Dr. Daniel Gold, who led the team that invented Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, has a history of safeguarding the country against what he identifies as existential threats.
With the nation facing a surging coronavirus pandemic that has triggered unprecedented economic hardship, Gold is trying to replicate his Iron Dome breakthrough in protecting Israel against the virus.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Gold, who heads the Directorate of Defense Research and Development at the Defense Ministry and holds PhDs in electronic engineering and business management, has become a celebrated figure in the country.
Iron Dome faced widespread skepticism over its effectiveness before it was deployed in 2011, but it has since been credited with intercepting countless rockets fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Gold told Agence France-Presse that he first became convinced of Israel's need for missile defense technology during the Gulf War in 1990-91 when Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's forces launched Scud missiles at Tel Aviv.
"Tel Aviv was empty" at the time, he said in an interview at the Defense Ministry. "I decided we had to do something."
Gold said his motivation for designing Iron Dome was to "save lives" and "maintain the continuity of life in Israel."
Even in times of crisis, with rockets raining down, he said he wanted people to "at least [be able] to go to work."
And while the nature of the pandemic threat is different, Gold's motivations in combating the coronavirus are strikingly similar.
In early March, during a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, he realized the gravity of the coronavirus threat, he said.
His department's coronavirus work has focused on three areas: "life-saving," including domestic production of ventilators; helping the health system prepare for an overwhelming caseload; and what he termed a "game-changer."
The final category has largely centered on designing coronavirus tests that give accurate results in less than 60 seconds, using breath, smell, or artificial intelligence.
Various concepts are undergoing major trials, involving the private sector and government partners.
"We hope that if we succeed, it is a game-changer around the world," said Gold.
And while he noted that his primary motivation is to keep Israel safe from the virus, an Israeli coronavirus breakthrough could help forge ties among countries that do not recognize the Jewish state.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
His team has heard "from countries we never worked with before," he said.
Last month, companies in the United Arab Emirates and Israel announced plans to jointly develop anti-virus technology, despite the two countries having no official diplomatic ties.
Coronavirus research "is already creating new relationships," Gold said.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
