Cooperation Between Israel
and the State of Nebraska

Binational foundation grants shared by Nebraska institutions:

Recipients of grants from U.S.-Israel binational foundations:

Creighton University
Farrall Instruments, Inc.
University of Nebraska

Agreements with Israel

In 1993, Gov. Ben Nelson signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote trade and exchanges related to agriculture.

Partners For Change

The U.S.-Israel relationship is based on the twin pillars of shared values and mutual interests. Given this commonality of interests and beliefs, it should not be surprising that support for Israel is one of the most pronounced and consistent foreign policy values of the American people.

It is more difficult to devise programs that capitalize on the two nations' shared values than their security interests; nevertheless, such programs do exist. In fact, these SHARED VALUE INITIATIVES cover a broad range of areas, including the environment, science and technology, education and health.

Today's interdependent global economy requires that trade policy be developed at the national and state level.

Many states have recognized the opportunity for realizing significant benefits by seeking to increase trade with Israel. No fewer than 23 states, including Nebraska, have cooperative agreements with Israel.

In 2007, Nebraska exported over $21 million worth of manufacturing goods to Israel. The total value of exports since 1996 is over $156 million. In addition, Nebraska companies received approximately $100,296 in 2006 for U.S. government-funded military contracts with Israel through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program (U.S. military assistance to Israel). Israel now ranks as Nebraska's 31st leading trade partner.

Israel is certainly a place where potential business and trade partners can be found. It can also be a source, however, for innovative programs and ideas for addressing problems facing the citizens of Nebraska.

Israel, for example, has developed a number of pioneering education programs. One, the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters, has been praised by President Clinton as “the best preschool program on earth” and replicated throughout the country.

A range of other exciting approaches to social problems like unemployment, environmental protection and drug abuse have been successfully implemented in Israel and could be imported for the benefit of Americans.

The potential for greater cooperation with Israel for the benefit of Nebraska is limited only by the imagination.

Nebraska Firms Profit From Business With Israel

As the only country with free trade agreements with both the United States and the European community, Israel can act as a bridge for international trade between the United States and Europe. Moreover, because of the deep pool of talent, particularly in high-technology areas, Israel provides excellent investment opportunities. Some of the nation's largest companies, such as IBM, Microsoft, Motorola, Intel and McDonald's have found that it is indeed profitable to do business in Israel.

More than 30 Nebraska companies have discovered the benefits of doing business in Israel, including Dale Electronics/Vishay and J.A. Woolam Company Inc.

Dale Electronics became a subsidiary of Vishay Intertechnology in 1985, thus strengthening Vishay's business in Israel. Vishay has been doing business in Israel since 1969. Vishay is one of the world's largest manufacturers of passive electronic components and discrete semiconductors, with plants in 14 countries, including Israel. Their sales reach nearly $2 billion per year. Vishay components can be found in almost all electronic equipment, such as telephones, computers, cars, video and audio equipment, medical equipment and satellites produced by U.S. or European manufacturers.

Vishay has four plants in Israel, which produce 160 million components daily, of which 99 percent are exported to Europe, the U.S. and Asia. "Vishay Israel manufacturing operations draw upon unique human and economic resources; a reservoir of competent, loyal, scientific and technical personnel with a strong work ethic...Waves of immigration from the former Soviet Union have brought Vishay Israel a wealth of talented scientists, engineers, and electronics technicians," according to Glyndwr Smith, Assistant to the CEO and Senior Vice President of Vishay. Its Dimona plant is one of the few plants in the world able to manufacture tantalum capacitors that require a difficult 52-step process.

"Some of Vishay’s most sophisticated products are produced in Israel. Every Vishay Israel factory, every product line, meets the world’s most stringent standards," adds Smith. Over thirty years, Vishay's success in Israel has grown exponentially in the passive component industry, with sales surging from less than $1 million to $330 million dollars.

J.A. Woolam Co. is another Nebraska company that has had success in Israel. Marketing manager James Hilfiger says, "I really enjoyed the diversity of research that I have been involved in, and our customers have been involved with, in such a small country. You can see that they are pioneering in many areas including chemistry, biotechnology and in semiconductors." J.A. Woolam Company has sold the Israel Foreign Ministry ellipsometers used to measure their films and coatings (can be found on sunglasses, laser optics and in computer disks).

