Despite its diminutive size and population, Israel has more companies listed on the NASDAQ than any country outside of North America and more technology companies than anyplace outside California. Israel has the third highest number of patents in the world and ranks third in the world in terms of the quality of basic research.

Many major multi-nationals have an established presence in Israel, including: HP, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Siemens, SAP, Philips, TimeWarner, Sony, Cisco, and more. Many others are involved in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) with Israeli companies. In fact, foreign investments in Israel have rocketed from $600 million in 1993 to about $21 billion in 2006.
 

What are some of the characteristics that make Israel such a hot bed of new technology and investment opportunities?

1. A highly-educated populace:

§      The highest ratio in the world of university degrees and academic publications to population

§      The world’s greatest per capita number of engineers, scientists and doctors.

2. A highly-motivated and resourceful workforce:

§      A multilingual population with cultural, historic and business ties to almost every other nation.

§      High productivity: In computer science, Israel ranks
2^nd in the world in productivity,  in chemistry, fourth, in molecular biology, 3^rd; in biology and biochemistry, 5^th; and in physics, 2^nd.

§      A unique combination of culture, skill and initiative that promotes adaptability, breakthrough technologies and quick time-to-market solutions.

3. Modern infrastructure and services required to conduct

                 business efficiently and effectively.

4. Ongoing internal economic growth in 2006 was 5.1% -

                 higher than the 2.6 percent average growth in the 30

                 member countries of the OECD. The Bank of Israel

                 predicts that the Israeli economy will grow by an

                 impressive 5.1% in 2007

5. Favorable gov’t policies: 

    § A wide range of investor incentives and benefits in

                  industry, tourism and real estate including

                  government R&D funding, investment grants of up to

                  24 percent of tangible fixed assets, reduced tax

                  rates, tax exemptions and other tax related

                  benefits.

6. International agreements:

    § Israel has an extensive network of Free Trade

                  Agreements, industrial R&D cooperation programs

                  international agreements and double taxation

                  avoidance treaties with countries throughout North

                  America, Europe and Asia.