This is what the scientist, Dr. Avi Hasson said ahead of a week at the Israel University 2011: "This is a favorite sector for us"
From summaries prepared by the Office of the Chief Scientist, in preparation for the "ILSI-Biomed Israel 2011" week that will be held in a week in Tel Aviv (May 23-25, 2011), it appears that during the entire year 2010, the Office of the Scientist approved support grants amounting to NIS 430 million in projects in the field of life sciences. Avi Hasson, the chief scientist, will be a guest lecturer at the conference and he will open the day dedicated to the young bio companies with his lecture.
In the field of pharmaceuticals, grants amounting to NIS 49 million were approved; In the field of biotechnology - NIS 173 million, and in the field of medical equipment, grants amounting to NIS 209 million were approved. In total, the chief scientist's research committee discussed 338 projects submitted by 193 companies, of which 265 projects were approved (with a total research and development budget of NIS 701 million). These data indicate a decrease of 10.5% in reference to activity and grants given in 2009, which was the record year in the past decade for R&D grants given to the life sciences industries - NIS 480 million. However, in the biotechnology industry, an increase of NIS 4 million was recorded in relation to the grants given to companies in this industry in 2009.
According to the data, the rate of support in recent years in the field of life sciences maintains a share that varies between 30% (in 2007) and 28.1% (in 2010), compared to 14% in 2000 and 22% in 2003.
According to Hasson, the State of Israel has excellent centers of excellence in academia, an entrepreneurial spirit and technological capabilities in the field of life sciences, which together lead to Israel's positioning as a significant factor in the global aspect. "The uniqueness of the industry in Israel is expressed in the combination of life sciences with other fields, such as nanotechnology, smart materials and advanced electronics."
Hasson says that the Office of the Chief Scientist is committed to continuing to support and assist the life sciences sector, and gives priority to companies in this field, in all stages of development they are in. "Thanks to this support, more companies have reached advanced stages of clinical development in recent years."
In this context, the chief scientist mentioned the recently reported win of the international "Orbimed" fund in the tender to establish the dedicated R&D funds for the field of life sciences. "It must be assumed that when an international company raises 160 million dollars, which is several times more than the minimum amount required according to the terms of the tender, this indicates the great confidence that the global capital market has in the Israeli life sciences industry and the technological and commercial potential inherent in this industry for the growth of the economy."
The "ILSI-Biomed Israel 2011" week will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year, during which it became an international conference in which the biggest (and hottest) names in the world from the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices take part every year. The organizers of the event, the Israeli Life Sciences Association - ILSI - and the "Kens" company, estimate that among the thousands of expected participants - CEOs and executives of biopharma and medical device companies, scientists and researchers, entrepreneurs, shapers of public opinion in the field, managers of venture capital funds and private investors - There will also be over 1,000 guests from abroad.
