Overview of The Hub
The UK-Israel Tech Hub was launched in October 2011.
The Hub is tasked with promoting economic growth and innovation in the UK and Israel by
creating lasting partnerships between the two countries in technology. We will position the
UK as a natural partner of choice for Israel in technology, and ensure the UK market can
make full use of the breadth and quality of Israeli R&D and innovation.
Our Team
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Hub Chairman , spearheads the Hub’s strategy, dealing with senior executives in both
countries putting forward the case for the UK-Israel tech partnership.
Hub Director, Naomi Krieger, leads the Hub team in planning and meeting its
ambitious objectives, working directly with leading UK and Israel companies and
partners and focusing on the financial services sector.
Digital Manager, Lucy Blechner, works with Israel's top digital firms and emerging
technology companies, identifying start-ups and potential partners for British
companies and investors.
Biomed Manager, Dr Iris Geffen Gloor, works with Israel's leading life sciences
companies to develop strategies for growth and development, positioning the UK as
the ideal partner to provide sources of funding, partnership, acquisition and market
opportunity.
Cleantech Manager, Yoni Dolgin, identifies specific opportunities for British
companies and investors to partner with leading Israel-based cleantech firms.
Arab Sector Manager, Mohammed Bitar, identifies opportunities for Arab tech
entrepreneurs and companies to partner with UK counterparts and do business in
Israel, Europe and the Arab world.
Personal Assistant to the Hub Director, Lisa Hanania, coordinates administrative
and logistical matters for the Hub.
Hub Chairman
Haim Shani
Haim Shani is the Former Israeli Finance Ministry Director General and NICE Systems
(NASDAQ: NICE) CEO. Shani was appointed non-executive Chairman of the Hub in
February 2012, and will also sit on the newly established UK-Israel Tech Council, chaired by
UK Minister for Universities David Willetts and Israel’s Chief Scientist Avi Hasson.
Shani has vast experience in technology and particularly in the UK-Israel technology
relationship, steering NICE’s growth through successful integration with several UK-based
companies in the fields of telecom, enterprise software and finance. During his eight years
with NICE, one of Israel's most successful technology companies, he was selected as one of
the top ten CEOs in Israel by Dun & Bradstreet.
Shani holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from the
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and an MBA from INSEAD, France.
Hub Director
Naomi Krieger
Naomi brings executive management experience from the
not-for-profit sector and technology and finance expertise from Tel Aviv and Wall Street.
Prior to joining the Embassy, Naomi was Director of Strategy and Operations at the Taub
Centre for Social Policy Studies in Israel, and Executive Director of STRIVE Israel, a
national organisation founded by JDC Israel to help young unemployed Israelis develop
careers and financial independence.
As an investment banker for Lehman Brothers, Naomi worked with global technology
companies and with Israeli companies looking to access global markets or conduct M&A
transactions. She also worked as a Project Manager at the New York City Economic
Development Corporation and as an assistant economist at the Bank of Israel.
Naomi holds a BA in Economics and International Relations from Hebrew University and a
Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Biomed Manager
Dr Iris Geffen Gloor
Dr. Iris Geffen Gloor has over 20 years of experience in the
biomedical industry. During this time she has been active in
life sciences research and business development in Israel,
the US and Europe.
Dr. Geffen Gloor was the founder and manager of frameworks for biomedical start-ups,
promoting technology transfer from universities to new industrial and commercial ventures
and coached the initial management, R&D and business development steps of numerous
biotechnology start ups.
Working with academic institutes and with industrial entities she has been responsible for
screening and evaluation of new technologies, assessment of funding and marketing
opportunities, strategic planning and international cooperation.
Iris Geffen Gloor holds a PhD in Neurosciences from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in
New York City, and an MBA from the Recanati School of Management of Tel Aviv
University.
