Security Research

Israel is a leading science nation and a high technology country. Due to the overall political situation and the constant threat of terrorist attacks against the population, Israel has in recent decades developed an extraordinary ability to react to new security challenges and threat scenarios in a quick and flexible manner.

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In view of the increasing risks of terrorism and natural disasters, the German Federal Government has made civil security research a priority and has launched the first research programme focussing exclusively on this area. Budget funds of approximately €123 million have been earmarked for this programme for the period from 2007 to 2010. The programme forms part of the High-Tech Strategy for Germany.

Israel and Germany want to pool their expertise in science, research and industry by carrying out joint civil security research projects. Protecting critical infrastructures such as the energy and water supply, road traffic and the movement of goods and maintaining high security levels for citizens in the face of new threats and an increasingly complex and tightly networked world are central challenges for the future of both countries.

German and Israeli companies, research institutions and universities will carry out collaborative projects to develop new security products and solutions, accelerate innovation processes and gain competitive advantages in international high technology markets.

The first collaborative projects are to be launched before the end of the year. They will focus on areas such as the monitoring of drinking water, the detection of chemical, biological or explosive hazardous substances and the development of protection systems for emergency personnel. Further measures have also been proposed, including joint calls for proposals for the support and exchange of experts, measures for the exchange of experiences, and activities aimed at networking different stakeholders.

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