Tsofen

Last updated
Tsofen's logo Tsofen's logo.jpg
Tsofen's logo

Tsofen High Technology Centers Ltd is an Israeli-registered public benefit company based in Nazareth, northern Israel, and Kafr Qasim, in the centre, established as a joint Arab and Jewish nonprofit organization promoting hi-tech in Israeli Arab society, as a lever for economic development and the creation of a shared society in Israel, based on equal participation in a sustainable economy. Tsofen's mission is to integrate Arabs into Israel’s hi-tech sector and bring hi-tech centers to Arab cities.

Contents

History and leadership

Tsofen was formed in Nazareth in 2008 by Smadar Nehab, a hi-tech entrepreneur, Sami Saadi, an independent CPA, and Yossi Coten, a former Amdocs executive. Saadi remained one of two Co-CEOs until stepping down at the end of February 2022. [1] [2] From the start of 2023, Tsofen moved to a single-CEO model whilst remaining a Jewish-Arab prganisation in terms of board leadership and staff. The current CEO is Maisam Jaljuli (Hebrew), who replaced Saadi (as Co-CEO) in July 2022, [3] . Tsofen's board, which is half Jewish and half Arab, and whose members include professionals with backgrounds in hi-tech, academia, and business, is chaired by Dr Ramzi Halabi, a former mayor of Daliyat al-Carmel and currently a lecturer at Tel Aviv University. Tsofen established the Public Council for Promoting Hi-Tech in the Arab Society in Israel, to support and facilitate its mission; it is co-chaired by Professor Ziyad Hanna, VP of R&D at Cadence and visiting professor at Oxford University, and David (Dadi) Perlmutter, former executive vice president, Intel Corporation. [4]

When Tsofen was established, Arab engineers accounted for 0.5% of employees in Israeli hi-tech (about 350 people). [5] Today, they represent 3.7% (about 5,500 people), and Tsofen's stated goal is to increase that percentage to at least 10% by 2025. At a time when there is a shortage of over 15,000 hi-tech engineers in Israel, the Arab community is a key demographic group with the potential to help meet the shortage, with thousands of suitably qualified Arabs who, for various reasons, either do not seek employment in hi-tech or cannot find a way in. In addition, increasing numbers of Arabs are studying hi-tech related subjects at tertiary level: whereas there were only 1,600 Arab graduates in high-tech academic studies between 1985 and 2014, over 2,200 Arab students enrolled in high-tech academic studies in 2016 alone. [6]

Tsofen is a member of Co-Impact (formerly Collective Impact), the partnership for a Breakthrough in Arab Employment, which is a partner in ex-President Reuven Rivlin’s Israeli Hope initiative focusing on four aspects of Israeli society: Academia, Education, Sports and Employment. [7]

Tsofen's theory of change

By supporting the integration of Arab engineers in Israel’s hi-tech industry—especially at a time when it is in great need of qualified personnel—Tsofen aims to influence a deep institutional effect on the industry’s make-up and culture, towards a wider impact: (a) As the Arab community contributes a greater share to Israel’s economic growth it will also enjoy its benefits more equally, improving the socio-economic status of the Arab community and reducing disparities, and (b) Arabs and Jews live will develop a shared society, beginning in the technological work-space, where daily work interactions and relationships are developed that change prejudice, stereotypes and biases.

Tsofen's model

Key Tsofen accomplishments and impact 2008–2023

Awards

Related Research Articles

Nof HaGalil City in Israel

Nof HaGalil is a city in the Northern District of Israel with a population of 42,657.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab citizens of Israel</span> Overview of the ethnic Arab citizens of the State of Israel

Arabs are the largest ethnic minority in Israel. They comprise a hybrid community of Israeli citizens with a heritage of Palestinian citizenship, mixed religions, bilingual in Arabic and Hebrew, and with varying social identities. Since the 1948 exodus, the Palestinians that have remained within Israel's 1948 borders have been colloquially known as "48-Arabs". In Arabic, commonly used terms to refer to Israel's Arab population include both "48-Arab" and 48-Palestinian. In Israel itself, Arab citizens are commonly referred to as Israeli-Arabs or simply as Arabs; international media often uses the term Arab-Israeli to distinguish Arab citizens of Israel from the Palestinian Arabs residing in the Palestinian territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amdocs</span> Israeli-founded software company

Amdocs Limited is a multinational corporation that was founded in Israel and currently headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, with support and development centers located worldwide. The company specializes in software and services for communications, media and financial services providers and digital enterprises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stef Wertheimer</span> Israeli industrialist and politician

Stef Wertheimer is an Israeli billionaire industrialist, investor, philanthropist and former politician. He was a Member of the Knesset, and is known for founding industrial parks in Israel and neighboring countries. The Wertheimers are Israel's richest family as of 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ofra Strauss</span> Israeli German business magnate and industrialist

