The high-tech park in Beer Sheva - a contribution to the resilience and security of Israel | Opinion
The opening of the school for computing inside the park moved many people who work there every day | Some underestimate the fact that from its opening in 2013 until today, about 3,000 developers and other high-tech professionals have worked in the high-tech park. This is not obvious at all
Uzi Zwebner
| 29/08/2022
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Last week, the school for computing professions of the IDF was inaugurated in the high-tech park in Beer Sheva. The school is located in the heart of the high-tech park. About 1,000 trainees, commanders, and officers will serve in this innovative base.
The Israeli government made its first decision to move the ICT and intelligence units to the Negev in 2005. 17 years have passed since then. The inauguration of the IDF’s Computing Professions School in the high-tech park is indeed a worthy first historic milestone.
The dream of establishing a high-tech park in Beer Sheva took shape at Ben Gurion University back in 2000, even before it was decided to move IDF’s bases to the Negev. In 2004, the Israeli government made a decision to budget the tech park infrastructures.
Right at the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, the initiative moved into practical steps, and a joint company between Ben Gurion University, the Municipality of Beer Sheva, and the Japanese-American KUD company began to operate for the realization of the dream.
The ICT Units of the IDF Transition Administration appealed to the company to give up part of the area allocated to the park, for the purpose of establishing the technological campus of the IDF ICT Corps.
The joint company of the high-tech park, recognizing the importance of establishing an ICT campus for the Negev, Beer Sheva, and the Park, made a decision to give up half of its territory in favor of the matter. At this point, the first and solid foundation was built for the long-term cooperation of the high-tech park and the transition of the ICT and cyber units of the IDF to the Negev.
Governments, officials in the army, in the authorities, and in the university were replaced from time to time, but the strength of the relationship and the understanding of the importance of this cooperation for the strength and security of the country was beyond any other interest or consideration.
In 2010, a master plan was prepared and approved for the high-tech park and the ICT campus. ICT units such as Lotam joined hands with the park management in promoting the exposure of the park to companies with interests.
Ben-Gurion University and the ICT Division have opened courses in Cyber. The municipality of Beer Sheva helped encourage the integration of the soldiers and their families into the region, the education system, and social life. In this way, step by step, a unique technological ecosystem was built, which combines the extensive activity in the tech park together with the ICT center.
In 2011, the high-tech park received a significant boost when the Gav Yam company was persuaded to join the project as a partner. Gev Yam, beyond the financial contribution and the risk she took when joining, identified the park as a project that would contribute to the resilience and security of the state in the Negev.
Some are underestimating the fact that from its opening in 2013 until today, about 3000 tech professionals are working in the high-tech park. It is not at all obvious that during these years dozens of international companies, Israeli companies, technology incubators, and startups arrived and settled in Beer Sheva.
A considerable part of the companies and startups deal with developments that are beneficial also in international security aspects. In addition, the cyber emergency response team (CERT) of the Israel National Cyber Directorate that is located in the park is a very important cornerstone and its contribution to the tech ecosystem has many valuable resilient aspects.
To an outside observer, it is not always clear that this is a very strenuous and complicated marketing and administrative work of the high-tech park management and all the partners of the park together, both the public and private partners. It is important to emphasize that the establishment of the ICT center has a significant part in the park's attractiveness for attracting companies.
But It is also necessary to remember that the strong motivation of all the partners in the park was and is the recognition that the park is an important pillar in contributing to the strength and security of the country, the Negev, and the city of Beer Sheva.
The opening of the school for computing professions within the high-tech park was moving for many people who work there on a daily basis, as well as the managers and employees of the companies in the park who are an integral part of the technological ecosystem.
All of them understand that they are partners in a move of great significance. A move that is an example of extraordinary cooperation of the technological-business world with the municipality of Beer Sheva, Ben Gurion University, the Ministry of Defense, the army, the ICT division, and the administration of the IDF transition to the Negev.
Finally, on a somewhat personal note by me, as one who accompanies the park from its first day, when there was still only just sand at the site. When I’m arriving by train at the station adjacent to the university and the high-tech park, get on and walk on the beautiful bridge towards the tech park and see it in front of me in its full power, I know very well deeply in my heart that what we have done here and what will be done here, is a worthy act that is a contribution to the strength and security of the country.
