Israeli organizations and the state of Wisconsin signed two agreements to advance much-needed water technology.
Israel and the state of Wisconsin signed two agreements that will increase collaboration and establish new partnerships between Wisconsin and the Jewish state in the water technology sector.
The two groundbreaking agreements were signed on Wednesday during Governor Scott Walker’s trade mission to Israel. The governor is leading the 16-member Wisconsin delegation on a trip aimed at boosting exports, increasing foreign investment in Wisconsin and developing new partnerships between the state and Israel.
The agreement between Wisconsin’s Water Council and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev ‘s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research calls for collaboration on water-related applied research and is aimed at introducing new technologies into the global marketplace through Wisconsin’s National Science Foundation-sponsored Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) for Water Equipment and Policy (WEP).
The Zuckerberg Institute, Israel’s largest and leading water institute, conducts interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research and graduate education in water sciences, aimed at improving human well-being through technologies and policies for sustainable use of water resources.
The agreement is the initial step in setting up the first National Science Foundation center in Israel.
The second agreement between the Water Council and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) calls for the development of a new research partnership in which Israeli and Wisconsin water technology start-up companies will collaborate on piloting and developing new applications for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and other Wisconsin water utilities.
The agreements were signed in separate ceremonies in Tel Aviv and at BGU on the last full day of Governor Scott Walker’s trade mission to Israel.
“These partnerships will strengthen the sector in both countries, and are expected to open new markets to water technology companies in Wisconsin and Israel,” said Walker.
“For the past year, The Water Council has laid the groundwork for the development of these vitally important agreements, which will result in bringing together our two world water technology hubs,” said Dean Amhaus, president and CEO of The Water Council. “The partnership with Ben-Gurion University lays the foundation for creating the first I/UCRC presence for the National Science Foundation in Israel and fosters greater business and academic collaboration. The agreement with the Israel Innovation Authority offers tangible support for Israeli businesses seeking to conduct pilots with Wisconsin water utilities.”
“While we share different water challenges, we look forward to complementing each other in addressing water quality issues,” said Zuckerberg Institute Director Prof. Noam Weisbrod.
Israel a Leading Water Technology Force
Wisconsin universities and US companies will have access to promising research being conducted by Zuckerberg Institute researchers and be connected to some of Israel’s innovative water technology companies. Likewise, Zuckerberg Institute would be able to present its research to some of the world’s leading water companies and the Israeli businesses would have access to innovative research being conducted at UWM and Marquette.
Water sources and water accessibility are emerging as one of the most pressing issues humanity will be facing in the near future. With global warming and drastic climate change, water sources are becoming scarcer and nations around the world are encountering mounting water-related difficulties.
Israel is world-famous for its advanced water technologies, which can provide solutions to even the driest and most barren areas on earth. With many years of experience in making its southern desert, the Negev, bloom, Israel has become a leading force in providing aqua know-how to countries around the planet.
Although Israel experiences drought, it is managing an over-capacity of water due to intense water management and desalination production. Other countries are turning to Israel to help them as well.
By: United with Israel Staff
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