“We must separate politics from economy,” says Israeli Minister of Economy at Cybertech Global 2023
Barkat: “People from all over the world are interested in the best entrepreneurs, ideas, solutions – as long as Israel can provide that, it will remain a leader”Barkat: “People from all over the world are interested in the best entrepreneurs, ideas, solutions – as long as Israel can provide that, it will remain a leader”
Mandi Kogosowski
| 01/02/2023
Photo: Gilad Kavalerchik
Nir Barkat, Minister of Economy, Israel, one of the founders of BRM and Check Point, took to the Cybertech Global TLV 2023 stage this morning, for a chat with Cybertech’s Shir Meir.
Asked about his start in high-tech, Barkat told Meir that in 1988, as a Hebrew University student, he and his friends identified the first computer virus in the world, affecting the university’s computers.
“So my friends and I figured out how to remove it, we wrote the first anti-virus software – and started BRM, selling our product all over the world,” said Barkat. He was then approached by the founders of Check Point with the idea of developing a firewall, and “the rest is history.”
When Gill, Shlomo and Marius from Check Poiint came to us with the idea of developing a firewall – and the rest is history.
Barkat was asked what has changed in Israel over the past few decades, and replied that it’s been “A combination of a few things: the talent that Israel has, entrepreneurs who think out of the box and are daring, 8200 Unit and other units that are top of the line, best in the world. Cyber is here today, it will only expand. The scope is already far beyond the imagination. I believe that the expertise developed in Israel is here to stay for a long time.”
Q: What should Israel to do maintain position?
A: “Train people to think out of the box. Our DNA is such, people think how to outsmart the enemy, the challenges. We also have to invest. As Minister of Economy, my perspective is to listen to what the entrepreneurs are saying and help them expand their market.
“How do we as an industry get engaged in education?” continued Barkat. “It is out opportunity and duty to bring our knowledge to the education system so that we can expand the market and create opportunities for the next generation, expand the ability for more and more Israelis
Q: What are Israel’s challenges as far as attracting international investments?
A: “It is in the critical path of the Israeli economy to expand market and reach. Also, encourage with economic incentives, help entrepreneurs cross the ocean – not just cybersecurity, but high-tech in general. Last – education, we can certainly expand to the periphery, minorities who aren’t involved as much as they could and should be.”
Towards the end of the talk, Meir asked Barkat about the current challenges, saying that “we cannot ignore the global tech crisis, and the internal debate in Israel regarding the judicial reform…”
“ I understand that there’s a challenge internally, but we need to work smartly and separate between the economic and political challenges,” replied Barkat.
“When I speak with my pears around the world, this isn’t even mentioned. Everyone understands that we need to reform the system, but that it’s an internal Israeli system. I welcome discussion, but we need to separate, let’s not embed politics and economy.
“I don’t feel that it (the current climate in Israel) affects the situation: people from all over the world are interested in the best entrepreneurs, ideas, solutions – as long as Israel can provide that, it will remain a leader.”
Barkat: “People from all over the world are interested in the best entrepreneurs, ideas, solutions – as long as Israel can provide that, it will remain a leader”Barkat: “People from all over the world are interested in the best entrepreneurs, ideas, solutions – as long as Israel can provide that, it will remain a leader”
Photo: Gilad Kavalerchik
Nir Barkat, Minister of Economy, Israel, one of the founders of BRM and Check Point, took to the Cybertech Global TLV 2023 stage this morning, for a chat with Cybertech’s Shir Meir.
Asked about his start in high-tech, Barkat told Meir that in 1988, as a Hebrew University student, he and his friends identified the first computer virus in the world, affecting the university’s computers.
“So my friends and I figured out how to remove it, we wrote the first anti-virus software – and started BRM, selling our product all over the world,” said Barkat. He was then approached by the founders of Check Point with the idea of developing a firewall, and “the rest is history.”
When Gill, Shlomo and Marius from Check Poiint came to us with the idea of developing a firewall – and the rest is history.
Barkat was asked what has changed in Israel over the past few decades, and replied that it’s been “A combination of a few things: the talent that Israel has, entrepreneurs who think out of the box and are daring, 8200 Unit and other units that are top of the line, best in the world. Cyber is here today, it will only expand. The scope is already far beyond the imagination. I believe that the expertise developed in Israel is here to stay for a long time.”
Q: What should Israel to do maintain position?
A: “Train people to think out of the box. Our DNA is such, people think how to outsmart the enemy, the challenges. We also have to invest. As Minister of Economy, my perspective is to listen to what the entrepreneurs are saying and help them expand their market.
“How do we as an industry get engaged in education?” continued Barkat. “It is out opportunity and duty to bring our knowledge to the education system so that we can expand the market and create opportunities for the next generation, expand the ability for more and more Israelis
Q: What are Israel’s challenges as far as attracting international investments?
A: “It is in the critical path of the Israeli economy to expand market and reach. Also, encourage with economic incentives, help entrepreneurs cross the ocean – not just cybersecurity, but high-tech in general. Last – education, we can certainly expand to the periphery, minorities who aren’t involved as much as they could and should be.”
Towards the end of the talk, Meir asked Barkat about the current challenges, saying that “we cannot ignore the global tech crisis, and the internal debate in Israel regarding the judicial reform…”
“ I understand that there’s a challenge internally, but we need to work smartly and separate between the economic and political challenges,” replied Barkat.
“When I speak with my pears around the world, this isn’t even mentioned. Everyone understands that we need to reform the system, but that it’s an internal Israeli system. I welcome discussion, but we need to separate, let’s not embed politics and economy.
“I don’t feel that it (the current climate in Israel) affects the situation: people from all over the world are interested in the best entrepreneurs, ideas, solutions – as long as Israel can provide that, it will remain a leader.”
