Pathways to Bioeconomy and Bioconvergence Perspectives from Serbia and Israel 2025

2.2 A global hub for disruptive technologies Israel has established itself as a global hub for technological innovation, driven by a unique combination of world-class research, entrepreneurial culture and strategic government support. This ecosystem cultivates groundbreaking advancements in deep-tech sectors, including bioconvergence, alternative proteins and digital health. The country invests more in R&D as a percentage of GDP than any other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nation (6.3% of GDP ).65 (Figure 7)Disruption doesn’t happen by chance – it is the result of deliberate choices. In Israel, we’ve made a national commitment to lead where we already have relative advantage and can bring added value to the global market. Bioconvergence is not just a scientific evolution – it’s our strategic bet on the future. By merging biology, engineering, AI and other technological disciplines, we are redefining innovation and building technologies that will shape global industries for decades to come. Dror Bin, Chief Executive Officer, Israel Innovation Authority Gross domestic expenditures as a percentage of GDP FIGURE 7 020406080Percentage, 2023 or latest year available Israel South Korea Chinese Taipei Sweden United States Japan Belgium Switzerland Austria Germany Finland Denmark United Kingdom OECD Iceland China Netherlands France Slovenia EU27 Norway Singapore Estonia Czechia Canada Portugal Australia Ireland Poland Spain Greece New Zealand Türkiye Croatia Hungary Italy Lithuania Slovak Republic Luxembourg Latvia Bulgaria South Africa Argentina Romania Chile Colombia Costa Rica Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Gross domestic spending on R&D; Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI). (n.d.). Internal database. Pathways to Bioeconomy and Bioconvergence 19