Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

The ‘Bio-Negev’ venture, that was recently launched by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee – Silvan Shalom, is a regional center aiming to encourage innovation in the field of Biotechnology and life science. This venture, based on the model of economic clusters, is aimed at encouraging cooperation between different stakeholders based in the Negev such as Ben Gurion University, Soroka Hospital, Beer Sheva Municipality, the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev and the Negev Development Authority.

Although the 2007 Makov report highlighted the need to promote economic clusters, it overlooked the crucial connection between clusters and the region’s unique assets. The ‘Bio-Negev’ venture is an example of an economic cluster stemming from a regional expertise, industries and services. We believe that these kinds of actions promote a ‘climate of innovation’ and a regional specialization that is necessary to achieve sustainable growth in regions and promote a socioeconomic leapfrog in Israel.