Executive Summary

High-Tech During Covid – Innovation Authority Report 2020-2021

Is this the end of the Israeli "Start-Up Nation” era?

Israeli high-tech continued to break investment records even during the Covid crisis. Alongside the industry’s maturation, the number of new startups is declining sharply, the number of seed rounds is stagnating, and the Innovation Authority’s budget has been eroded. How will these changes influence the industry’s future and what can the government do to preserve Israel’s competitive advantage?

What Will the Future High-Tech Generation Look Like?

Israeli high-tech is undergoing a transformation – its employees are not as young but are still based in Tel Aviv. One tenth of employees in Israel work in high-tech and pay a quarter of the country’s total income tax. One in every four students is studying a technology subject and will soon attempt to integrate into the high-tech industry, however the Covid crisis has made the industry tougher for women and inexperienced juniors. Will they find work after completing their studies?

How can Israeli High- Tech Help Rehabilitate the Economy?

Guaranteeing the Israeli economy’s continued prosperity and the leading global position of its high-tech industry depends on several key factors. One of these is a state policy that supports the creation of infrastructures necessary to develop innovative technologies and train the next generation of high-tech employees. At the same time, significant changes in the government’s policy and regulatory perception will aid Israel’s recovery from its largest ever economic crisis by implementing Blue & White technology solutions.

Activities of the Israel Innovation Authority’s Divisions

The Israel Innovation Authority strives to provide solutions for the various challenges facing the Israeli innovation ecosystem via six operative divisions. Each division is focused on specific tasks and clients and offers a unique set of tools for contending with the different challenges throughout the technology lifecycle.