science, that Israel and Germany could particularly benefit from each other. Sandra Simovich, Consul General of the State of Israel for Southern GermanyIn her welcoming address, she expressed her desire to integrate young scientists more closely into the debates surrounding innovation and research. She was particularly pleased to see the young scientists in the audience, who spent two days discussing company start-ups and developing new ideas for technology transfer. Reinhard Hüttl, Vice President of co-organizer Acatech, said that Germany is in a strong position but still has some catching up to do in the area of growth capital. Wayne D. Kaplan, Vice President for Research at the Technion, Israel's Technical University, warned that if we do not invest in basic research today, we will be lacking new technologies in ten years.
Optimization potential in both countries
A subsequent panel discussion also included Yuval Fuchs, Deputy Head of MASHAV, the Israeli counterpart of GIZ, and Rafael Wertheim, Senior Advisor of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft for Israel, took part. Hana Milanov, Entrepreneurship Professor at the Technical University of Munich, moderated the panel discussion. The panelists agreed that basic research will continue to play a key role in the future. Furthermore, a stronger culture of failure is particularly important in Germany with regard to company start-ups. Another German weakness is the lack of access to venture capital for company founders, whereas Israel could learn from Germany in structural matters and the area of productivity.
A group of 26 young scientists from Germany and Israel also visited the UnternehmerTUM MakerSpace as well as the Innovation Accelerator of the UN World Food Program.
