Arkansas, Israel sign MOU on tech innovation

Little Rock, Arkansas – In order to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the state of Arkansas and the Israel Innovation Authority, on Tuesday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston joined Chief Scientist and Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority Dr. Ami Appelbaum and Consul General of Israel to the Southwest Livia Link-Raviv.

Arkansas and Israel will promote and support cooperation in technological innovation, research, and development among businesses, corporations, research universities, and other entities within their borders, under this agreement.

“This is a mutually beneficial partnership between two leaders in innovation,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “The agreement builds on the momentum we have created for the past eight years to develop a tech-based workforce that can meet the needs of a 21st century economy. In addition, this agreement allows us to strengthen our relationship with a critical ally to the United States.”

The agreement is effective immediately.

“Israel is a country that has almost no water resources needed for agriculture and no traditional automotive industry, yet, with a uniquely successful technological innovation ecosystem, we have created booming agro-tech and smart mobility sectors that include hundreds of companies and startups that are among the leading in their respective fields worldwide,” Dr. Appelbaum said. “The collaboration between Israel and Arkansas in these sectors and many others where there is a mutually beneficial synergy will help further develop these fields and help create solutions that are likely to leave their mark on the entire world.”