Cooperation Between Israel
and the State of Washington

Binational foundation grants shared by Washington institutions:

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

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
John Fluke Mfg. Co. Inc.
Institute for Systems Biology
Medtronic Physio Control Inc.
Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
Sharplan Lasers Inc.
University of Washington
University of Washington Medical School
USDA-ARS Animal Diseases Research Unit
Washington State

Agreements with Israel

Washington Attorney General Christine O. Gregoire joined eight other attorneys general for a trip to Israel on July 14-22, 1999. The participants in the mission went to explore U.S.-Israel cooperation in legal affairs and discussed issues including youth violence, the death penalty, and extradition laws.

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.

Washington does not yet have a formal partnership with Israel; nevertheless, in 2007, Washington exported more than $540 million worth of manufacturing goods to Israel. The total value of exports since 1996 exceeds $2.2 billion. In addition, Washington companies received $4,301,684 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 Washington'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 Washington.

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 Washington is limited only by the imagination.

Washington 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, Coca-Cola, Motorola, Intel and McDonald's have found that it is indeed profitable to do business in Israel.

More than 100 Washington companies have discovered the benefits of doing business in Israel, including Boeing, Microsoft, SEA-DMI, Advanced Hardware Architecture, Mountain Safety Research and Advanced Technology Lab.

In May 2000, SEA-DMI received a half-million dollar order from the Israeli Navy for marine communications systems. This equipment will become part of the Israeli navy's Global Marine Distress Safety System (GMDSS). David Thompson, SEA-DMI’s President, states, "We are pleased to receive this order because it represents growing recognition of our GMDSS engineering efforts."

Nancy Shumann, Advanced Hardware Architecture’s Product Marketing Manager, also enjoys working with Israelis. "They are really nice, very smart business people...they have cutting edge technologies," says Shumann. She views Israel as "forward looking and technologically advanced." Advanced Hardware Architecture is a semiconductor company that designs circuits for outside companies. They produce most of their circuits in Israel and have many Israeli clients including satellite and wireless communications companies.

Israel-based Schema Ltd. is an innovator of telecom resource management (TRM) solutions that enable operators of wireless networks worldwide to optimize and manage their resources. Washington-based Watchmark Corp. is known worldwide for meeting the needs of modern telecommunication networks. Both companies are jointly developing a leading product (killer application) that will address the needs of wireless operators in today's fiercely competitive CDMA market. It will be the first product in the industry to provide true and powerful optimization to the process of planning and maintenance of CDMA networks.

Mountain Safety Research Inc. (MSR) is a manufacturer of outdoor sporting goods and sells these to an Israeli distributor, Lapidot. Mike. Glavin, MSR’s sales and marketing manager states that the distributor in Israel "has done an excellent job protecting brand equity. They place products to the right people. They understand the market well enough to place products where they belong — a major strength of doing business with Israel."

Israel also plays a role in developing MSR’s sales strategies. Israel understands what it takes to manufacture a product, according to Gavin. "Their suggestions are useful and their input is always welcome," he adds.

Another area of involvement in which U.S. firms compete is the Israeli medical technology field. Advanced Technology Labs Ultrasound (ATL) does business with an Israeli distributor, Medtechnics in Tel Aviv. ATL has achieved a 70 percent overall market share in the extremely competitive Israeli medical industry. Ties have grown strong between these two companies. Kurt Kellin, Senior Area Manager for South Europe, Middle East and Africa, states, "We have built a business with our distributor, Medtechnica in Tel Aviv, it has been extremely rewarding, personally and professionally. I have friends for life."

Joint ventures between Israeli and Washington 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. Three Washington companies have profited from almost half a million dollars in BIRD grants.

Scientific Innovations

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington are among the Washington institutions that have shared with counterparts in Israel nearly $1.9 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.

Fred Hutchinson's Gerald Smith and colleagues are involved in the study of how DNA repair occurs. When DNA is broken it is extremely dangerous to the cell. Dr. Smith researches how chromosomes break leading to cancer and birth defects. The grant has given him new insight into his own work and allows the labs to share antibodies. Smith considers it "a good collaboration" and anticipates further cooperation in the future.

University of Washington scientist Michael Schick is studying polymers, which, among other things, are used to make plastic. Polymers form layers at low temperatures; rarely do these layers fit together evenly, usually they slam into one another, creating what is called the grain boundary. The grain boundary affects the mechanical properties of the polymer and overall energy of the system. Schick is devising a theoretical model for the layered formation of polymers.

Schick enjoys working with the Israelis, "I'd consider taking a sabbatical in Israel," he says. "Israel has very good scientific talent. I've enjoyed working with them on a scientific and personal level." He finds that Israel has done more research in this field than the U.S. and he hopes to continue his relationship with his Israeli counterparts and apply for new grants.

The University of Washington’s Lawrence Loeb and his Israeli counterpart are studying the effects of the deterioration of DNA replication, which leads to the fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder. Loeb says "the connection with Israel was vital and beneficial to both sides." The research team has published more than 25 scientific papers and co-authored a book.

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. BARD funds projects in 45 states and the District of Columbia. 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. In 2005, 28 projects were funded at 31 U.S. institutions.Washington institutions have shared grants worth more than $5 million since 1987.

Washington State's Guy Palmer is studying how to control anaplasmosis, the most prevalent tick disease in cattle worldwide. Guy has received three BARD grants since the 1980's and the original support came at a time when there were few molecular tools to research anaplasmosis. The original analysis between Israeli and American strains of the disease revealed the nature of the problem.

Guy and his colleagues have developed a test that is used by the USDA and others worldwide to test for certain types of proteins that cause anaplasmosis. Their findings also include two antigens in diseased cattle that may eventually be used as a vaccine. Since the start of their research project, the American and Israeli scientists have produced more than 70 primary reference manuscripts in high quality journals, such as Science and the Journal of Immunology.

BARD research done outside the state also benefits Washington. Research on an RNA virus, which kills young seedlings, would be helpful for Washington's wheat industry. Washington dairy farmers will benefit from research on boosting milk fat and protein quality in cows. Washington state accounts for most of the $1 billion apple crop in the U.S. and BARD research on preserving crisp apples will significantly boost profits.

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 Seattle City of Beersheva

City of Tacoma City of Kiryat Motzkin

UJA Partnership 2000 Communities

Seattle Kiryat Malachi­Hof Ashkelon

Hillel Campus Profiles

State Contacts

Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
2031 Third Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121
Tel. 206-443-5400