Business Track: Biotech & Life Sciences

Chair: Jerry Sanders

Israel’s life sciences industry is recognized as a fast-growing, vibrant force with a strong global reputation. Israeli companies have been producing medical devices and pharmaceuticals for more than a century.

The advent of advanced technologies in the late 1990s changed the face of Israel’s life sciences industry. With proven capabilities in electronics, communications, computer science, and electro-optics, the country’s scientists and engineers joined forces to take medical devices to a new level and to introduce world-class innovations in digital imaging medical lasers, electronic medical devices, telemedicine, surgical equipment, diagnostic kits, and rehabilitation equipment.

Growing steadily over the past decade, today there are over 750 active life sciences companies with approximately 50 new companies starting up each year. Between 2001 and 2005, more companies were established in life sciences than in any other industry in Israel. Factors contributing to the success of this burgeoning industry include cooperation between academia and business, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a highly skilled workforce.

The Biotech & Life Sciences itinerary combines exposure to the elite of the biotech and life science industries in Israel with topical, prominent business meetings. You’ll attend industry and political sessions designed to expose participants to innovative ideas and opportunities in these fields as well as to gather market intelligence and develop business connections. We will visit Israel’s Silicon Valley where you’ll have personal interaction with senior professionals, participate in sector-outlook roundtables and meet leading venture capitalists.

Activities include:

• Briefings with the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Mr. Stanley Fischer*
• Visits to key R&D departments and incubators of Israeli companies including the Weizmann Technology Transfer Institute
• Private receptions with business leaders
• Private small group meetings with business leaders in the field
• Presentations from a variety of industry leaders including:
• A meeting with Nava Swersky-Sofer, President & CEO, Yissum Technology Transfer Company Hebrew University*
• A meeting with Eli Horowitz, Teva Pharmaceuticals*
• A meeting with VCs, entrepreneurs and attorneys at Gross Kleinhendler Hodak

Full draft itinerary to be posted shortly– check back regularly as details are updated!

*scheduled to appear