British-Israeli project set up as 'matchmaker" for entrepreneurs British entrepreneurs could soon be connected with partners in Israel through a "matchmaking" service designed to boost technology exports from both countries. The introduction service is one of the schemes being planned by the new UK-Israel "tech council," which has been formed to boost collaboration between the countries. Avi Hasson, chief scientist to the Israeli government and co-chair of the group, alongside UK universities and science minister David Willetts, said the council was working with the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Government's innovation agency, to develop a service that will help "Israeli and British companies work together to develop a technology that will jointly target a third market." Mr Willetts added that the body wanted to encourage Israeli entrepreneurs to "go beyond the default option of partnering with the United States" and consider the UK as a base. Tomer Dvir, founder of Israeli firm Soluto, which helps consumers manage their technology, has just chosen east London over New York and California for its first overseas base. He said the UK's strength in consumer marketing and design is useful for Israeli firms, and that competition for talent in London is lower than in the US technology capital, Silicon Valley. Israel is very good with hardcore technology, which often ends up behind the scenes in products. You can't find many consumer success stories. We need a bigger talent pool around approaching consumers and the user experience and we're trying to find the missing parts in the UK. Mr Hasson added: "UK and Israeli companies have worked together before, but if you compare the relationship to the US-Israel one, it's not even close. A lot of Israeli entrepreneurs go straight to [Silicon Valley] before they go to London - does that make sense? It's much easier to do a project [in London] with a four-hour flight and a much smaller time difference. The council is made up of entrepreneurs, investors and officials from the two countries as well as companies including Google and Virgin Media. It will focus on sectors such as life sciences, clean technology and digital services.