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State-to-State Cooperation
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Trade and Population Statistics: top
| Exports to Israel in 2012: | $86,966,420.00 |
| Percentage change from 2011: | +3.01% |
| Israel's rank as trade partner: | 23 |
| Total exports since 1996: | $1,833,202,811.00 |
| Foreign Military Financing Contracts with Israel in 2012: | $7,217,791.71 |
| Jewish Population in 2011: | 97,290 |
| Jewish Percentage of Total Population: | 1.2 |
Binational foundation grants shared by Virginia and Israel: top
| Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (1979-2010): | $2,408,660 |
| Binational Science Foundation (1996-2009): | $1,742,263 |
| Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (1977-2012): | $3,526,014 |
Grant recipients in Virginia from U.S.-Israel binational foundations:
America Online Inc.
Bosch Telecom Inc.
CACI International
George Mason
GTE Spacenet
Kollmorgen Motion Technology Group
MedCPU
Naval Surface Weapons Center
Perceptronics
Pulse Communications Inc.
Rockwell Collins, Vision Systems International
University of Virginia
University of Virginia Medical School
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia State University
Virginia Tech
William & Mary
Bilateral Institutions top
Virginia Israel Advisory Board - The VIAB serves as the bridge for Israeli companies who want to establish and/or expand their business in the USA and locate in Virginia. We do this by opening doors using the right contacts and providing the best support to help grow their U.S. business. Due to its close proximity to Washington DC and the nation's seat of power, the VIAB has made connecting with various government departments and institutes much more easy and streamlined. Learn more, CLICK HERE.
Virginia Israel Commission - Established in 1986, the Virginia Israel Commission is dedicated to investigating the cultural, educational and economic development opportunities between the two states. In 1988 Gov. Gerald Baliles signed a new agreement with Israel, but the commission's activities waned. In 1995, Gov. George Allen created a new Virginia-Israel Partnership to focus on promoting trade, art, education and general government.
Norfolk Program / Tochnit Norfolk - Instituted in 2005 during Norfolk's mayors trip to Israel, the Norfolk Program seeks to lure Israeli companies to Norfolk, home to the worlds largest naval base, by using incentives for collaboration between Israeli companies and Norfolk-based companies. Israeli firms that take advantage of the program are eligible for financial assistance of up to $1 million to defray such costs as moving, transport and setup. Read more about the program, CLICK HERE.
Virginia Israel Technology Alliance - Located in Blacksburg, VITAL was created out of a partnership between the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) and the VIAB. Its mission is designed to help post-incubator, commercial-ready Israeli companies build strong foundations for growth in the U.S., and bring their products to market. The VITAL program offers specialized assistance in business development, advanced research for applications and marketing expertise. Learn more, CLICK HERE.
US-Israel Business Exchange - Based in Vienna, US-IBEX is an independent, non-profit organization. It was created as an initiative of the Embassy of Israel in collaboration with the Greater DC business community in March 2000 to help Israeli and American companies to create opportunities for collaboration. More info, CLICK HERE.
Cooperative Agreements - "Memoranda of Understanding" top
In September 2008, Governor Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia and Ambassador of Israel Sallai Meridor signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Israel on private sector industrial research and development. Under the agreement, an approved joint research and development project will receive financial support from the governments of Virginia and Israel, which will significantly reduce the costs that Virginian and Israeli companies would normally have to incur if they were to conduct the project independently. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Virginia Government Missions to Israel top
November 2011 - Governor Bob McDonnell traveled to Israel with a delegation for four days in hopes of bringing more Israeli business to Virginia. He is very optimistic that he will soon be able to annouce new joint business ventures. While there, he met with President Shimon Peres for an hour and was invited by Ofra Strauss of Strauss Foods to a breakfast with leading Israeli industrialists. Gov. McDonnell's delegation included the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng, First Lady Maureen McDonnell, and senior officials from Virginia's Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. To read more, CLICK HERE.
August 2011 - House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) was one of three senior members who led the 56-member House Republican delegation of the politicians' recent trip to Israel. The trip is the largest ever visit of U.S. lawmakers to Israel and gave them and opportunity to learn about the US-Israel relationship and Israel's national security. To read more, CLICK HERE.
April 2009 - Governor Timothy Kaine, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Patrick Gottschalk and Rick Richardson of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership led a delegation to the Middle East and Israel to promote Virginia to foreign businesses and government leaders. In Israel, Gov. Kaine met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres as well as will leaders of three business which had, earlier in 2009, invested heavily in infrastructure within the state. Read more, CLICK HERE.
