Orna Berry
Computer scientist and entrepreneur linking research, industry and public policy
Orna Berry, born in 1949, has worked at several of the points where scientific knowledge becomes an industry: computer research, the creation of a communications company, investment and national research policy. As the first woman to serve as Israel’s Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, she helped shape an environment in which technological ideas could develop into internationally active businesses.
From distributed computing to communications
Berry studied mathematics and statistics at the University of Haifa and statistics and operations research at Tel Aviv University before completing a doctorate in computer science at the University of Southern California. Her research investigated ways to accelerate distributed simulations. Work in the United States and later at IBM’s Haifa laboratory and Fibronics gave her practical experience across software, hardware and communications networks.
In 1993 she co-founded Ornet, a developer of Ethernet switches. Its acquisition by Siemens in 1995 demonstrated the international relevance of technology created in Israel. The experience also gave Berry firsthand knowledge of product development, fundraising and the demands of customers.
Building conditions in which innovation can grow
As Chief Scientist from 1997 to 2000, Berry supported industrial research and international cooperation, including programs involving the United States and Europe. She subsequently worked with Gemini and served on the boards of technology companies, including PrimeSense. These roles connected engineering expertise with management and business development.
At EMC, Berry helped establish a development center in Beersheba, bringing advanced employment and closer links between academia and industry to the Negev. She later contributed to national initiatives in quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
Why this legacy belongs in Moreshet
Berry belongs in Moreshet for achievements visible both in individual companies and in the conditions that help other people innovate. Her profile at Moreshet.com shows that an advanced economy depends on more than successful inventions. It also needs institutions, partnerships, trained people and opportunities beyond established centers. Her career is a substantial chapter in the development of Israeli technological capability.
