On Monday, November 6th, 2006, the Reut Institute officially launched its socioeconomic policy team guided by the 'Israel 15 Vision'. Personally, this is a milestone and a vision that came full circle.

The 'Israel 15 Vision' began with a project of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation that took place between 1997 and 1999. Representatives from many sectors of Israeli society were invited to outline scenarios for the future of the State of Israel in the year 2020.

Within this framework, Ms. Raya Strauss, one of Israel's leading industrialists, Mr. David Brodet, Former Director General of the Ministry of Finance, and I joined together to develop a scenario for Israel in the year 2020 titled "Being Among the Top 15 Most Developed Nations". This scenario was presented within the framework of the project.

A few years later, after having served in the Bureau of the Prime Minster (1999-2001), I received the Wexner Israel Fellowship and spent a year at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. I decided to devote the year to a personal project that dealt with the question of how to implement the 'Israel 15 Vision'.

Most of my course-load during that year cultivated this project. I studied a range of courses such as development economics, management of political systems and theories regarding the leadership and management of change. I devoted my spare time to consolidating these insights. I sketched them and wrote about them, 80,000 words altogether.

The 'Israel 15 Vision' has been on the agenda of the Reut Institute since its founding in January 2004. I knew that at some point I would employ our unique methodology to the realm of Israel's socioeconomics as well. After two years and eight months, the day came, this week.

On September 1, 2006, our team dealing with socioeconomics began its operation. Today it is made up of four people. We have a number of supporters that have dedicated their gifts to the operation of this team. In the coming months we will build the infrastructure for its activities and consolidate our client base.

Our goal is to become a primary source for decision-support for people who are in positions of authority, leadership or influence in this realm. We plan and hope to be as successful in this sphere as we have been in the area of national security.

The launch of the project on the Israel 15 Vision represents a coming of a full circle. It is also a milestone in the long journey that began nearly nine years ago and will end hopefully within no later than fifteen years when Israel joins the club of the Top 15 most developed nations in the world.

Gidi Grinstein is founder and president of the Reut Institute. The views expressed in this blog are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Reut Institute.