A small country with big innovation dreams

But over the past seven decades, this small country has become one of the world’s most stable economies, with 9 million citizens and a flourishing market based primarily on innovation and advanced technologies. Israel is probably the boldest social experiment of the 20th century – in today’s lexicon the ultimate “start-up”.
From a land with virtually no natural resources, we have become an economy based on our most important and limitless natural resources: innovation and creativity. The necessity to overcome existing challenges has obliged Israel to invest in research and science, and develop a stable, export-oriented economy led by technological inventions.
Flash drives, voicemail, instant messaging and firewalls were all first developed in Israel. Drip irrigation, wastewater recycling and seawater desalination are part of the everyday life of every Israeli. Israel ranks No 3 for the number of companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, behind only the US and China. Israel has registered more patents per capita than any country in the world. Last but not least, in spite our rough neighbourhood, a recent poll ranked Israel the 12th best country in the world to live in.
The nickname “Start-Up Nation” was given to Israel in light of the booming success of young tech-based companies across the country. Israeli heterogeneous society is characterised by a strong spirit of innovative thinking and constant creativity. In such a vibrant society, it seems like every second person is an entrepreneur, and every child has an idea of how to do things better, faster or easier. Indeed, many multinational companies have identified the high potential which exists in Israeli market, thus hundreds of international companies have transferred their research and development hubs to Israel, and hired Israeli talents to develop their next cutting-edge products. Many Thai companies are also interested, and we witness a growing number of business delegations travelling from Bangkok to Tel-Aviv, scouting for innovative minds and ideas. 
Israel is also driven by one of the Jewish duties – “Tikkun Olam” – which refers to the responsibility of each Jewish person to improve the world. In other words, innovation can be of great value not only in the service of business, but also in the service of humankind. As such, Israel is harnessing innovative technologies in order to contribute to other countries. This includes cooperation with Thailand. Among the first such cooperative efforts is the Hubkapong Royal Project in Phetchaburi, where Israeli agricultural knowledge was used to build a stable and self-sustaining agricultural community. Throughout the years, more than 1,000 Thai professionals from different sectors have attended training programmes in Israel in fields stretching from education to public health to science and technology. Last summer, when the entire world was glued to news of efforts to rescue the Wild Boar football, Israeli innovation was helping power the rescue at the Chiang Rai cave. An Israeli technology company called Maxtech Networks provided mobile communication equipment that enabled the rescue team to communicate through the very thick cave walls. 
During these happy days of independence celebrations, we look forward with great curiosity towards a promising future. I am certain that innovation will continue to bring us, Israelis and Thais, even closer. 

Meir Shlomo is Israel’s ambassador to Thailand.