Digital Manager
Lucy Blechner
Lucy is the Digital Manager of the UK Israel Tech Hub at the
British Embassy, responsible for identifying Israel's leading
digital and emerging technology start-ups and working together to build strategies for growth
and expansion into the UK market. Lucy focuses on innovative digital technology that has the
capability to provide competitive edge to the UK's Media/Advertising, Retail and
Telecommunications industries.
Lucy is responsible for launching TeXchange, the Hub's Tech Exchange Programme that
creates a two-way flow of tech pioneers, companies, ideas and technology between the UK
and Israel.
Before joining the UK Israel Tech Hub, Lucy was working as a Strategist in Marketing and
Advertising Agencies in London and Tel Aviv. During this time, she worked on repositioning consumer brands such as Procter & Gamble, LA fitness and Blistex, often
through the medium of digital advertising. Immediately prior to joining the Embassy, she
worked as a Strategic Planner at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Agency.
Lucy Blechner holds a First Class BSc Honours degree in Psychology from the University of
Birmingham, England.
Cleantech Manager
Yoni Dolgin
Yoni is the Cleantech Manager at the UK Embassy in Israel’s
Hi Tech Hub. He is responsible for engaging with all leading
Israeli cleantech companies, working with these companies to develop strategies for growth
and development, and positioning the UK as the ideal partner to provide sources of funding,
partnership, acquisition and market opportunity.
Prior to joining the Embassy, Yoni worked as an analyst at a leading Israeli environmental
consulting firm, Assif-Strategies Ltd., where he advised top Israeli corporations and cleantech
companies on aligning business strategies with environmental values. Before this, Yoni
consulted for a leading solar energy contractor in New York, Empower Clean Energy
Solutions.
Yoni holds an Sc.B. in Environmental Science from Brown University, where he wrote an
honours thesis assessing the grid and emissions impact of electric vehicle adoption in the
state of Rhode Island.
Arab Sector Manager
Mohammed Bitar
Mohammed holds an MBA (honours) degree from the
Technion – Haifa Israel. He brings executive management experience in finance, social
networks and digital platforms. Mohammed has a very deep knowledge in the Arab sector
and a great network that was established through many years, including many key figures in
the Arab sector in Israel and abroad.
Prior to joining the Embassy, Mohammed worked in the private sector as founder,
entrepreneur and senior management positions in high-tech firms. Mohammed's experience
and great access to the Arab sector in Israel and abroad gave him the ability to expand his
activity to the Arab world mainly ME and Gulf countries.
Beside his business orientation Mohammed is a social activist, he acts as a board member of
many non-profit organizations, trying to support and move his society to success. Mohammed
wrote two books about successful Arab role models from Israel.
Personal Assistant to the Hub Director
Lisa Hanania
Lisa Hanania, Personal Assistant to the Hub Director
Lisa Hanania is the Personal Assistant to the Hub Director.
She coordinates administrative and logistical matters for the
Hub.
Prior to joining the team, Lisa gained extensive international experience working on
community organizing and social movements. She holds a B.A. in International and Global
Studies, and African and African American Studies with a minor in Peace and Conflict
Resolution Studies from Brandeis University.
Launching TeXchange, the UK-Israel
Tech Exchange Programme
Congratulations to our TeXchange winners: Adotomi, Bazaart, CallApp, CallMyName,
Comfyware, LiveDefinition, Moolta, IP Gallery, Ongage, RankAbove, SocialClicks,
Tweegee, Wibbitz, WorkWith.Me and Zooz!
These companies will represent our first TeXchange delegation to the UK, departing for
London 25-29th November, led by Lucy Blechner, Digital Manager of the UK Israel Tech
Hub.