September 2008 - Delegate Brian Moran (Alexandria) and State Senator R. Creigh Deeds (Bath) took a ten day mission to Israel with the aim of bolstering economic ties between Israel and Virginia. The trip, sponsored by the Northern Virginia Jewish Community, was planned to help the northern Virginia communities get further insight into ways of expanding their businesses and companies into Israel as well as attract Israeli companies and venture capital to Virginia. "We're continuing the globalization of our economy," Del. Moran said. "This technology can be a great benefit to [Virginia], particularly with the struggling economy." Learn more about their mission, CLICK HERE.
October 2007 - Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell led a ten day mission to Israel where he took the opportunity to learn about Israeli counter-terrorism efforts and other legal procedures for dealing with terrorism suspects.
Partners For Change top
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.
The two nations cooperate on a wide variety of projects that reinforce our common beliefs. These SHARED VALUE INITIATIVES cover everything from science to education to health.
Today's interdependent global economy requires that trade policy be developed at the national and state level. Many states are realizing significant benefits by increasing trade with Israel. No fewer than 33 states, including Virginia, have cooperative agreements with Israel.
Virginia was one of the first states to establish the framework for such an agreement under then Gov. Charles Robb. The Virginia-Israel Commission was then created by Gov. Gerald Baliles. In 1996, Gov. George Allen revived the partnership and led a trade mission to Israel.
Even before the mission, Virginia exports to Israel were flourishing. In 2010, the total was about $116 million, up nearly 20% from the prior year 2009. The total value of exports since 1996 exceeds $1.6 billion. Israel is now the state's 25th largest trade partner.
In addition, Virginia companies received more than $40 million in 2010 for U.S. government-funded military contracts with Israel through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program (U.S. military assistance to Israel). Some of the Virginia companies that received contracts through the FMF program include: GeoEye Solutions, Inc based out of Dulles; Visual Defence USA, Inc from Leesburg; and, Innovative Concepts, Inc in McLean.
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 Virginia.
Israel has developed a number of pioneering education programs. For example, AICE introduced an innovative Israeli peer tutoring program to North Carolina that educators adapted for use in the United States. Now known as Reading Together, the program is used in 28 states. It is designed to help students achieve reading fluency and is mostly used for children in second grade. The hope is that with its implementation, increasing numbers of students will perform at grade level or above.
A range of other exciting approaches to 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 Virginia is limited only by the imagination.
Virginia Firms Profit From Business With Israel top
Because of Israel's unique status as the only country with free trade agreements with both the United States and the European Community, it can act as a bridge for international trade between America 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 and Intel have found that it is profitable to do business in Israel.
Indeed, more than 150 Virginia companies have discovered the benefits of doing business in Israel, including Philip Morris, Rubbermaid and Hamilton Beach.
One good way to break into the Israeli market is through
a joint venture with an Israeli company. Funding for such projects is
available from the Binational
Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD). BIRD funds projects in 36 states and the District of
Columbia and hundreds of companies including AOL, GE, BP Solar, Texas
Instruments and Johnson & Johnson have benefitted from BIRD grants.
The United States and Israel established BIRD in 1977
to fund joint U.S.-Israeli teams in the development and subsequent commercialization
of innovative, nondefense technological products from which both the
Israeli and American company can expect to derive benefits commensurate
with the investments and risks. Most grant recipients are small businesses
involved with software, instrumentation, communications, medical devices
and semiconductors.
Since its inception, BIRD has funded more than 800
joint high-tech R&D projects through conditional grants totaling
more than $210 million. Products developed from these ventures have
generated more than $8 billion in direct and indirect revenues for both
countries and has helped to create an estimated 20,000 American jobs.
Dr. Eli Opper, the former Israeli chair of BIRD, has
said that BIRD is a strong pillar of US-Israel industrial
cooperation and that the extreme success of BIRD has
led Israel to adopt similar models of R&D with other countries.
At least seven Virginia-based companies — America Online, Bosch Telecom, GTE Spacenet, CACI International, Kollmorgen Motion Technology Group, Perceptronics and Pulse Communications — have shared BIRD grants with Israeli firms worth nearly $3.2 million.
Glenn Sacra, President of GTE Spacenet International Corp., wrote in the 1991 BIRD annual report: “GTE Corporation, a $21.4 billion multinational company, is among the world's telecommunications giants. GTE Spacenet, a subsidiary...with satellite-based telecommunications experience in more than 50 countries, accepted a unique opportunity with Gilat Communications Systems Ltd. in 1988-89 to commence joint development of a new class of satellite communications systems.”
The BIRD Foundation's encouragement and support were vitally important in bringing GTE Spacenet and Gilat together. Peter Nielson, from GTE Spacenet's marketing group, noted that large companies are sometimes reluctant to work with smaller companies, but BIRD reduces the risk and in this case helped promote a very good investment.
