The United States and Israel outline strategic alliance in science and emerging technology

Strategic partnership

On 13 July, during President Biden’s multi-day visit to Israel, President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced a new strategic technology alliance. The announced alliance between the United States and Israel are in the following areas:

• Pandemic Preparedness – exploring cooperative technology R&D ventures, including technology for disease surveillance and early warning, and for rapid medical countermeasure responses (within 60-90 days);

• Climate – cooperative R&D ventures and/or deploying technologies to drive equitable climate solutions (e.g., water reuse, solid waste management, and clean and renewable energy) with the main goal being to develop tools capable of having an impact on the global climate crisis;

• Artificial Intelligence – cooperation on A.I. technologies in transportation, medicine, agriculture, regulation, and public sector ethics; and

• Quantum – cooperation in the field of quantum information science.

The partnership will be in an interagency format, with annual meetings held alternately in the two countries, the first of which is scheduled to take place in Israel this fall. The Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology will be established by the countries' national security advisers – indicating this as a matter of supreme strategic importance for both countries.

Read the full joint statement between the United States and Israel here.

Israel’s role as innovation ecosystem

The joint statement committed the United States and Israel to expanding their innovation ecosystems, advancing emerging technologies, and finding creative solutions to unprecedented global challenges through promoting a shared agenda in the global arena.

It should be emphasized that, prior to this partnership with Israel, the United States has only three similar partnerships in the fields of A.I. and quantum with Great Britain, Australia, and Japan. This is indicative of Israel's economic resilience and its status as a leading country in the fields of technology and innovation. Israel ranks in the top five globally in number of start-ups per capita and venture funding per capita, and is seen widely as a global hub of technological and scientific innovation. 

In the announcement of the strategic alliance, Prime Minister Lapid stated: "This joint announcement puts Israel at the forefront of global innovation and solidifies its status as a leading technological power. Our vision for one million people in hi-tech begins with international cooperation that will bring new opportunities for the hi-tech sector in Israel."

Next steps

The strategic alliance announcement sets the expectation for future announcement on the implementation of the alliance, including the form of such cooperation and the resources to be invested in such projects.

Authored by Zohar Nevo and Aaron Levitats.