Florida-Israel Institute
Mission of the Florida-Israel Institute
As established under Florida statute , the mission of the Florida-Israel Institute (FII) at Florida Atlantic University is to assist in the development of stronger economic, educational, cultural and social ties between the State of Florida and the State of Israel through the promotion of expanded public and private dialog on cooperative research and technical acceptance activities, increased bilateral commerce, student and faculty exchange, cultural exchange, and enhancement of language training skills between the postsecondary institutions in Florida and Israel.
Message from President Adam Hasner
Recognizing its significance, Florida Atlantic University is proud to serve as the home of the Florida-Israel Institute, a state initiative dedicated to strengthening ties among institutions, industries and people.
By connecting Florida with Israel’s globally recognized academic and innovation ecosystems, the Institute helps prepare students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.
At its core, the Florida-Israel Institute exists to build lasting partnerships that advance knowledge, drive discovery and foster cultural understanding in ways that benefit Floridians, Israelis and communities around the world.
We are grateful for the vision and support of the State of Florida that make this collaboration possible. We look forward to working alongside our partner institutions to ensure the continued growth and impact of our Florida-Israel relationship.
Sincerely,
Adam Hasner
President, Florida Atlantic University
Our Vision
Academic vision
The Florida-Israel Institute at Florida Atlantic University works to enhance academic excellence by:
1) Identifying opportunities for collaboration and fostering programmatic linkage of Floridian and Israeli academic institutions and their respective efforts, with the goal of converting that collaboration and knowledge transfer into impactful breakthroughs.
2) Equipping current and future professionals with the literacy and knowledge needed to effectively enter the pipeline of Florida-Israel trade and exchange in their chosen field, primarily through the development of practical programs of study at Florida Atlantic University that can serve students of various disciplines throughout the State University System of Florida; and
Business vision
The Florida-Israel Institute works to strengthen Florida’s economy and global competitiveness by programmatically linking the academic assets and opportunities found across the State University System of Florida with Israeli academic institutions and industrial partners, in order to enhance knowledge transfer, validation, and the commercialization of products, services, and technologies.
Social impact vision
The Florida-Israel Institute shall work to strengthen bonds between Floridians and Israelis through cultural exchange programs. These programs shall further public appreciation of our shared societal interests and values, and highlight how Florida-Israel linkage contributes to increased quality of life for Floridians, Israelis, and people around the world. In conjunction with its mission, the Florida-Israel Institute shall work toward the goal of reducing antisemitism within business and academia.
Turning Global Opportunity into Career Advantage
The Florida-Israel Institute at Florida Atlantic University was created to connect students with one of the world's most innovative and economically dynamic regions while preparing them to succeed in an increasingly global workforce.
Israel is recognized internationally as a leader in many cutting edge sectors. Through the Florida-Israel Institute, students gain direct access to educational, research, professional, and cultural opportunities that connect Florida's strengths with Israel's innovation ecosystem.
The Institute's programs are designed to help students move beyond classroom learning and develop the knowledge, skills, and international perspective sought by employers in today's economy.
Students have opportunities to:
- Participate in research collaborations and innovation-focused programs.
- Engage with Israeli universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
- Pursue internships, fellowships, and exchange opportunities.
- Develop an understanding of international business, technology commercialization, and global markets.
- Build professional networks that extend across Florida, Israel, and beyond.
Whether pursuing careers in business, engineering, healthcare, public policy, communications, law, cybersecurity, education, or the sciences, students gain valuable experience that enhances their competitiveness in the workforce.
Israel has earned the nickname "Startup Nation" because of its extraordinary concentration of innovation, research, and entrepreneurial activity. The Florida-Israel Institute serves as a bridge connecting students to this ecosystem.
Through lectures, visiting scholars, cultural programs, academic exchanges, and collaborative initiatives, students gain exposure to ideas and innovations that are shaping industries around the world.
Students today increasingly seek educational experiences that combine academic excellence with real-world impact. The Florida-Israel Institute provides opportunities to:
- Learn from internationally recognized experts.
- Participate in meaningful cultural and academic exchanges.
- Explore global challenges through collaborative problem-solving.
- Engage with cutting-edge research and emerging technologies.
- Develop leadership skills in an international context.
Employers increasingly value graduates who possess cross-cultural competency, international experience, innovation literacy, and the ability to operate in diverse professional environments.
