IIA Initiative Seeks To Draw Foreign AI Experts To Israel

Israel is seeking to attract AI experts from abroad to work in local high-tech companies, with a new investment worth 10 million shekels (approx. $2.6 million) to fund the effort.

The drive has been launched by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), the branch of the government dedicated to advancing the local high-tech industry, and is open to what it describes as “highly skilled AI researchers with advanced degrees and substantial industry experience.”

The IIA has issued a Call for Proposals (CFP) from Israeli organizations with a proven track record of managing personnel from abroad and the ability to integrate such personnel into the local high-tech sector.

The initiative, the IIA says, will address a gap in the Israeli tech ecosystem as well as encourage long-term growth and innovation in the sector.

The CFP will provide between 50 and 70 percent of the costs for individual two-year programs to integrate the experts from abroad.

Programs will be approved for a duration of 24 months and will include substantial support to ensure successful integration of the experts into the Israeli high-tech industry.

“This initiative aims to strengthen the human capital in Israel by bringing the best AI experts to work in local high-tech companies: bringing leading global experts in AI is critical to maintaining Israel’s leadership in the field,” said IIA CEO Dror Bin.

“This pilot program’s success will pave the way for similar initiatives in AI and other technology fields. We believe that creating a supportive and advanced work environment will enable these experts to develop and lead innovative projects, contributing to the Israeli economy and Israel’s status as a global innovation and technology superpower.”