Israel, Canada announce cooperative venture YNET
New Energy, Science and Technology Fund to create jobs, strengthen countries’ economies
Daniel Horowitz
Published: 10.31.12
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver and Israeli Minister of Energy and Water Resources Uzi Landau announced on Sunday the establishment of an exciting cooperative venture between the two countries with the birth of the Canada–Israel Energy, Science and Technology Fund.
The new fund – to which the Canadian government will contribute $5 million over a three-year period – will allow Canada and Israel to pursue further cooperation down the road to advance their mutual shared energy interests.
The government of Israel will provide funds on a project-by-project basis to initiatives in this program, the approval of which will be in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Office of the Chief Scientist in the Israeli Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor (OCS).
Eligible projects for the new Fund will be led by industry but can include academic partners on both sides as research and development sub-contractors to the project.
“This new scientific initiative will create jobs and strengthen the economies of both our countries through greater energy collaboration,” said Minister Oliver. “Today’s announcement underscores the important strategic relationship between our two countries.”
“In the endeavor to develop Israel’s natural resources, we find in Canada a natural partner to cooperate with and together look for ways to maximize our capabilities,” said Dr. Landau.
During his visit to Toronto, Landau appeared as the keynote speaker at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation, at an event sponsored by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, its advocacy arm, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and Israel’s consulate general in Toronto DJ Schneeweiss, where he spoke about the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
“A nuclear-armed Iran would be a boon to terrorists, a threat to the Middle East and a spur to encourage other countries in the region to develop atomic arsenals,” Landau told the 250 attendees of the event. “Iran is not only Israel’s problem, but the problem of the free world and the United States.”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4299293,00.html
Canada, Israel to establish joint energy research JERUSALEM POST
By SHARON UDASIN
10/31/2012
Canada to invest $5m. over course of three years, while Israeli government will allocate resources based on the specific needs.
In order to broaden the cooperative work on energy between Israel and Canada, ministers from both countries announced on Monday that they would be establishing a joint fund for bilateral research in the field.
Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau and Canadian Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver made the announcement at a Monday Israel-Canada business seminar in Toronto, the Energy and Water Ministry reported on Tuesday. For its part, Canada will be investing $5 million over the course of three years in the fund, while Israeli government will allocate resources based on the specific needs of each project, according to the ministry.
“Canada is a close friend of Israel, and we see in it a natural partner in the effort to develop natural resources,” Landau said. “Between the countries is a long-standing relationship that is warm and strong and based on beliefs and values. The new fund will contribute to the economic advancement of two countries and help strengthen ties between the business sectors.”
Through the fund, the two countries aim to promote research and development in the energy field, as well as encourage innovation, improve competitiveness and productivity and enhance the quality of life of residents of both places. As per the agreement, the projects that will win financing will be those conducted by industry, as well as others from the academic realm, the ministry said.
During an interview with The Jerusalem Post in Jerusalem this June, Oliver had stressed the importance of future collaborations between the two countries, in both the traditional and renewable energy fields.
Specifically, Oliver pointed to Canada’s wealth of experience in offshore drilling and extraction of non-conventional oil, and Israel’s status as a “hotbed of innovation.”
In June, both Oliver and Landau had promised that there would be more bilateral agreements between the two countries moving forward, particularly in the energy sector.
Now, the two ministers are aiming to make this initial pledge a reality.
“Together, we will find new ways to enhance the scientific capabilities of the two countries, and thus make a significant contribution to their residents,” Landau said.
http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=289911