Tsofen High Technology centers is a nonprofit organization, based in Nazareth, Israel, whose mission is to promote the integration of Israel’s Arab Citizens into the hi-tech industry as a means of promoting economic development, reducing poverty, high value job creation in Arab urban centers and integration of Arab citizens into Israel’s civil society.
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Foundation
Tsofen was formed in Nazareth in 2008 by Smadar Nehab, a hi-tech technology entrepreneur, Sami Saadi, an independent CPA and Yossi Coten, a hi-tech executive. After examining the pervasive lack of Arab employment in the hi-tech industry at the time, and the near complete exclusion of Arab citizens from Israel’s hi-tech economic engine, the three concluded that bringing hi-tech directly into the Arab community would best enable the integration of Arab citizens into the hi-tech industry, as well as position hi-tech employment as a lever for economic development and prosperity within Arab society.
Tsofen’s Chairman is Dr. Ramzi Halabi;its Board of Directors and audit committee iscomprised of Yael Lipman, Shauki Hatib, Noga Kap, Nabeel Sakran, Sarah Kreimer, Dr. Roayat Marie, Adi Bildner, Gilad Rabinowitz, Dr. Gideon Kunda, Alaa Rayan and Tghrid Tanus
Aims and Focus
Through the creation of hi-tech hubs in Arab municipalities, Tsofen works to promote economic development and equality and advance a shared, equal and just society in Israel. Its vision is to create critical mass that will make opportunities for Arabs in hi-tech equal and that will eventually create high tech employment opportunities within Arab municipalities.