The Israel Innovation Authority’s program to return academics, in its effort to bring high quality human capital back to Israel, recently launched a new program intended to help Israeli entrepreneurs and academics abroad return to Israel and reacclimatize to Israel’s industry and academia. Called the “mentor program,” it brings together academics who wish to return to Israel with “mentors” – representatives of companies working with the Israel Innovation Authority and academics who returned to Israel over the years with the help of the program. The latter share from their own experience returning home and settling into the workforce and research environments.

According to Dr. Nurit Eyal, director of the program to return academics: “Every year, hundreds from academia and industry return to Israel, fulfilling a desire to come back home and find employment appropriate to their education and skills. We help many return and contribute their knowhow and skills to the Israeli economy and society. This has had a growing impact on Israel’s scientific leadership in the world.”

In addition to the guidance from mentors, the program also opened a Facebook group, entitled “Returning to Israel – a friend brings a friend to jobs in the industry,” intended to enable the community of veteran returnees to help recent arrivals find work, and to help the companies where they work absorb more high quality employees returning from abroad. This, in addition to the group “Returning to Israel – Questions and Answers,” that has been highly successful helping returnees with their day-to-day questions related to returning to Israel, is creating a community, and more.

The program to return academics also offers other benefits like personal guidance, help with job searches in conjunction with more than 340 companies and guidance in areas such as resume building, career guidance workshops, and more.

According to Eyal, director of the program to return academics: “Less than a week after the Israel Innovation Authority’s call for cooperation, dozens volunteered for the mentor program. We set up a database of entrepreneurs, scientists and academics who accompany those returning to Israel and their families until they integrate into industry and academia. We are aware of the need for guidance and a sympathetic ear, both for senior-level expats as well as those who have lost their connections over the years.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)