U.S. aerospace company Lockheed Martin and EMC Corporation on  recently signed an agreement to jointly invest in advanced technology projects in cloud computing, data analytics, and cyber technology. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blessed the new plan at an official launch ceremony at the CyberTech 2014 International Exhibition and Conference in Tel Aviv.

The new Lockheed Martin-EMC center will be based in the Advanced Technologies Park in Beersheva. Under the arrangement, Lockheed Martin and EMC will identify a series of development opportunities that can be contracted to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and other subject matter experts.

Unofficial reports say the companies will invest some $1 million to set up the project. “Our goal is to foster applied research and continued growth in Israel’s technology sector,” said Dr. John D. Evans, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of international engineering and technology. “We recognize evolving global needs, as well as the wealth of innovation taking place within Israel and its universities.”

In related news, Netanyahu, Beersheva Mayor Rubik Danilovich and Carmi announced the establishment of a national cyber park in the southern Israeli city to be called Cyber Spark.

The facility will be the first of its kind in the world and will include leading cyber industries, cutting-edge academic research in the field, leading security bodies in the field, educational frameworks and human capital focusing on cyber, and national government agencies in the field.

Among the cyber companies that will be located in the park and are already active partners in the initiative are: EMC, Deutsche Telekom, IBM, and JVP. A high school for the sciences and technology and a cyber studies development center will also be opened in the park.

By Viva Sarah Press, Israel 21C