Matthew Gould, British Ambassador to Israel: "TeXchange will bring the very best Israeli
tech entrepreneurs to Britain. They will get to see what Britain has to offer Israeli companies
looking to expand - the world's financial capital, three of the world's top ten universities,
world-class marketing and business development skills, and links across the world. The
entrepreneurs will also visit Tech City in London – one of Europe's biggest digital clusters
with over 200 companies. I believe passionately that Israel and Britain are natural partners in
tech. At the moment this is an unfulfilled potential. The TeXchange programme will help
make this partnership a reality."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The UK Israel Tech Hub in partnership with Tech City Investment Organisation and UKTI
recently launched TeXchange, the Tech Exchange programme that will create
an ongoing two-way flow of digital tech pioneers, companies, ideas and technology between
the UK and Israel. TeXchange will create platforms for collaboration between entrepreneurs
and companies, giving British corporations a competitive advantage by integrating Israeli
technological innovation into their business, and connecting Israeli start-ups to the UK's
leading companies, markets, investors and service providers.
Programme
This unique programme will fly groups of leading Israeli entrepreneurs to the UK for 3.5
days to participate in "Meet the Customer" and "Meet the Investor" events set up with leading
British firms, attend tech networking events, experience mentoring sessions with industry
gurus, and participate in a tour of London's 'Tech City', interacting with UK entrepreneurs in
Europe's fastest growing Tech cluster. Groups of British entrepreneurs will similarly visit
Israel, tapping into the vibrant Israeli tech scene, meeting their Israeli entrepreneurial
counterparts and identifying collaboration opportunities. TeXchange will cover the cost of
flights as well as meals and most on-the-ground transport during the 3.5 days.
Judging Panel
All applications will be reviewed by our experienced judging panel, chaired by Haim Shani,
Chairman of the UK Israel Tech Hub.
Successful companies will be informed by October 15th and invited to a send-off reception at
the British Ambassador's Residence in October before leaving for the UK week commencing
25th November for 3.5 days of jam-packed meetings and an exciting programme of events.
Key dates
Competition opens: August 20th
Application deadline: September 20th
Finalists announced: October 15th
Visit to UK: November 25th-29th
Questions and enquiries should be directed to Digital Manager of the Hub, Lucy Blechner at
lucy@ukisraelhub.com or on Twitter @UKIsraelHub or phone 03-7251286.
Building the UK-Israel Tech Partnership
Our goal is to boost economic growth and innovation by harnessing the power of a partnership in
technology.
Our dedicated team of professionals is tasked with promoting partnership between Britain
and Israel in technology. The Hub's creation followed an agreement between Prime Ministers
David Cameron and Benjamin Netanyahu to build a UK/Israel partnership in technology. The
Hub’s mission is to promote that partnership, as a means to boost innovation and economic
growth in both countries.
Israel is a phenomenal source of innovation with more start-ups per capita than anywhere else
in the world. Given Israel's small size, all Israeli companies need foreign partners – for
capital, business and product development, and access to global markets.
Britain is a natural partner for Israel. We are close; and we offer market access to
Europe. We have the world’s strongest financial centre; world-class professional and
creative services; globally significant customers; and complementary strengths in technology
emerging out of our world-class academic institutions.
The Rt Hon George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke at the Hub’s launch about
the immense potential of this partnership:
“[Israel’s] high tech economy is one of the economic marvels of the modern world. … We
believe that Britain should be a natural partner for Israel in high tech, and that we can power
economic growth in both countries by building this partnership. We can give [Israel] market
access to the rest of Europe, and trading links across the world. And we have depth in
business development that will allow [Israel] to exploit those links. The offer is simple.
Britain can help Israeli innovation go global.”
The Hub team brings extensive experience in technology, business and finance; and focuses
on three main technology sectors: Digital, Life Sciences and Cleantech.
Hub objectives include:
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Defining the key sectors where UK/Israel collaboration could be complementary and
fruitful;
Identifying and bringing innovative Israeli technology and R&D to UK-based
companies;
Positioning the UK in Israel as a centre for technological and services innovation and
as a partner of choice for Israeli technology companies; and
Tying Israeli technology players into UK capital markets.
The goal of creating a UK/Israel partnership in technology is also supported by the recently
established UK-Israel Tech Council, a senior body co-chaired by UK Minister for
Universities and Science David Willetts and Israel’s Chief Scientist Avi Hasson. Council
members include top-level executives in the technology community.