Grand Challenges Canada welcomes creation of Grand Challenges Israel

New initiative builds on strong Canada-Israel relationship with innovation

TORONTO, Jan. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Dr. Peter A. Singer, Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada, offered his congratulations to the Government of Israel for the announcement of Grand Challenges Israel and welcomed Israel to the growing international network of organizations promoting global health innovation through a grand challenges approach.

Grand Challenges Israel will harness the entrepreneurial and innovative expertise of Israelis to create measurable and significant advancements in the fields of international development and global health. It will help Israel, known as the "Start-Up Nation", also become the "Start-Up Nation for International Development."

For over a year, Grand Challenges Canada has been working in close cooperation with key stakeholders in Israel to create and launch Israel's own Grand Challenges program - particularly MASHAV (Israel's Development Agency), the Office of the Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Economy, and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

By lending its expertise and experience, Grand Challenges Canada will continue to provide mentorship and logistical support during the first phase of this new and exciting initiative. The Grand Challenges Israel initiative is modeled on the Stars in Global Health program of Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the Government of Canada, which is already making substantial contributions to global health.  Grand Challenges Canada has also been working closely on this project with Canada's Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

The partnership between Grand Challenges Israel and Grand Challenges Canada was discussed and agreed upon between the governments of both countries during the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Israel.

"Grand Challenges Israel will bring incredible entrepreneurial talent to the Grand Challenges movement which is solving global challenges through innovation with impact," says Dr. Peter A. Singer. "Grand Challenges Israel will help Israel to become the Start-Up Nation for International Development.  Grand Challenges Canada also wishes to thank the Government of Canada for its support, without which it would not be able to partner with Grand Challenges Israel."

Says the Honourable Christian Paradis, Canada's Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie: "I congratulate the Government of Israel on the launch of Grand Challenges Israel. The partnership between Grand Challenges Canada and Grand Challenges Israel shows how Canada and Israel can work together to save and improve lives in the developing world."

For more information, visit www.grandchallenges.ca.

For more information about Grand Challenges Israel, please visit http://goo.gl/RbEBFN.

About Grand Challenges Canada
Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact™ in global health. We are funded by the Government of Canada through the Development Innovation Fund announced in the 2008 Federal Budget. We fund innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. Grand Challenges Canada works with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and other global health foundations and organizations to find sustainable, long-term solutions through Integrated Innovation − bold ideas which integrate science, technology, social and business innovation. Grand Challenges Canada is hosted at the Sandra Rotman Centre.
www.grandchallenges.ca

SOURCE: Grand Challenges Canada

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