Joint ventures between Israeli and Nebraska companies can obtain funding from the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD). The United States and Israel established BIRD in 1977 to fund joint U.S.-Israeli teams in development and subsequent commercialization of innovative, non-defense technological products. BIRD funds projects in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Most grant recipients are small businesses involved with software, instrumentation, communications, medical devices and semiconductors.

Since its inception, BIRD has funded more than 740 joint high-tech R&D projects through conditional grants totaling more than $210 million. Products developed from these ventures have generated sales of more than $8 billion, tax revenues of more than $200 million in the United States alone and created an estimated 20,000 American jobs. Nebraska companies have profited from more than $300,000 of BIRD grants.

Scientific Innovations

The University of Nebraska is among Nebraska institutions that have shared with counterparts in Israel $100,000 in grants awarded by the Binational Science Foundation (BSF) since 1987. BSF was established in 1972 to promote research cooperation between scientists from the United States and Israel. It has awarded more than 3,000 grants, involving scientists more than 400 institutions located in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Yale and the University of Connecticut are among the grant recipients.

University of Nebraska scientist Donald C. Rundquist and his colleagues are studying how to use a remote sensing system to monitor some aspects of water quality, such as its color. He and his Israeli colleagues have worked independently and then compared data sets, approaches and instruments. Together they have produced a number of publications. Working with Israelis has provided "training opportunities" and has "lead to some interesting developments," according to Rundquist. One of these developments is that one of the Israeli scientists, Dr. Gittelson, from Ben Gurion University, has moved to the U.S. to become a full professor.

Dr. Rundquist's research with the Israelis has been "a catalyst to seek further work in connections with Israelis." Their research is also addressing the issue of algal bloom in sea and fresh water. These blooms overstimulate the algae in the water, a problem shared by both countries. The overstimulations cause ecological problems for the lake and also for humans, putting toxins in the water, removing oxygen and killing fish.

A 1999 external economic review took an in depth look at 10 BSF projects. These 10 alone, produced aggregate benefits of $780 million, a figure four times the total expenditure of BARD since its inception (1978). The benefits accrue to the United States, to Israel and to both countries together.

Agriculture Benefits

The Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD) was created in 1978 with equal contributions by the United States and Israel. Since its inception, BARD has funded nearly 760 projects that have led to new technologies in drip irrigation, pesticides, fish farming, livestock, poultry disease control and farm equipment. BARD funds projects in 45 states and the District of Columiba. In 2005, 28 projects were funded at 31 U.S. institutions. Nebraska institutions have shared grants worth more than $3.4 million since 1987.

University of Nebraska plant pathologist Martin Dickman, a recipient of five BARD grants, has been researching plant diseases. He has been using a genetic approach to learn about fungal diseases in crop plants. Dickman is trying to design a strategy to interfere with the features that enable fungus to cause disease. BARD support has allowed him to publish a number of research papers and a book. Dickman felt there was a "synergy between him and the Israeli partner; they have complementary expertise and could tackle the problems together. We worked well together and are in constant communication. We have become good friends and take every chance to get together."

At the University of Nebraska, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Israeli scientists have been studying different strains of wheat grown in the Negev by Bedouins under drought conditions. Some of these wheat strains have developed a larger root system to protect themselves from droughts; these strains also have a higher grain protein content than commercial wheat.

BARD research done outside the state also benefits Nebraska. For example, BARD research on improving water quality, water availability and the efficiency of water use will be extremely useful for irrigation for Nebraska's farmers. Sorghum farmers will benefit from research on pesticide breakdown using sunlight. Nebraska's corn industry will profit from discoveries that will protect corn from certain types of diseases. Nebraska wheat-growers will benefit from research on optimizing the storage of winter wheat.

It is difficult to break down the impact on a state-by-state basis, but overall, BARD-sponsored research has generated sales of more than $500 million tax revenues of more than $100 million and created more than 5,000 jobs.

Other Cooperative Programs

UJA Partnership 2000 Communities:

Omaha Western Galilee

Hillel Campus Profiles

State Contacts

Dept. of Agriculture
301 Centennial Mall South, P.O. Box 94947
Lincoln, NE 68509-4947
Tel. 402-471-4876
Fax. 402-471-2759

Jewish Federation Of Omaha
323 S 132nd St
Omaha, NE 68154-2106
Tel. 402-330-4272
Web. http://www.jewishomaha.org/

Lincoln Jewish Welfare Federation
P.O. Box 67218
Lincoln, NE 68506
Tel. 402-477-4113