The companies developed a revolutionary data communications network that is ideal for high volume data transactions such as check and credit card authorization, reservation booking, inventory control and ATM transactions. The project was so successful, BIRD awarded the companies additional support to develop a new generation of ultra-small aperture terminals.
In addition to the BIRD projects, GTE Spacenet does a great deal of business in Israel related to earth stations and telecommunications.
Medical Electronic Systems (MES) Ltd., an Israeli manufacturer of medical electronics focusing on male infertility, has teamed with Progeny Systems LLC, a U.S. veterinary instrument company specializing in the application of high technology information solutions to agriculture. The two companies are jointly developing a next-generation system for sperm analysis both for the human fertility market as well as for the animal food production market. The goal of the project is for this new analytical approach to set a new standard in the human and veterinary markets. The innovative Sperm Quality Analyzer will offer a more reliable, simple-to-use and inexpensive solution than exists today for evaluation of sperm quality. In addition, the application of new hardware and software techniques will increase market penetration of instruments and disposable kits in both the human and veterinary markets.
Scientific Innovations top
Virginia researchers are making scientific breakthroughs and developing cutting-edge technologies in joint projects with Israeli scientists thanks to support from the Binational Science Foundation (BSF). BSF was established in 1972 to promote scientific relations and cooperation between scientists from the United States and Israel. The fund supports collaborative research projects in a wide area of basic and applied scientific field for peaceful and non-profit purposes. Since its inception, BSF has awarded some $480 million through more than 4,000 grants in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
BSF-sponsored studies are highly successful in achieving their two main goals: strengthening the US-Israel partnership through science and promoting world-class scientific research for the benefit of the two countries and all mankind. The BSF grants help extend research resources to achieve milestones that might not otherwise be attainable; introduce novel approaches and techniques to lead American researchers in new directions; confirm, clarify and intensify research projects; and provide unmatched access to Israeli equipment, facilities and research results that help speed American scientific advances. BSF has documented no less than 75 new discoveries made possible by its research grants and counts 37 Nobel Prize and 19 Lasker Medical Award laureates among its joint partners.
Institutions in Virginia have shared with their counterparts in Israel nearly $1.8 million in BSF grants awarded since 1996 alone. Those that have benefitted from the program include the University of Virginia, University of Virginia Medical School, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia State, Virginia Tech and William & Mary.
The world's food supply is limited by the available fertilizer, according to Prof. Dennis Dean, a microbiologist at Virginia Tech. Working under a BSF grant, he is trying to understand the enzyme involved in the mechanism by which nitrogen is converted to ammonia. The ultimate goal is to improve the biological process so that fertilizer can be produced more cheaply and without the use of fossil fuels. "If the fertilizer can be controlled so that more goes directly to the plant, it helps reduce pollution," he says.
Dean is "delighted" with the collaboration, which gives him access to new information about proteins. "The Weizmann Institute in Rehovot has developed a technique for looking at proteins that Virginia does not have," he said.
Gary Long is also a professor at Tech who is working with scientists at Weizmann. He is interested in understanding how heavy metals interact with the environment and, more specifically, groundwater. In Virginia, a significant amount of water comes from wells, he says, and it is important to filter out particulates. Israel has developed a sampling device that collects water and colloidal materials and allows environmental engineers to get a better look at metal concentrations in water. The tool is especially useful in locating industrial spills in a scientific and cost-effective manner.
According to Long, the Israelis were interested in measuring the water quality of the coastal aquifer around Herzliya, which could be vital to the nation's security if the peace process alters their access to other sources. Herzliya, Long adds, is similar to the West Coast, particularly Los Angeles, which relies on aqueducts for its water. "It is therefore important to know about contamination of underground water sources," he says.
Long adds that he has excellent relations with his collaborators and considers Weizmann's scientists "the best in the world." He also believes the grant was important. "BSF allowed us to verify our research; otherwise, it would have been another unproven technology."
Less tangible benefits come in fields like mathematics. Prof. Charles Johnson of William & Mary believes BSF plays an important role in supporting "extraordinarily high quality" math projects and helping to insure a flow of top mathematicians to the university. Johnson finds it extremely useful to talk to someone with a different point of view. "I get more things done and pursue ideas I wouldn't otherwise be able to do," he says.
In 2010, a Virginia-based technology company called Cupron that has offices in Herzliya, Israel sent its Cupron Enhanced socks to the Chilean miners on day 36 of their entrapment in the San Jose copper-gold mine in the Atacama Desert. The socks helped the miners fight foot fungus and their foot symptoms significantly improved or were resolved within four to seven days after being rescued.
