N7 Foundation and Nevo Labs Convene Leaders in New York to Discuss AI and Emerging Technologies in the Middle East
New York City – January 22, 2026 – This week, the N7 Foundation and Nevo Labs brought together U.S. and Middle East policy makers and thought leaders, world-class applied scientists, defense and security experts, leading research universities, and an unparalleled network of investors in New York City dedicated to increasing cooperation between Israel and Arab and Muslim states in order to unleash the region’s potential as a global leader in AI and advanced technology.
The conference, Shaping the Future: Innovation and AI in the New Middle East, featured over one hundred representatives from countries including the United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Singapore, Kazakhstan, as well as from leading asset managers, companies and universities in the AI and technology space, including Aleph, Battery Ventures, Blackstone, the Duquesne Family Office, Google, Harvard University’s Wyss Institute, the Israeli National Quantum Initiative, Lux Capital, Meta, MIT, the National University of Singapore, and Snowpoint Ventures.
N7 Foundation President Oren Eisner delivers opening remarks
The conference focused on the Middle East’s trajectory as a global hub of excellence in artificial intelligence and advanced technology with its talent pipeline, focus on supply chain resilience, data center development, and computing power. Participants recognized the importance of deeper partnership and cooperation in AI and advanced technologies among the United States and its closest partners in the Middle East and discussed the prosperity such cooperation could unlock for the region and the world.
Additional themes included the evolution of AI and its impact on global markets; the national security implications of dual-use technologies; growing importance of frontier science, including quantum advancements; and emerging applications such as AI-enabled drug discovery. Participants also examined how scientific insight can translate into scalable ventures.
“Artificial intelligence will play a critical role in the future of the Middle East,” said Oren Eisner, President of the N7 Foundation, “and by working together and with each other, the countries in the Middle East will be best positioned to unleash their full potential. The N7 Foundation is dedicated to strengthening this kind of cooperation.”
“Nevo Labs was founded on the belief that breakthrough science and emerging technologies require new models of collaboration to achieve real-world impact in the Middle East and globally over the next five to ten years,” said Sender Cohen, Board Chair of Nevo Labs. “This convening reinforced both the opportunity and the urgency for investors and technical leaders to help shape how these technologies are developed and deployed so they can make a positive difference across society.”
N7 Foundation Director Gershom Sacks speaking on the “Quantum as a Regional Anchor: Coordinating AI, Compute, and Collective Advantage” panel
About N7 Foundation
The N7 Foundation is a nonpartisan development and convening platform dedicated to strengthening and broadening relations between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. Our efforts are guided by our principal belief that enhanced cooperation between the United States, Israel, and Arab and Muslim countries will generate significant benefi\ts to the region and advance strategic U.S. interests. We believe in the power and potential of a more peaceful, secure, integrated Middle East. Learn more at: n7.org
About Nevo Labs
Nevo Labs is Israel’s first private applied science lab, created to ensure Israel remains at the forefront of AI and deep-technology innovation in areas critical to national resilience and long-term prosperity. Designed to complement and amplify Israeli academia, Nevo focuses on translating scientific discovery into real-world impact. Learn more at: nevolabs.com