Haim Shani (UK in Israel/Flickr)

Haim Shani is being honored for his contribution to the flourishing tech collaboration between the U.K. and Israel.

By: Mara Vigevani/TPS 

Haim Shani will be appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contribution to “strengthening the tech partnership between the UK and Israel,” Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday.

Shani, Co-Founder of Israel Growth Partners, former Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Finance, has decades of experience in tech, including as CEO of NICE Systems, and has served as non-Executive Chairman of the UK Israel Tech Hub since 2012.

“I am delighted to present this honor to Haim Shani on behalf of HM The Queen,” said British Ambassador to Israel David Quarrey, who will bestow the honors on Thursday. “Through his belief in the potential of collaboration between the UK and Israel, Haim has helped transform the tech partnership between the two countries. We have benefited hugely from Haim’s experience and wisdom. I am grateful to Haim for his role in making the UK Israel Tech Hub a success and for pioneering this new form of economic diplomacy.”

The British Embassy said in a statement that “the groundbreaking UK Israel Tech Hub has played a key role in delivering 175 new innovation partnerships between the UK and Israeli companies, with a deal value of around £85 million and a potential value to the British economy of up to £800 million. The successful model of the UK Israel Tech Hub is now being replicated in five new overseas markets.”

“In a short time the UK Israel Tech Hub has created fruitful collaborations which carry great value both for the UK economy and Israeli innovation,” Shani said. “The fact that The Palace chose to award me with this honor demonstrates how important this initiative is for the UK, and I am grateful for that.”

“In light of the Hub’s success in the past seven years, the UK is now seeking opportunities to roll out the Israeli model worldwide. Israeli innovation is in high demand in the UK, and the Hub will continue to create opportunities in the UK for groundbreaking innovation,” he added.