UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has agreed an initiative that will promote co-operation on scientific issues between the UK and Israel.

The Today Memorandum of Understand on Scientific Cooperation was signed by Mr Hague and Yaakov Peri, the Israeli minister for science, technology and space.

Israel is well established in the scientific field. Four Israelis have won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry and Israel has the highest number of scientists and engineers per capital than any other country.

Mr Hague said: “Both the UK and Israel are scientific superpowers, and many of our universities and academics are already doing tremendous work together."

He also expressed support for the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX).

Mr Peri said: "Despite the fact that there are people in British academia who call to boycott Israel, the British government shows that it acknowledges the importance of scientific collaboration with Israel.”

Earlier this month, noted scientist Stephen Hawking said he would boycott the President's Conference in Israel.

The agreement outlined five areas of co-operation: neuroscience, space research, technology, regenerative medicine, agricultural science and nano-technology.