About The Institute Of Applied Research
The Institute of Applied Research is a scientific-strategic project of the Galilee Society that was founded in July 1995 as the first Research and Development Center in the Palestinian-Arab community in Israel. Originally located in the village of Eilaboun, the center was transferred to Shefa-Amr in 2000 to temporary location, and eight years later (2008) it moved to its current location.
Academically, the Institute of Applied Research is affiliated with the University of Haifa and is supported financially by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Institute focuses mainly on community-centered projects that address the environmental and health issues of the general population but with special focus on issues of the Arab population in Israel. The Institute’s research is carried out in collaboration with local, regional and international research organizations and universities.
Researchers at the Institute conduct basic and applied research on topics related to health, water conservation, environmental biotechnology, applied biotechnology, agriculture, renewable energy, and medicinal herbs. The Institute currently employs 10 senior scientists with broad backgrounds in chemical and environmental engineering, Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Chemistry, Plant Physiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Public Health. In addition, there are several technicians and about 20 research assistants, undergraduate and graduate students.
Since its inception, the Institute has continued to maintain high level of achievements and excellence, aiming to carry out world class research with special focus on environmental and biotechnological topics, especially those pertinent to the Arab Israeli society. The institute also aim at enhance economic opportunities for the Arab community through technological spin offs of its research projects. Finally, the Institute provides a scientific and educational center for students.
The Institute is well equipped in terms of lab space and materials, and is able to accommodate the latest techniques for experiments and analysis.
The institute has participated in a large number of national and international projects funded by the European Union (Horizon 2020, ENI CBC MED, EUPI), MERC-USAID; BIRD-F; BARD, BMBF-MOST, and from several ministries in Israel (Ministries of Science; Environmental protection; Agriculture; and Energy as well as from several businesses.
Our Mission
As a leading institute for applied research and development in the fields of Biotechnology and Environmental Science, serving the local and global scientific community, the Galilee Society’s Institute for Applied Research aims to:
Enhance the standard of living and quality of life for the Arab community by providing scientific and technological solutions to regional health and environmental problems;
Strengthen and promote scientific innovation within the Arab community by serving as an educational center for aspiring scientists, high school through graduate level;
Spur economic growth in environmental industry by promoting clean-tech and biotechnology initiatives.
