Cooperation Between Israel
and the State of Oregon

Binational foundation grants shared by Oregon institutions:

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

Decision Research
Electro Scientific Industries Inc.
nCUBE Corp.
Oregon Grad. Inst. Science & Tech.
Oregon Health Sciences University
Oregon State
Tektronix Inc.
University of Oregon
VA Medical Center

Agreements with Israel

None.

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 have cooperative agreements with Israel.

Oregon does not yet have a formal partnership with Israel; nevertheless, in 2007, Oregon exported over $136 million worth of manufacturing goods to Israel. The total value of exports since 1996 exceeds $772 million. In addition, Oregon companies received $6,242,440 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 Oregon's 21st 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 Oregon.

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, including St. Helena.

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 Oregon is limited only by the imagination.

Oregon 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.

Many Oregon companies have discovered the benefits of doing business in Israel, including EDX Engineering Inc., Mentor Graphics and Electro Scientific Industries.

Jennifer Dunkin, customer relations manager at EDX Engineering Inc., has been selling engineering software to Israelis for at least five years. "They are always very kind and interested in training and using software correctly. They are high-level users," says Dunkins. She also enjoys the contacts she has made working with Israelis and trusts their references. Dunkin finds Israelis easy to work with and looks forward to working with them in the future.

Another Oregon-based company, Mentor Graphics, has been doing business in Israel since 1986 selling graphic software tools and applications to the Israeli government. These tools are used for telecommunications, consumer electronics, semiconductors and aerospace. Most of the purchases are made through the New York Office of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. According to Judy Erdmann, European Liason for Mentor Graphics, "it is very worthwhile to do business in Israel" and she "highly recommends that other companies do business in Israel."

Joe Reinhart, Vice President of Business Development at Electro Scientific Industries, also feels that "Israel is a good place to do business." Electra Scientific supplies equipment to Israel for the production of semiconductors and makes close to $5-10 million dollars a year. Electra Scientific has a good deal of business in Israel and has cooperative projects with many Israeli companies, including Vishay Israel.

Joint ventures between Israeli and Oregon 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. Most grant recipients are small businesses involved with software, instrumentation, communications, medical devices and semiconductors. BIRD funds projects in 33 states and the District of Columbia.

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. nCUBE and Electro Scientific are two of three Oregon companies that have profited from more than $700,000 dollars in BIRD grants.

Since its inception, BIRD has funded more than 740 joint high­tech R&D projects. 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.

Scientific Innovations

Oregon State University, Oregon Health Science University and the University of Oregon are among the Oregon institutions that have shared with counterparts in Israel more than $862,000 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.

Oregon State University Zoologist Virginia Weiss has been collaborating with her Israeli counterpart for four years. She is researching soft coral, a symbiosis of animal and micro algae, which is commonly found in the Red Sea. Israel has one of the best coral reefs in the world, which is accessible year-round and Weiss hopes to understand how the animal and plant parts interact in coral. In this collaboration, Weiss’s counterpart in Israel has access to the coral and special microscopes, while she researches the molecular biology aspects of the issue. "This research could not have happened without my partner," states Weiss.

Another BSF recipient, C. T. Roberts, a scientist from Oregon Health Sciences University, has been collaborating with an Israeli counterpart since 1989. They are researching how tumor suppressor genes regulate and prevent growth factor action in cancer cells. "The BSF grant has allowed us to continue our international collaborations" states Roberts. The team has written more than 40 publications, with more in progress. Their research is especially relevant to the study of breast and prostate cancer.

Michael Kavanaugh, another Oregon Health Sciences University scientist, is studying how molecules found on the surface of brain cells transport glutamate. These molecules are involved in certain neuro-degenerative diseases, such as strokes and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Through this collaborative work, Kavanaugh hopes to learn the role of these molecules in the diseases. According to Kavanaugh, "the BSF grant has facilitated the collaboration and pushed our understanding further." Over a three-four year period, Kavanaugh and his Israeli counterpart have written six or seven papers together.

The University of Oregon’s William Trevarrow has been collaborating with Israeli scientist Clay Davis on research dealing with Zebra fish. The research has provided a novel approach to identify genes that detect proteins in the early development of Zebra fish. He believes that it is a "technologically innovative and creative project." Trevarrow hopes to collaborate with more Israelis in the future.

BSF documented no less than 75 new discoveries that probably would not have been possible without foundation-supported collaboration.

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, including the District of Columbia. In 2005, 28 projects were funded at 31 U.S. institutions. Oregon institutions have shared grants worth $1,550,000 since 1987.

Valerim Dolja of the Botany Department of Oregon State University received a BARD grant in 1998 to study how viruses cause plant diseases. Dolja and his Israeli counterpart have produced trans-genetic plants that are resistant to the Poty virus, a disease prevalent in crops throughout the world. Half of the experiments are performed in the United States, while the other half are conducted at Israel’s Volcani Center. Access to cutting edge technology, Israeli expertise on the Poty virus and trans-genetic plants are just some of the benefits Dolja has gained by working with Israelis. "Everyone benefits from the interaction; without BARD support, the research would have been impossible," said Dolja.

BARD research done outside the state has also been beneficial to Oregon. Studies to improve water quality, water availability and the efficiency of water use is valuable because Oregon has 35% irrigated farming. Oregon’s $100 million potato crop may benefit from BARD research on the potato leaf-roll virus. Finally, Oregon’s flower bulbs can be protected thanks to solarization techniques designed by Israeli scientists.

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 American jobs.

Other Cooperative Programs

Sister City Agreements:

City of Portland City of Ashkelon

UJA Partnership 2000 Communities

Portland Kiryat Malachi-Hof Ashkelon

Hillel Campus Profiles

State Contacts

Jewish Federation Of Lane County
Box #-5924
Eugene, OR 97405-0911
Tel. 541-484-2541

Jewish Federation Of Portland
6651 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, OR 97219-1914
Tel. 503-245-6219