Silicon Valley on the Med?
Israel is planning to introduce a new start-up visa aimed at entrepreneurs from around the world who plan to work in the city for 24 months on innovative projects.
The move should be a wake-up call for policymakers in Ireland’s Government, who are already under pressure to remove the friction that exists when it comes to providing visas for entrepreneurs to start businesses in Ireland and talented tech workers to work at tech multinationals.
Tel Aviv’s greatest challenge is the integration of international talent, with it having a 40pc lower share of international talent than Silicon Valley.
It has been the city government of Tel Aviv’s goal to diversify the workforce in order to promote the ecosystem, according to a statement fro the Israeli Ministry of Economy.
Start-up city on the Med
The Israeli Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Interior, along with the office of the chief scientist, will launch the programme in the next few months, which will allow entrepreneurs from around the world to come to the start-up city for 24 months in order to develop innovative projects.
“Israel is perceived in the world as a centre of innovation and development, and we must preserve this achievement,” said Israel’s Minister of Economy Aryeh Deri.
“The Start-up Visa will enable foreign entrepreneurs from around the world to develop new ideas in Israel, which will aid the development of the Israeli market.”
‘The decision of the Israeli government to launch a start-up visa in 2016 is groundbreaking for the state of Israel and makes Tel Aviv’s ecosystem even more accessible and attractive for foreign entrepreneurs’
– RON HULDAI, MAYOR OF TEL AVIV
Entrepreneurs who wish to stay in Israel and open a start-up company will be granted a specialist visa.
“Tel Aviv is the non-stop city with non-stop innovation,” the city’s Mayor Ron Huldai said.
“Young entrepreneurs from all over Israel come to Tel Aviv to invent new products, and now young people from all over the world will be able to come and share this phenomenon with us.
“The decision of the Israeli government to launch a start-up visa in 2016 is groundbreaking for the state of Israel and makes Tel Aviv’s ecosystem even more accessible and attractive for foreign entrepreneurs.”
Now wouldn’t it be nice if planners in Dublin City Council and the Government took note that there is an international war for talent raging.
Tel Aviv image via Shutterstock
