Hours before presidential visit, US-Israel technology initiative launched
Israel Hayom/ WHIA
Just hours before President Joe Biden was expected to land in Israel on his first presidential visit to the Jewish state, the two countries announced a new partnership to enhance technology cooperation.
“Today, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the State of Israel reaffirm their commitment to elevating the strategic partnership between the countries to new heights by launching the new Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology, tasked with establishing a U.S.-Israel technological partnership on critical and emerging technologies and solutions to global challenges: pandemic preparedness, climate change, implementation of artificial intelligence, and trusted technology ecosystems. The dialogue will also reinforce existing collaboration mechanisms,” the joint statement read. “The United States-Israel relationship reflects our shared values and interests and the true friendship between our peoples. We pledge to boost our mutual innovation ecosystems, to deepen bilateral engagements, advance and protect critical and emerging technologies in accordance with our national interests, democratic principles, and human rights, and to address geostrategic challenges.”
Israel, which is often called Start-Up Nation, is a key ally on technological matters and the two countries have been engaged for years in development of sophisticated anti-missile systems and other forms of scientific research.
The statement said that the two countries have been collaborating on “pandemic preparedness” by “exploring cooperative tech R&D ventures, including technology for disease surveillance and early warning and for rapid medical countermeasure responses” as well as on “trustworthy artificial intelligence” and “technology for addressing climate change.”
Below is the statement was issued by the White House today:
Joint U.S.-Israel Statement on Launching Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology
JULY 13, 2022
Today, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the State of Israel reaffirm their commitment to elevating the strategic partnership between the countries to new heights by launching the new Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology, tasked with establishing a U.S.-Israel technological partnership on critical and emerging technologies and solutions to global challenges: pandemic preparedness, climate change, implementation of artificial intelligence, and trusted technology ecosystems. The dialogue will also reinforce existing collaboration mechanisms.
The United States-Israel relationship reflects our shared values and interests and the true friendship between our peoples. We pledge to boost our mutual innovation ecosystems, to deepen bilateral engagements, advance and protect critical and emerging technologies in accordance with our national interests, democratic principles and human rights, and to address geostrategic challenges.
First, we recognize the importance of the technological ties between the United States and Israel, along with other key partners and allies.
Second, we resolve to encourage innovative solutions to global challenges and promote a shared agenda in the international arena.
Third, we will advance and facilitate a high-level bilateral inter-agency dialogue led by the respective national security councils of the United States and Israel to enhance our collaboration on promoting and protecting critical and emerging technologies in areas of global concern:
-Pandemic preparedness: exploring cooperative tech R&D ventures, including technology for disease surveillance and early warning and for rapid medical countermeasure responses.
-Trustworthy artificial intelligence: addressing important challenges, such as large-scale planning, implementation and logistical challenges through multidimensional optimization by means of cutting-edge AI in the fields of transportation, medicine and agriculture. This includes discussing evaluation and measurement tools for trustworthy AI, and for risk management and privacy-enhancing technologies.
-Technology for addressing climate change: cooperative R&D ventures and/or deploying technologies to drive equitable climate solutions (e.g., water reuse, solid waste management, clean and renewable energy).
-Trusted tech ecosystems: exchange information and seek to increase coordination on policies on risk management in our innovation ecosystems, including research security, investment screening, and export controls, as well as on technology investment and protection strategies for critical and emerging technologies.
Fourth, the Strategic Dialogue on Technology will convene annually, alternating between the United States and Israel. The first meeting will take place in Israel in the fall of 2022, to discuss advancing specific projects in the fields for cooperation mentioned above.
Fifth, we affirm our commitment to expanding our cooperation to further areas, and beginning an exchange program in quantum information science, so that the U.S. and Israel can jointly address strategic technology challenges and pursue our common goals for the mutual benefit of both our countries.