Niamh Bushnell, Dublin’s Commissioner of Start-Ups, said that she’s “blown away” by the Israel tech sector, in a report Wednesday by David Shamah, The Times of Israel’s technology reporter.

Bushnell observed both similarities and differences between her country, Ireland, and Israel. Both countries, being small, don’t necessarily have the markets for cutting-edge technology, but Israel has “successfully turned itself into a test pad for scalable technologies that, once they have been proven to be valid, are sold and implemented in the US, Europe, and Asia.” She sees this as a model that Irish start-ups could benefit from.

She also was impressed with Israel’s community of “angel” investors, who are willing to fund businesses in their early stages, when a payoff is still remote. Toward that end Bushnell said, “We’re working on implementing policy that would reward angel investments, and Israel is a model for us in this.”

Bushnell noted that unlike Ireland, Israel, surrounded by enemies, and has consequently developed a strong defense industry, “As it happens, many of the communication and security technologies the world needs today have their roots in defense, and that of course is something Israel has been engaged in for decades. So many of the entrepreneurs I meet were part of elite IDF units like 8200 and the others, and when they get out they go on to develop the amazing technologies that made Israel what it is.”

When asked about the boycott movement, Bushnell answered that she hadn’t really heard about it, but that it wouldn’t help her efforts because “if that term means boycotting Israeli technology and ideas about building a Start-Up Nation, it’s not something we are interested in.”

When asked about her impressions of Israel as compared to Ireland, Bushnell answered, “We have a lot in common, but Ireland has its own story. Nevertheless, there is a lot for us to learn. This is my first time here and I have been blown away by the people and the tech.”

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