Ofra Yasmin Strauss is an Israeli business magnate and industrialist. She is the Chairperson of Israeli food corporation Strauss Group which is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and the second largest consumer food manufacturer in Israel. She was appointed to the position of chairperson in 2001, after being groomed for the job, following the retirement of her late father Michael Strauss who has continued involvement in the firm in various capacities following his formal retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamad Amar</span> Israeli Druze politician

Hamad Amar is an Israeli Druze politician who currently serves as a member of Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu since 2022, previously serving from 2009 to 2019 and again from 2019 to 2021. Amar also served as a Minister in the Finance Ministry from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eli Avidar</span> Israeli politician

Eli Avidar is a former Israeli politician who founded the Israel Free political party in 2022. Prior to this, he was a member of the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu and served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Aharish</span> Arab-Israeli journalist and actress

Lucy Aharish is an Israeli journalist, news anchor, television host, and actress. She was the first Arab-Muslim news presenter on mainstream Hebrew-language Israeli television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yair Shamir</span> Israeli politician (born 1945)

Yair Shamir is an Israeli politician, businessman and former military officer. He served as a member of the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu between 2013 and 2015, during which he also held the post of Minister of Agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Wasserman Lande</span> Israeli politician and activist

Ruth Wasserman Lande is an Israeli politician, diplomat and activist. She was a member of the Knesset for the Blue and White party from 2021 until 2022 and also was an MK for the party in two short spells in early 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel Naddaf</span>

Gabriel Naddaf is an Israeli Greek Orthodox priest. He serves as a judge in Israel's religious court system and as a spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He is one of the founders of the Forum for recruiting Christians in the Israel Defense Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayman Odeh</span> Palestinian lawyer and member of the Knesset

Ayman Odeh is a Palestinian Israeli Arab lawyer and politician. He is a member of Knesset and leader of the Hadash party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aida Touma-Suleiman</span> Israeli politician

Aida Touma-Suleiman is an Israeli Arab journalist and politician. She has been a member of the Knesset for Hadash since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karin Mayer Rubinstein</span> Israeli lawyer (born 1971)

Karin Mayer Rubinstein is the CEO and president of Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), the Israeli umbrella organization for the high-tech and life sciences industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoram Raved</span> Israeli lawyer and former PM advisor

Yoram Raved is an Israeli lawyer who specializes in commercial law. He is co-director of Shibolet, the fourth-largest law firm in Israel and Liberia's honorary consul in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi</span> Israeli politician (born 1972)

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi is an Israeli Arab activist, politician and diplomat. She was a member of the Knesset representing Meretz from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Schwartz Tichon</span> Israeli entrepreneur

Roy Schwartz Tichon is an Israeli entrepreneur, mostly known for making an alternative for public transportation on Shabbat (Saturday) in Israel. Schwartz Tichon is the chairman of "Ve Af Al Pi Chen" cooperative, which operates buses lines that changed the Status quo (Israel).

The 2015 The Jewish Home leadership election was held on 14 January 2015 to elect the leader of The Jewish Home party. The election took place in advance of the 2015 Israeli legislative election. Incumbent leader Naftali Bennett was handily reelected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eynat Guez</span>

Eynat Guez is an Israeli technology entrepreneur and executive. She is the CEO and co-founder of Papaya Global, a payroll and payments provider.

References

  1. ↑ "עושים כבוד לסאמי סעדי מארגון צופן". People&Computers (Hebrew). Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Tsofen LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Tsofen Organization appoints Maisam Jaljuli as its new co-CEO". Calcalist Tech. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Tsofen website". Tsofen High Technology Centers. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Arab Citizens' Integration into Israeli High-Tech: Achievements and Emerging Issues" (PDF). Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues. August 1, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Human Capital Survey Report 2018" (PDF). Israel Innovation Authority. Israel Innovation Authority/Start-Up Nation Central. December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Co-Impact". co-impact.org.il. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Israel's 100 Most Influential People This Jewish Year / The Full List". Haaretz. The Marker. September 16, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Knesset Speakers' Quality of Life Prize awarded to three NGOs; Edelstein: "You are the true leaders of Israeli society"". Knesset. Knesset Press Release. February 9, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Facebook announcement (Hebrew)". Facebook. Abraham Fund Initiatives. November 13, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  11. ↑ "ואלאא איברהים: משלבת מאות אקדמאים ערבים במשרות פיתוח". TheMarker. TheMarker Women. September 2, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  12. ↑ "100 המשפיעים". TheMarker. TheMarker. December 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ "דבריו של המנכ״ל השותף בארגון צופן - סאמי סעדי בטקס הענקת התארים של מכללת אפקה (English subtitles)". Facebook. Tsofen. December 28, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ "הלאונג' (Hebrew)". Maariv. Maariv. December 27, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  15. ↑ "הייטק צפוני (Hebrew)". Walla!. Walla!. December 27, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.