The Florida-Israel Institute helps students develop these capabilities while creating pathways to professional opportunities that may not otherwise be available through a traditional academic experience.
As one of the nation's leading economic and innovation hubs, Florida continues to expand its international partnerships and global influence. The Florida-Israel Institute positions students at the intersection of higher education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and international engagement.
Students who participate in Institute programs are not only enhancing their own educational experience—they are helping build the next generation of Florida-Israel collaboration that will drive economic growth, scientific discovery, and cultural exchange for decades to come.
Florida Atlantic University has worked with Bar-Ilan University to standardize the transfer of credits for many courses completed through the Israel XP program. This partnership helps students participate in a transformative educational experience in Israel while remaining on track toward their degree. By creating a clearer and more predictable credit-transfer process, FAU makes it easier Transferring Credits from Israel to combine international learning, cultural immersion, and academic progress without delaying graduation.
Many companies reach a point where continued growth depends on access to new research capabilities, specialized talent, testing environments, commercialization partners, or entry into larger markets.
The Florida-Israel Institute was created to help bridge that gap.
The Florida-Israel Institute connects businesses with Florida's world-class research universities, innovation ecosystem, and rapidly growing economy. Whether a company is pursuing collaborative R&D, validating new technologies, recruiting talent, or preparing for market expansion, the Institute helps create strategic connections that transform academic and commercial relationships into measurable business outcomes.
For Israeli companies, Florida offers a particularly compelling opportunity. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the United States, Florida provides access to customers, capital, workforce talent, and logistical infrastructure while serving as an ideal gateway into the broader American market. At the same time, Florida has distinguished itself as one of Israel's strongest and most reliable partners in the United States.
Through the Florida-Israel Institute, Israeli businesses can explore research collaborations, commercialization partnerships, workforce development initiatives, innovation programs, and opportunities to establish or expand operations in Florida. For companies with ongoing R&D needs, the Institute helps unlock the capabilities of Florida's public university system and facilitate productive engagement with faculty, researchers, students, and innovation centers.
The result is more than market access. It is a pathway to sustained growth built upon the combined strengths of Florida's economy and Israel's innovation ecosystem.
Research Park
For more than 40 years, the Research Park at Florida Atlantic has been at the forefront of technology-driven economic development in South Florida. By connecting visionary entrepreneurs with Florida Atlantic’s cutting-edge research faculty, we have accelerated innovation, facilitated commercialization, and propelled businesses forward. Our ecosystem has led to groundbreaking discoveries, new product launches, revenue growth, job creation, and advancements in emerging technologies.
Distinguished by our strong ties to research, commercialization, and economic impact, the Research Park at FAU has established itself as Florida’s premier university research park.
Learn more about Research Park
Global Ventures at Florida Atlantic
Global Ventures at Florida Atlantic, based at the Research Park, is a premier entrepreneurial support initiative designed for technology companies that have established a strong foothold in their industry and are ready to accelerate their growth. Focused on scaling second-stage companies, Global Ventures supports technology-driven firms, particularly those with an interest in collaborating with FAU.
Global Ventures currently hosts 29 companies from 12 countries, including Israel.
The Runway at Florida Atlantic
The Runway at Florida Atlantic is a South Florida public-private partnership that serves as a hub to accelerate technology development and incubate startup companies. The Runway's companies can access mentoring, introductions to early-stage capital, grants and seed funding. In addition, they are provided with the tools to become successful entrepreneurs, including a rigorous boot camp, access to business and technology events, and connections to a thriving regional innovation network.
Select Florida
Select Florida is the state of Florida’s official international commerce organization, serving as a catalyst for economic development, economic diversification into targeted industries, and high-wage job creation.
FII’s Unique Value
The Florida-Israel Institute's greatest product is human capital: future entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and civic leaders whose careers and relationships will shape the future of Florida-Israel collaboration and trade for decades to come.
Unlike a traditional community-based nonprofit focused primarily on programs and services, the Florida-Israel Institute is a unique apparatus of the State of Florida, established to build permanent academic, economic, and cultural linkages. Positioned within Florida's public university system, the Institute looks to cultivate future leaders at scale, connect them directly to Israeli institutions and industries, and create enduring partnerships that strengthen the long-term prosperity and security of both societies.
