The Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) and the UK Abraham Accords Group (UKAAG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the residence of the British Ambassador to Israel, strengthening cooperation between Israel, the UK, and the Abraham Accords countries in the field of artificial intelligence.
The UK Abraham Accords Group is a British nonpartisan organization, committed to ensuring that the United Kingdom is actively supporting the Abraham Accords process and advancing its expansion to other countries to build stronger ties in trade, culture, and religious tolerance.
The MOU builds on joint research identifying opportunities for AI-driven regional collaboration in health, energy, education, and governance. A particular focus will be placed on responsible AI principles, building professional training programs, and developing regional standards and best practices. During the ceremony, Hadas Lorber and Matthew Davies presented the research insights, shared vision, and roadmap for regional AI cooperation, while Shahd Asfour, the Tech Policy Lead at the British Embassy, emphasized the strength of “soft power” tools such as tech diplomacy to foster dialogue.
British Ambassador Simon Walters welcomed the initiative, highlighting the UK’s commitment to responsible technological innovation and its role as a trusted convener, and said, “The UK’s position as one of the top global powers, recognized for research ethics and innovation, provides an opportunity to deepen the Abraham Accords as a trusted partner throughout the Middle East. Leveraging UK diplomatic and tech assets can lead to successful regional collaboration on emerging technologies, bringing stability, prosperity, and long-term cooperation across the region.”
HIT President Prof. Eduard Yakubov noted, “This partnership positions HIT at the center of a regional effort to build practical AI solutions that improve lives and shape the technological future of the Middle East. We are proud to join hands with the UK and the Abraham Accords partners in shaping this vision.”
Mr. Matthew Davies, Director of Policy at UKAAG, emphasized the growing importance of technological diplomacy: “AI diplomacy is emerging as a new engine of regional cooperation. Through this MOU, we are turning research into action and building a framework for concrete projects between the UK, Israel, and the Abraham Accords countries. Promoting multilateral AI cooperation through tech diplomacy would represent a new confidence, energy, and coherence in British foreign policy in the Middle East.”
Mr. Samuel Goldberg, CEO of HIT, said, “We view this agreement as a significant milestone for HIT - Holon Institute of Technology and for our standing as a key player on the international stage. The partnership with the Abraham Accords Group UK positions the Institute at the forefront of scientific and technological diplomacy, enabling us to lead groundbreaking research in healthcare, energy, and education. This is a recognition of our innovative capabilities and excellence, and of the central importance of an Israeli academic institution in shaping regional collaborations”.
Mrs. Hadas Lorber, Head of the Institute for Applied Research in Responsible AI at HIT, added:
“This collaboration represents a new form of diplomacy - grounded in knowledge, shared responsibility, and technological ambition. Our research shows that by uniting the UK’s strength in AI security, Israel’s innovation capabilities, and the forward-looking vision of the Abraham Accords countries, we can build a practical and responsible framework for meaningful regional progress.”
Written in collaboration with Holon Institute of Technology