A recent call by UK academics to boycott Israel has been treated by many as just a ‘politically correct version’ of modern anti-Semitism. Interestingly, the EU civil servants in Brussels have delivered a far more proactive response.

About two years ago, Israel was encouraged to join the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. This is designed to bring together the worlds of academia and commerce from member countries in order to develop the technologies of the future. Several other states are all allowed to participate, including Israel.

The approval of the most recent set of proposals has been announced. These include eleven, which feature an Israeli team. The total value of the investment from Brussels is estimated at over 200 million Euro. And at least three of the projects include a top Israeli university.

Dr Neta Erez from the University of Tel Aviv is part of MetCAF, which will consider molecular changes in cells disturbed by cancer.

Waste2Fuels features participants from both the Weizman Institute and the University of Ben Gurion in Beersheba. They have set out to convert food and agricultural waste into biomass, which will then be used for car engines.

Gravitate has come out of the Technion in Haifa, known in recent years for its Nobel Laureates. It is developing a software to help archeologists to recreate broken artifacts. Interesting that the British Museum is also featured in the grouping.

So what now? Well, I hope all the projects succeed. The alternative is that the boycotters could have their way. Europe would be worse off. Hate will have triumphed. And peace will not have arrived in the Middle East.