The author is a partner and co-founder of the Beer Sheva High Tech Park.
The opening of the school for computing inside the park moved many people who work there every day | Some underestimate the fact that from its opening in 2013 until today, about 3,000 developers and other high-tech professionals have worked in the high-tech park. This is not obvious at all
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
Last week, the school for computing professions of the IDF was inaugurated in the high-tech park in Beer Sheva. The school is located in the heart of the high-tech park. About 1,000 trainees, commanders, and officers will serve in this innovative base.
The Israeli government made its first decision to move the ICT and intelligence units to the Negev in 2005. 17 years have passed since then. The inauguration of the IDF’s Computing Professions School in the high-tech park is indeed a worthy first historic milestone.
The dream of establishing a high-tech park in Beer Sheva took shape at Ben Gurion University back in 2000, even before it was decided to move IDF’s bases to the Negev. In 2004, the Israeli government made a decision to budget the tech park infrastructures.
Right at the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, the initiative moved into practical steps, and a joint company between Ben Gurion University, the Municipality of Beer Sheva, and the Japanese-American KUD company began to operate for the realization of the dream.
The ICT Units of the IDF Transition Administration appealed to the company to give up part of the area allocated to the park, for the purpose of establishing the technological campus of the IDF ICT Corps.
The joint company of the high-tech park, recognizing the importance of establishing an ICT campus for the Negev, Beer Sheva, and the Park, made a decision to give up half of its territory in favor of the matter. At this point, the first and solid foundation was built for the long-term cooperation of the high-tech park and the transition of the ICT and cyber units of the IDF to the Negev.
Governments, officials in the army, in the authorities, and in the university were replaced from time to time, but the strength of the relationship and the understanding of the importance of this cooperation for the strength and security of the country was beyond any other interest or consideration.
In 2010, a master plan was prepared and approved for the high-tech park and the ICT campus. ICT units such as Lotam joined hands with the park management in promoting the exposure of the park to companies with interests.
Ben-Gurion University and the ICT Division have opened courses in Cyber. The municipality of Beer Sheva helped encourage the integration of the soldiers and their families into the region, the education system, and social life. In this way, step by step, a unique technological ecosystem was built, which combines the extensive activity in the tech park together with the ICT center.
In 2011, the high-tech park received a significant boost when the Gav Yam company was persuaded to join the project as a partner. Gev Yam, beyond the financial contribution and the risk she took when joining, identified the park as a project that would contribute to the resilience and security of the state in the Negev.
Some are underestimating the fact that from its opening in 2013 until today, about 3000 tech professionals are working in the high-tech park. It is not at all obvious that during these years dozens of international companies, Israeli companies, technology incubators, and startups arrived and settled in Beer Sheva.
A considerable part of the companies and startups deal with developments that are beneficial also in international security aspects. In addition, the cyber emergency response team (CERT) of the Israel National Cyber Directorate that is located in the park is a very important cornerstone and its contribution to the tech ecosystem has many valuable resilient aspects.
To an outside observer, it is not always clear that this is a very strenuous and complicated marketing and administrative work of the high-tech park management and all the partners of the park together, both the public and private partners. It is important to emphasize that the establishment of the ICT center has a significant part in the park's attractiveness for attracting companies.
But It is also necessary to remember that the strong motivation of all the partners in the park was and is the recognition that the park is an important pillar in contributing to the strength and security of the country, the Negev, and the city of Beer Sheva.
The opening of the school for computing professions within the high-tech park was moving for many people who work there on a daily basis, as well as the managers and employees of the companies in the park who are an integral part of the technological ecosystem.
All of them understand that they are partners in a move of great significance. A move that is an example of extraordinary cooperation of the technological-business world with the municipality of Beer Sheva, Ben Gurion University, the Ministry of Defense, the army, the ICT division, and the administration of the IDF transition to the Negev.
Finally, on a somewhat personal note by me, as one who accompanies the park from its first day, when there was still only just sand at the site. When I’m arriving by train at the station adjacent to the university and the high-tech park, get on and walk on the beautiful bridge towards the tech park and see it in front of me in its full power, I know very well deeply in my heart that what we have done here and what will be done here, is a worthy act that is a contribution to the strength and security of the country.
The author is a partner and co-founder of the Beer Sheva High Tech Park.
