Updated on: 2020-03-30
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Q1A. What arrangements, if any, do you have in place to ensure scientific advice informs national policy and decision making in relation to Covid-19? | Specific funding calls for ideation, pilots and manufacturing have been put in place. |
| Q1B. In what ways, if any, are you coordinating on Covid-19 STI responses at international level? | We are coordinating both on economic and health challenges. |
| Q2.Do you have dedicated arrangements in place for communicating science advice and for refuting misleading information to the public on Covid-19? | No |
| Q3. What new STI policy measures, if any, is your country taking to respond specifically to the Covid-19 crisis? | 50M Shekels grants, spearheaded by the government investment arm, the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), will support companies from all sectors with products that address the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. The IIA, Israel’s Ministry of Health, and the Ministry for Social Equality, through its Digital Israel initiative, announced on 24 March the allocation of NIS 50 million (approximately US $13 million) in grants for corona-fighting startups and companies. The grants will be allocated to companies submitting research and development plans, proofs-of-concept, products, and technological solutions that address the challenges of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. In addition, the IIA, the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, and the Manufacturers Association of Israel are calling on industrial facilities and companies to submit R&D plans for the increased production of coronavirus-related products. As part of the initiative, the government will offer financial support of 50% to 75% of expenses to plans that will demonstrate the potential to bolster the country’s healthcare system or provide breakthroughs in the fight against coronavirus. Example of a private sector initiative: https://m.facebook.com/events/2326989017... |
| Q4A. At national level, what mechanisms are you developing or relying upon to bring together different STI actors (researchers, industry, government, health sector, foundations, etc.) to effectively collaborate on responses to Covid-19? | The initiatives described in question 3 bring together several government organisations to fund new research and innovation projects targeting Covid-19. |
| Q4B. At international level, what mechanisms are you developing or relying upon to bring together different STI actors (researchers, industry, government, health sector, foundations, etc.) to effectively collaborate on responses to Covid-19? | We are trying to share relevant data supporting research. |
| Q5. What novel approaches, if any, is your country using to address the coronavirus crisis (e.g. use of machine learning, open science initiatives boosting access and sharing of data and research results, development and use of prediction models, etc.)? | Using Geo data synchronising with other health data with the aim to reach new analytic insights. OECD Secretariat additions (30 March 2020): The Israeli Ministry of Health launched a mobile app, called Hamagen to help to prevent the spread of coronavirus by enabling users to know if they have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the virus in the 14 days prior to the patient's diagnosis of the disease. The app uses location data from mobile devices and cross-references this information with the Ministry of Health’s updated epidemiological data. If the app identifies a match, the smartphone owner is directed to a link of the Ministry of Health containing all the information about next steps to take. (https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/2...) |
| Q6A. What impact on the STI system do you anticipate in the short-, medium- and long-term, and what measures are you implementing to address those? | Ideation - 4M shekels Academic applied research - 6-8M shekels Product and services development - 22-24M shekels Manufacturing support -18M shekels |
| Q6B. Is support of the STI system part of planned stimulus packages aimed at supporting the economy? | Yes |
| Q7. Is there anything else regarding the STI policy response to Covid-19 in your country you would like to mention? | [Left blank] |