The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, supported by more than 2,600 member firms, private sector bodies and the government of Israel, advances business relationship between Israeli exporters and overseas business and organizations. The National Program for Alternative Energy Technologies The National Program for Alternative Energy Technologies was established in August 2008. Building on decades of Israeli experience in the field of alternative energy, the objective of the national program is to keep Israel´s alternative energy industry at the forefront of the world renewable energy arena. Israeli alternative energy companies are considered to be industry pioneers in solar thermal and geothermal technologies and are also leading scientific innovations in the fields of bio-mass, wind and solar technologies. The program is led by the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor hand in hand with the Ministry of National Infrastructure and eight other government ministries. The Israeli government, recognizing the strategic importance of the alternative energy technologies, has created a comprehensive program that brings private sector, government and academy to join forces. The program is focused in nourishing the human resource, investing in R&D, implementing technologies in the local market and penetrating the global market.