Computers Seen As Critical Element in Israel’s Industrial Development

The chief scientist of the International Business Machines Corp. said here tonight that computers were a critical element in Israel’s development of science-based industries.

Speaking at a national dinner of the American Technion Society, Dr. Emanuel Piore said, “the Technion is the keystone of Israel’s technological and scientific development. It is there that computer science will have the greatest impact on strengthening Israel’s economy.”

Dr. Piore, an IBM vice president and board of directors member, pointed to a trend in the U.S. to introduce high school and college students to computer technology, and urged that Israeli students be similarly exposed so that the nation will “create a viable economy through science-based industries.” “Computers also may be crucial in solving agricultural problems, such as the critical lack of water resources in Israel,” he said. “They can be used effectively for weather forecasting to determine precipitation possibilities and then control maximum efficiency of water use after rainfall,” he added.

The American Technion Society supports the Haifa institution. A primary objective of the dinner was to help establish a school for computer science and maintain a newly acquired IBM System 360 Model 50 computer. The guest of honor was Charles Frost, retired business executive and patron of Jewish philanthropies. Lawrence Schacht, newly-elected president, presented a testimonial scroll to him. Also participating were Alexander Goldberg, the Technion president; Maurice Rosen, outgoing Society president; and Michael Comay, former Israel Ambassador to the United Nations.