Like many other small countries, Israel has sharply dened scientic and technological policies aimed at enhancing its competitive position. In science, it encourages the establishment o centers o excellence around outstanding scientists, while maintaining a level o quality across the broad spectrum o scientic elds. In technology, Israel strives or high perormance through concentration on a limited number o areas.

The percentage o Israelis engaged in scientic and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D), in relation to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are among the highest in the world.

Scientic research and its achievements are no longer merely an abstract intellectual pursuit... but a central actor... in the lie o every civilized people... (David Ben-Gurion, 1962)