The Odyssey of The Chief Scientist

Elbit Systems, a prominent leader in innovation and technology, places a strong emphasis on seeking new scientific breakthroughs with potential applications in their future developments. This ambitious objective necessitates fostering close relationships with academic communities in Israeli campuses and around the world.

Leading this crucial initiative is Dr. Alon Stopel, Vice President and Chief Scientist at Elbit Systems. Dr. Stopel’s impressive background as a research’s engineer and programs’ manger in the IDF’s and Ministry of Defense’s DDR&D, uniquely positions him to spearhead this endeavor. In an interview, he sheds light on the significance of venturing into uncharted research territories and how these partnerships promise to drive innovation within the company.

Dr. Stopel, could you please elaborate on your responsibilities within the company?

“In my position, I have the responsibility of overseeing core technologies that hold relevance in our capabilities, 

sensors and systems and exhibit potential applications in our forthcoming 

products and solutions. When I took on this role in 2016, our initial objective was to perform a comprehensive mapping of Elbit Systems’ core technologies. This entailed gaining a thorough understanding of the technological trajectories that our company and our competitors were charting for the years ahead.

“Simultaneously, we conducted both internal and external analysis, as well as surveys, to explore all available and off-the-shelf technologies, whether nearby in Israel and our global research’s centers or distant. It’s essential for us to fully immerse ourselves in emerging capabilities, features, and solutions, discerning precisely when and how to engage more deeply with them.”

How does this relate to academic research?

“As part of our commitment to sustaining technological leadership in the market, we place significant emphasis on building and maintaining robust connections with researchers, scholars, and engineers in diverse academic institutions, both in Israel and across the globe. Once we identify and delineate our areas of interest, I personally reach out to leading researchers and scientists, sharing a list of technological subjects. I request their insights into any relevant studies they may have undertaken, which could provide valuable perspectives or direction for enhancing our solutions.”

Stopel stresses the significance of sustaining these valuable ties with the academic community through the organization of academic summits and gatherings. These events provide a platform for Elbit Systems’ employees and scholars to engage in discussions on diverse studies and research areas. “We conduct an annual meeting to collectively evaluate the trajectory of various technological advancements and their potential contributions to our future projects. Additionally, every two months, we visit and conduct a seminar at some of Israel’s top universities, including Technion in Haifa, Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Ariel University, and Bar Ilan University. Last year we started to engage with the Weizmann Institute, as well.”

Elbit Systems’ engagement with the academic community extends beyond the borders of Israel, as highlighted by Stopel. “Elbit Systems is a member of MIT ILP (Industrial Liaison Program) within the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) ecosystem. Through this collaboration, we forge numerous partnerships and undertake joint projects with our American counterparts and vice versa. In the past year, A group of Elbit leading technologies talents conducted a professional visit to their laboratories and participated in enrichment workshops covering a wide array of topics, including quantum technology, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence advanced materials, and more.”

In Europe, Elbit Systems’ central R&D with the divisions’ CTOs also conducted a visit to Fraunhofer labs in Germany, which, in turn, facilitated return visits by Fraunhofer scholars to Israel. “They came to observe the operations within Elbit Systems’ diverse divisions, and these visits have resulted in collaborative research projects,” Stopel points out. He emphasizes that many academic institutions throughout Europe have established strong connections with Elbit Systems’ scientists and engineers.

What are the benefits of these summits and seminars for Elbit Systems?

“Elbit Systems gains valuable insights from these studies across various fields, including algorithmics, artificial intelligence (AI), synthetic biology, quantum technologies and materials. Our employees, scientists, and engineers are encouraged to publish their findings and conclusions and, if relevant, to secure patents. We ensure they are duly recognized and rewarded for their breakthroughs.”

“Our employees actively share their knowledge worldwide, participating in global conventions, meetings, exhibitions, and wherever they can make a meaningful contribution, voluntarily. We aim to position ourselves as a company at the forefront of technological innovation, constantly embracing what’s new and intriguing. Through our innovation-friendly approach, Elbit Systems significantly contributes to the research and hi-tech sectors, fostering a continuous exchange of information.”

As we conclude this interview, Stopel underscores the company’s unwavering dedication to fields of interest and research that are sometimes overshadowed in academic circles: military and combat-related domains.

“Our primary objective is to create superior technologies and ensure a strong response to the evolving threats on the future battlefield,” he concludes. “Research in electronic warfare, signal intelligence (SIGINT), and cyber-attacks may not always be at the forefront of scholarly pursuits, which is precisely why we also place significant emphasis on these areas. We fully recognize their pivotal impact on future generations and remain steadfast in our commitment to providing substantial and state of the art solutions.”

The content of the article does not constitute business or financial information about Elbit Systems Ltd. (the “Company”) and is not intended to be a basis for making investment decisions in the Company’s securities. In order to obtain business or financial information about the Company, please refer to the reports and filings that the Company regularly publishes on the website of the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR) and on the notification system of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (Maya). 

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