One of Israel’s defining characteristics is its diverse and dynamic research landscape. Israel succeeds in what many others do not: advancing excellent research into market-ready, competitive innovations. Florian Müller, Spokesperson for Science, Research, and Space of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag, visited Israel to decipher the secret of the “Startup Nation” in its various dimensions.
Creative, resilient research
Discussions with representatives of various universities and research institutions highlighted the creativity and dynamism of Israel’s research landscape. Israel places a high value on its universities, grants researchers significant freedom, and provides strong support for excellence projects. Florian Müller had the opportunity to visit current research projects in areas such as cancer research and quantum physics and to ask researchers about their experiences in Israel. The result is highly motivated researchers with excellent opportunities to pursue even seemingly niche projects. What makes Israel special is not only its cutting-edge research but also the sheer quantity of top-level research within such a small country. This system remained intact despite the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the resulting war in the region, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Market-ready innovation
Israel’s exceptional research meets a system of innovation support that actively aims at market viability. During his visit, Florian Müller learned about internal innovation and startup support structures at universities and research institutions, as well as state funding programs. These programs are marked by the active search for ideas, continuous support from skilled professionals, and decades of experience. At the same time, researchers retain their freedom, and scientific work is not hindered by commercialization efforts. In numerous discussions, university staff, experts, and decision-makers explained the procedures that make Israel a symbol of innovation and startups. Exchanges with the other side — founders and entrepreneurs — also showcased the special strength of Israel’s startup and innovation ecosystem, a system from which Germany can learn greatly. Representatives of German research institutions in Israel likewise emphasized the country’s unique environment for research and entrepreneurship.
Israel’s internal situation
In addition to research and innovation, Israel’s domestic political situation was also a topic during the visit. Meetings with decision-makers, for example in the Knesset, served not only to gain insights into Israel’s research landscape and innovative strength, but also to discuss current developments in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s internal condition at the beginning of 2026. This included, above all, how Israeli society is dealing with the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and the increasing polarization within the country. The challenging situation of Christians and other religious groups in Israel and the region was also raised during the discussions.
Florian Müller’s visit highlighted how dynamic and innovative Israel’s scientific and research landscape is. The ability to develop excellent research into market-ready and highly efficient innovations distinguishes Israel worldwide. This capability has not been lost despite the trauma of October 7 — a testament to the resilience of Israeli science and society.
