AT&T have been operating in Israel for over ten years. “The center functions like a startup incubator generating solutions for AT&T”. It is typical of many of the other leading multinational high-tech companies like Apple, which have established a bullish presence in the Holy Land.

There are over 350 overseas conglomerates in Israel. One estimate states that they are responsible for over 52% of all r&d in the country. And still they keep on coming. Just looking at the closing headlines of Thursday’s financial paper “Globes”: –

• Daimler have opened a r&d centre in Tel Aviv.
• Samsung have launched a cybersecurity division for car industry.
• The purchase of Argus by Continental is discussed.

Evidently, the start up nation continues to live the dream. And that has to be one of the reasons why the Israeli economy grew by 4.1% in the third quarter of 2017.

Reaching back to AT&T, I read a short interview with Melissa Arnoldi, one of the company’s senior VPs, who has a determining role in technology development. She has just finished a site visit and was asked “why Israel”. To translate from the Hebrew text:

I have never seen such an r&d culture as in Israel. I am not just referring to the incredible skills and not just the determination. What is particularly impressive is the attitude of ‘nothing is impossible’. Here in Israel, you face up to a challenge, take a chance, create a solution and resolve the issue. Israel is our model for innovation.