Jerusalem, the 3000 year old city, has become a major high ’s leading high tech hub in less than 5 years.

On Thurzday, the city's high tech movers and shakers took part in Brussels in a conference in the European Parliament highlighting this new development which lists Jerusalem among the world's top 50 high tech centres.

The conference, organized by the Brussels-based European Jewish Association and European Jewish Community Centre, and supported by German MEP Arne Gericke, heard from a wide-ranging panel of start-up entrepreneurs, their supporters, accelerators and incubators.

The delegation was led by Ambassador Ran Ichay, general manager of the Israeli Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, who for the last five years, along with the Jerusalem Development Authority has supported the "Jerusalem Knowledge Cluster", a dynamic group of individuals and groups from hi-tech, bio-tech and academia.

With the European economy stuck in the doldrums, an eager audience of MEPs heard from the panel how they helped transform Jerusalem, once regarded as a poor city in economic terms to today’s inspiring position.

A frequent visitor to Jerusame, MEP Gericke declared: “From the modest opening of 12 companies per year in 2012 to the over 250 per year in 2017, Jerusalem is now, for the first time, ranked within the 50 best hi-tech cities in the world. It is a remarkable transformation.

“As the EU continues to struggle in shaking off the austerity years caused by the financial crisis and kick-start its collective economy, the Jerusalem model represents an amazing blueprint on how to go from zero to 100 in a very short time frame. As it has done in security, agriculture, the environment to name but three, Israel, and in this case it’s capital, continues to pioneer innovation.”

Itzik Ozer, manager for business and industry development at the Jerusalem Development Authority, stressed that Jerusalem ''has become a breeding ground for startups and innovation by no strike of luck or miracle. This was a collaborative effort, greatly supported by the Jerusalem and Heritage Ministry and the Jerusalem municipality, of making connections between the academia, the industry, the city and the Government - and celebrating innovation. A city must recognize and reinforce its unique advantages, invest in human capital and foster a community based on culture and leisure in order to attract young people. We have developed this methodology for the past five years and we will share our insights with the EU.

Rabbi Menachem Margolin, the Director of the European Jewish Association, said: "In a short 50 years, roughly parallel with the creation of the EU, Jerusalem became a proper city again, the Capital of Israel. Despite the inherent difficulties, the strength, resilience and innovation of its people, in short their wonderful chutzpah, has utterly transformed the city.''

Following the conference, the Place du Luxembourg, a square adjacent to the European Parliament, where EU institutions staffers and lobbyists usually meet, was transformed into the JLM tech-night which regularly takes place at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. Those present attended workshops from high tech-start ups where they shared their ideas and product with the audience while enjoying a beer, food and demonstrations from Israeli chef Zakai Houja who made delicious Kurdish Ravioli and a scrumptious Kibbe.

The hundreds present saw the Place transformed into the JLM tech-night which regularly takes place at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. Those present attended workshops from high tech-start ups where they shared their ideas and product with a receptive audience, who enjoyed free beer and food and demonstrations from Israeli chef Zakai Houja who made delicious Kurdish ravioli and a scrumptious kibbe.

EJP