For philanthropists seeking lasting impact, an investment in the Institute is an investment in the people, relationships, and institutional infrastructure that will carry the Florida-Israel partnership forward for generations.
Israel's future depends upon cultivating partnerships with regions that offer more than opportunity. It depends upon partnerships built on stability, shared values, and long-term commitment.
Florida has emerged as the most welcoming state in America for Israelis and one of Israel's strongest partners in the United States. Home to a rapidly growing Israeli and Jewish community, the nation's top-ranked public university system, and one of the world's most dynamic economies, Florida offers Israeli students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and companies a uniquely supportive environment in which to learn, innovate, and grow.
The Florida-Israel Institute was created by the State of Florida to transform that goodwill into lasting academic, economic, and innovation partnerships.
Unlike traditional exchange programs or nonprofit organizations, the Institute is a unique state-established apparatus designed specifically to connect Israeli talent and institutions with Florida's universities, industries, and future leaders. Through research collaboration, student exchange, commercialization initiatives, and professional development opportunities, the Institute helps Israeli partners access one of America's most attractive markets while building relationships that endure.
Perhaps most importantly, the Institute is helping cultivate the next generation of American business, innovation, and civic leaders in a state that has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Israel. Those students will become future executives, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders whose understanding of Israel will shape the relationship for decades to come.
At a time when many institutions are distancing themselves from Israel, Florida is moving closer. The Florida-Israel Institute exists to ensure that this partnership becomes deeper, stronger, and more consequential with each passing generation.
עתידה של ישראל תלוי ביכולת שלה לבנות ולטפח שותפויות עם אזורים שאינם מציעים רק הזדמנויות נקודתיות, אלא שותפויות המבוססות על יציבות, ערכים משותפים ומחויבות ארוכת טווח.
פלורידה הפכה לאחת המדינות הידידותיות והתומכות ביותר בישראל ובישראלים בארצות הברית, ולאחת השותפות האסטרטגיות החשובות ביותר של ישראל בארה״ב. עם קהילה ישראלית ויהודית הצומחת במהירות, מערכת אוניברסיטאות ציבוריות מהמצטיינות בארצות הברית ואחת הכלכלות הדינמיות והצומחות בעולם, פלורידה מציעה לסטודנטים, חוקרים, יזמים וחברות ישראליות סביבה ייחודית המאפשרת ללמוד, לחדש, ליצור קשרים ולהצליח.
מכון פלורידה–ישראל הוקם על ידי מדינת פלורידה במטרה להפוך את הקשר העמוק והאהדה לישראל לשותפויות משמעותיות וארוכות טווח בתחומי האקדמיה, הכלכלה והחדשנות.
בשונה מתוכניות חילופי סטודנטים מסורתיות או מארגונים ללא מטרות רווח, המכון הוא יוזמה ייחודית של מדינת פלורידה, שנועדה לחבר בין מוסדות וכישרונות ישראליים לבין האוניברסיטאות, התעשיות והמנהיגים העתידיים של המדינה. באמצעות שיתופי פעולה מחקריים, חילופי סטודנטים, קידום מסחור טכנולוגיות והזדמנויות לפיתוח מקצועי, המכון מאפשר לשותפים ישראלים גישה לאחד השווקים המובילים והאטרקטיביים ביותר בארצות הברית, תוך בניית קשרים עמוקים ומשמעותיים לאורך זמן.
מעבר לכך, המכון ממלא תפקיד מרכזי בטיפוח הדור הבא של מנהיגי העסקים, החדשנות והחברה האזרחית בארצות הברית , במדינה שהוכיחה מחויבות איתנה ובלתי מתפשרת לישראל. סטודנטים אלה יהיו בעתיד מנהלים בכירים, משקיעים, יזמים, מובילי מדיניות ומנהיגי קהילה, והיכרותם עם ישראל והקשר שלהם אליה יעצבו את מערכת היחסים בין המדינות בעשורים הבאים.
בתקופה שבה מדינות ומוסדות רבים בעולם מתרחקים מישראל, פלורידה בוחרת להתקרב אליה. מכון פלורידה–ישראל פועל כדי להבטיח שהשותפות הזו תעמיק, תתחזק ותהפוך למשמעותית יותר לדורות הבאים
FII Staff
Joseph Sabag
Executive Director
Florida Israel Institute
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Designation: other; Florida-Israel Institute