EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC), Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) and BGN Technologies (the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) announced today the creation of a joint company, CyberSpark Industry Initiative. The non-profit company will engage in the international promotion of the cyber center, based in Beersheva's Advanced Technologies Park.
Roni Zehavi, a high-tech entrepreneur and test pilot in the IAF, has been appointed Managing Director. The company’s Board of Directors will be comprised of representatives of the founding companies and a public board will be created comprised of key players in the Israeli economy, in the fields of education, government, academia, culture and technology. MK Erel Margalit will chair the public council.
The CyberSpark Industry Initiative will coordinate cyber industry activities with government agencies, IDF, public, and academia.The company will promote a multi-year business plan, which will leverage the significant raw business potential in the field of cyber in the region, by emphasizing knowledge and abilities sharing. The company will brand and market the region as a global cyber center, encourage joint academia-industry research studies, support the development of plans to recruit and develop human resources in the field and incentive plans to encourage other companies, both international and Israeli, to come to the region.
EMC, JVP Venture Capital Fund, and BGN Technologies are the first core of companies in the cyber center in Beersheva. More cyber companies will join them in the company and open offices in Beersheva's Advanced Technologies Park and elsewhere in the Negev.
“Government-private sector collaboration could turn Beersheva into a new region of excellence in Israel and position it internationally as well,” said MK Erel Margalit, “The government should invest in focused and effective ways in the cyber city. The combination of the IDF moving south and the technology units moving to a campus adjacent to BGU, and the enlisting of the private companies in the cyber park to promote and develop the region, will be an opportunity to create thousands of jobs and a new economic story for the South in general and Beersheva in particular.”
EMC Corp. VP and Manager of Innovation and Development at the Centers of Excellence in EMEA and in the US Dr. Orna Berry said, “After forging the path as pioneers in the development of Beersheva as an international high-tech and cyber zone, it is clear to us that realizing the vision and the transition from words to deeds, requires an active high level of involvement on the part of local and international industry in the field. It is a complex and sensitive mission that integrates parties with different interests and needs that must be coordinated to ensure achievements and significant progress. Creating the joint company is a necessary process to implement the operational plan to promote the cyber campus in Beersheva.”
BGN Technologies CEO Netta Cohen said, "Ben-Gurion University is a significant and active player in developing the Negev. We operate to maximize opportunities for collaboration between business, governmental, and academic parties and the IDF as possible. The collaboration is expanding and creating the company is another layer of this sort of collaboration, which strengthens the momentum of rapid development of the region.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 14, 2014
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