Agriculture Benefits top
In 1978 the United States and Israel jointly created
the Binational Agricultural
Research and Development Fund (BARD)
to help fund programs between US and Israeli scientists for mutually
beneficial, mission-oriented, strategic and applied research into agricultural
problems. Since its inception, BARD has funded more
than 1,000 projects in 45 states and the District of Columbia with a
total investment of more than $250 million. In 2000, an independent
and external economic review of 10 BARD projects conservatively
projected more than $700 million in revenue by the end of 2010, a number
which far outweighs the total investment in all BARD projects over its 33 year existence and helps to continually strengthen
the foundation.
Most BARD projects focus on either increasing agricultural
productivity, plant and animal health or food quality and safety and
have been influential in creating 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 Columbia and at present is beginning to administer collaborative
efforts between Australia, Canada and Israel as well. 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.
Virginia institutions have shared grants worth more than $2.4 million since 1979. Virginia Tech and Virginia State are among those that have received significant funding through BARD.
The Virginia State project focused on ways to improve the aquaculture potential of hybrid striped bass. According to Prof. Scott Newton, Israel developed a diet to help young fish survive and thereby increase the number available for possible export. If the diet works, it could be manufactured in Virginia and marketed on the east coast.
In February 2011, Professor Eric Hallerman, of Virginia Tech, published the results of his 3-year collaborative study with scientists at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at the Natioanl Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture in Leetown, West Virginia that was facilitated by BARD funding. The original goal of the project was to provide scientific and technical basis for initiating certain breeding protocals in the common carp to make the fish more resistant to viral disease.
Professor Hallerman's research was incredibly important because the common carp is one of the most widely farmed freshwater fish species in the world. Additionally, edible carp is second only to tilapia in Israeli aquaculture production and ornamental carp (koi) is an important product in both the US and Israel. In recent years, the carp industry worldwide has suffered enormous economic damage due to a viral disease caused by Cyprinid herpes virus 3 (CyHV-3). The BARD-supported research was important to finding a sustainable solution to this problem that will lead to the establishment of a genetic improvement program for the fish.
For such an important and timely project such as this, it was of utmost importance that all the researchers could work well together and complement each others skills. BARD facilitated excellent communication between the groups in Israel and the United States and the research was was greatly promoted by this good exchange of materials, practices and theory. Overall, the collaboration led to the publication of three joint studies in peer reviewed journals, one that has been submitted for publication and yet another one that is in the process of preparation in order to be submitted for publication. To read more about this project, CLICK HERE.
BARD has also supported several projects at Virginia Tech related to the poultry industry. One, for example, examined factors that determine the rate at which chickens lay eggs.
Israel has developed a DNA fingerprinting method that Prof. Ann Dunnington was using under another BARD grant to identify specific traits in chickens. The idea is to develop the ability to screen the DNA so that producers can breed chickens with the traits consumers want, such as less fat.
Prof. Paul Siegel has worked on a number of BARD-sponsored projects at Tech and gives high grades to BARD. "It wouldn't have been possible to do the research without the Foundation's support." He also lauds his Israeli counterparts as "first-rate scientists, doing first-class research."
Some of the benefits to Virginia from BARD research are more indirect. For example, BARD grantees have developed techniques to help preserve the color, taste and texture of apples, one of the State's important crops.
A team of agricultural economists from the University of Maryland and University of California found that the economic benefits of just five projects — related to cotton, pecans and solarization — exceeded all U.S. investment in BARD.
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 top
In October 2012, the Virginia Israel Advisory Board ran a three-day business development program called "Gateway USA: Defense & Homeland Security" in Virginia to help Israeli companies enter the US market. During the intensive program, companies benefited from interactive development meetings with specific US companies and other top experts. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
Sister Cities: top
None.
UJA Partnership 2000 Communities:
VIRGINIA |
ISRAEL |
State Contacts: top
Hillel Campus Profiles
Jewish Federation of Richmond
5403 Monument Ave., P.O. Box 17128
Richmond, VA 23226
Tel. 804-288-0045
Zvi Yanai (Turbo)
Shoval-Saar Ltd
POB 1642
Caesarea 38900
Tel. 06-626-0629
Fax. 06-626-3686
Email: shovsaar@netvision.net.il
United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula
2700 Spring Rd.
Newport News, VA 23606
Tel. 804-930-1422
Fax. 804-872-9532
Email. webmaster@ujcvp.org
Web. http://www.ujcvp.org/
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Tel. 757-965-6100
Fax. 757-965-6102
Email. UJFT@ujft.org
Web. www.jewishVA.org
Ralph Robbins
Executive Director
Virginia-Israel Advisory Board
CIT Tower, Suite 107
Herndon, VA 20170-4200
Tel. 703-481-7494
Fax. 708-481-7498
Email. robbins@viab.org
Web. http://vaisrael.vipnet.org/
