A world leader in IT security, and one of the pioneers of unmanned aircraft, medical imaging and drip irrigation, Israel is a country where start-ups and innovation flourish. Numerous multinationals, from Intel and IBM to Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Johnson & Johnson, have opened R&D centers in Israel. Is Israel's dynamism linked to the specific characteristics of this singular country: young, poor in natural resources and with a fragile geographical situation? What useful lessons can other countries and their companies draw from the Israeli experience? The “innovation technology shield” model, which was originally designed to protect the country, has since become the source of the transfer of many innovations to the civilian sector. But it also reflects a state of mind in which adaptation, multiculturalism, risk-taking and partnership development are key principles. With its wealth of company examples and personal accounts, this book will be of interest to budding entrepreneurs, managers and investors alike.