By Jessica Griggs, New Scientist
On 18 September, the people of Scotland will vote on whether their country should become independent of the UK. This article is part of our "Four futures for an independent Scotland" special report, looking at the choices a newly independent Scotland could make
Edinburgh, Scotland's bustling and aspiring capital, has dubbed itself the Athens of the North. If Scotland gets independence, the new government should instead consider looking across the Mediterranean Sea, to Israel, for some high-tech inspiration.
Israel's nickname is the Start-Up Nation, thanks to a 2009 book of the same name that explored how a small country with 7 million people became a global player in the tech scene. Today, Israel is thought to boast the highest number of start-up companies per person in the world.
So could Scotland follow Israel's example?
