Israel, Canada sign cooperation agreement in industry, science, research

Israel has become a magnet for those countries searching for a partner in research and innovation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday hosted David Johnston, Canada’s Governor General, during his first visit to Israel.

Johnston, the 28^th Governor General of Canada, is the first to make a state visit to Israel

The two leaders signed an agreement to cooperate in industry, science, and research scholarships.

“This is a pleasure not only to see you again, but to see you here and also to see you on the occasion of where we’re signing agreements and moving towards innovation,” Netanyahu stated. “This is where the future is. The future belongs to those countries who innovate, and Canada and Israel are right there and we can innovate a lot more together.”

At the meeting, Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis and MITACS CEO and Scientific Director Dr. Alejandro Adem signed a declaration of intent that constitutes a framework for negotiations on cooperation regarding scholarships and research.

MITACS is a Canadian company that builds partnerships between academia and the industry.

Chief Scientist Avi Hasson and Dr. Adem signed a memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation in the sciences.

Johnston and his wife Sharon were also guests of President Reuven Rivlin. They visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem and will visit Hebrew University’s Faculty of Medicine, where he will be a guest of the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) — one of the most innovative biomedical research organizations worldwide, bringing together Canadian and Israeli scientists to find solutions to the world’s most serious medical problems through a multidisciplinary approach.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News