Haifa continues to establish its status as a national center of technology, security and innovation: The Haifa Economic Society and the Haifa Municipality Education Director announced the opening of a unique and first-of-its-kind study program in Israel, the "Defense-Tech" program. Starting in the upcoming school year, high school students will be trained in the core professions of the defense industries and advanced technologies, in collaboration with the leading companies in the economy.
Education, technology and security – on one track
The new major will focus on studying strategic and high-demand areas, including unmanned aerial vehicles and systems, advanced optics, autonomous tools, sensors, control systems, and innovative security technologies. The studies will combine theoretical knowledge with practical exposure, professional tours, and collaborations with defense industries operating in Haifa and the surrounding area, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Educational-occupational continuum from high school onwards
The move is intended to create an educational-security-occupational continuum that will allow students to acquire knowledge and technological tools at a young age, later integrate into significant service in the IDF and technological units, and constitute a high-quality reserve for the State of Israel's security industries.
"Strategic investment in the future generation"
Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, said: "Haifa is not only becoming the beating heart of Israel's defense industries, it is also one of the country's most advanced high-tech and technology centers. The opening of the "Defense-Tech" major connects urban education, technological excellence and national security for the first time. This is a real path from high school, through significant service in the IDF to leadership in the defense industries. This is a strategic investment in human capital, national resilience and Haifa's status as a city of excellence and innovation."
Strengthening Haifa and the North
Chairman of the Haifa Economic Society, Rani Bender, emphasized the strategic aspect of the move: "The opening of the trend is part of establishing a complete security ecosystem in Haifa: industry, academia, the IDF and education. This is a significant step in strengthening Haifa and the north, narrowing geographical gaps and deepening the connection between education, industry and security. This is a real Zionist revolution."
Building the human capital of the future
CEO of the Haifa Economic Company, Hanan Markowitz, concluded: "The move creates for the first time a true continuum between education, meaningful service and quality employment in the city. Haifa is not just building infrastructure, it is building the human capital that will drive the defense and technological industries in the coming decades."
Strengthening technological education in the city
Head of the Education, Culture and Community Department at the Haifa Municipality, Ilana Truk, She noted that the new major will expand the range of technological tracks in the city: "The defense-tech major will help students develop relevant tools for the future from a young age. In addition, in the 2017 school year, a new project will be opened at the Basmat School, an electronics and computer engineering class specializing in electro-optics, for outstanding students from all over the city, with an emphasis on the needs of the defense industries and the Haifa Defense and Security Center."
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