Integration of the Arab and hi-tech Integration of the Arab and hi-tech

societies in Israel

For the Fulbright conference

Tsofen rationale

• The hi-tech industry is Israel’s engine of growth

• Israel spends more of its GDP on R&D than any OECD

country

• … Yet, Arab citizens do not participate

• And it will help Israel hi-tech which is in need of

engineering talent

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Tsofen vision & goals

Full integration of Israel’s Arab society and

Israel’s hi-technology industry

• Thousands of Arab engineers employed in the hi-

tech industry; and tech industry; and

• A hi-tech industry will start in Arab cities

Arab hi-tech: graduates do not work*

2,400

*2009-11, based on CBOS and Tsofen statistics4

Dismal opportunities influence career choice: few graduates with exact

sciences degree

1,000

Arabs: 1,000 vs. 2,700

Tsofen is a one-stop-shop

Since Our Inception: Major Changes

• Arabs in high-tech have tripled to 1,000

• Nazareth transformed into a high-tech hub

• The high-tech industry is taking notice• The high-tech industry is taking notice

“Israeli high-tech needs Arab Human Capital more

than Arab sector needs high-tech industry” Elisha Yanay, Chairman

of the Israeli Association of Electronic and Software Industries

• Government is engaged

• Media is committed

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Working With the Arab community

• Hi-tech track in Nazareth only biz conference

• Hackathon for the hi tech community

• Technical workshops for students

• Meetups for entrepreneurs community

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Creating hi tech within Arab Society

Tsofen Alumni ceremonyTsofen Alumni ceremony

The first ever Google event in the Arab community of Israel, conducted in

collaboration with Tsofen

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