Israel has ~140 scientists and engineers per 10,000 of population, nearly twice as many as the US, and more than twice as many as Japan.
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation - 109 per 10,000 people.
The percentage of Israeli citizens who are university graduates is among the highest in the world.
Israel is second only to the US in the number of patent applications filed.
Israel has more than 140 companies listed on NASDAQ - only the U.S. has more.
The Stent was invented in Israel.
It is estimated that some 15% of all communications equipment sold around the world comes from Israel.
The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.
Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel.
Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
Israel's Given-Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, cancer and digestive disorders.
The Firewall was invented in Israel.
Drip Irrigation was invented in Israel.
ICQ was invented in Israel.
Both of the leading drugs used to treat MS patients, beta-interferon and copaxone, were invented in Israel.
Voice over IP was invented in Israel
3 Reasons for
Israel's only natural resource is sand. So -
"A key reason for Israel's survival depends on having a very strong, high-tech army and army service and reserve duty are mandatory. In the army -- starting at age 18 -- Israelis are taught to improvise, think on their feet and to question everything. The army also provides highly intelligent and highly motivated individuals very early exposure to cutting edge technologies. These individuals then go on to create breakthrough innovations and NASDAQ traded companies based on their work with these technologies in the army.
The Fourth Reason --Chutzpa!!
Chuzpa can have negative connotations. It can mean, gall, audacity, effrontery, arrogance -- you get the picture.
However, in the context of being creative, innovative and inventive -- Chutzpa can mean nerve, daring and guts.
Having Chutzpa means you ignore the status quo and the norm. Nothing is ever accepted as a given and you always believe that you personally can do it better.
Chutzpa is the sheer audacity to challenge conventional wisdom, suffer the consequences for doing so and then persist until you prove your were right all along.
The 3 reasons above are the foundations for Israeli creativity, innovation and invention -- but Chutzpa is the impetus!
