A delegation of 15 Italian life sciences companies accompanied by the largest banking group in Italy arrived for Biomed Israel Week 2013 * A senior delegation of 4 life sciences 'branches' from Germany arrived to demonstrate the latest innovations in the fields of medical technology and bioengineering
The Italian Trade Commission (ICE) operating in Tel Aviv, headed by Dr. Marina Scognamiglio, hosted during the "Biomed Israel 2013" conference, held in Tel Aviv, a delegation of investors and senior representatives from 15 Italian biomed companies, who came to Israel to examine options Scientific and economic cooperation with Israeli research bodies, foundations and bio companies. The Trade Commission is an Italian government agency, operating under the Ministry of Economic Development in Italy, with the aim of promoting Italian companies around the world. As part of a week at the Israel University, the Commission was also responsible for organizing business meetings between the visiting Italian companies and between the Israeli bodies.
The delegation's visit is part of the initiative of the Italian government, which approved a few months ago, a new economic plan designed to support international investments and to facilitate start-ups' access to financing by reducing bureaucratic barriers. As part of the Italian governmental move, an effort was also made to increase cooperation and the flow of knowledge from the Israeli high-tech industry to industry in Italy. At the meeting, the Italian start-ups presented their activities to Israeli investors, businessmen and entrepreneurs alongside Italian senior officials who will come especially to the event.
"The biomed field in Italy is on a noticeable growth trend and the Italian bio companies are currently competing successfully in the international markets," says Dr. Scognamiliou. "There is currently an exchange of knowledge and technologies between the two countries, and Italy, as a scientific and technological partner of the State of Israel, represents a potential for synergy based on the utilization of the relative advantages of the two countries."
During the visit, a start-up forum was held for the first time, in collaboration with the Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo, Matimf, the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Embassy in Israel, during which mutual investments were promoted and Israeli and Italian start-ups from the fields of biomed were exposed to corporate institutional investors, universities and technology incubators from Israel and Italy. The Inteza San Paolo banking group is the largest banking group in Italy, with 11 million customers (and 9 million abroad) and one of the leading global banking groups in Europe. for a strategic activity group in Central and Eastern Europe and in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, where it is considered a major financial player. The group has activity in Israel through the business and investment banking division, which focuses on international mergers, acquisitions and structured financing.
In addition to the start-up event, the Italian Embassy, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Commission and the Italy-Israel Chamber of Commerce, held a scientific-industrial meeting, which will deal with the "challenges and opportunities facing the Israeli and Italian biopharma industries", in which industry representatives from both countries will take part.
According to the Italian ambassador to Israel, Francesco Maria Talo, who is steering the event, innovative and groundbreaking start-up companies, especially in the fields of life sciences, represent hope for the future development of the Italian economy. "The meeting in Israel with business partners and investors from the business and technological community in Israel promotes economic cooperation between the two countries and contributes to development and advancement on both sides," said the ambassador. "Thanks to the push and promotion of the life sciences industries on the part of both governments, in recent years we have witnessed a growth in the number of joint innovative projects in the fields of biomedicine. I hope that the meetings planned this year in Israel will bring even more projects that we will be happy to present next year."
According to Michel Hibbert, the manager of TIMOP, the activity's partner, "the cooperation with the largest bank in Italy gives Israeli and Italian entrepreneurs an opportunity to meet, share information and present their capabilities to investors who come especially to the event at Biomed Israel."
ICE is a government organization that promotes Italian companies worldwide, operating under the Ministry of Economic Development in Italy. In addition to its main offices in Rome, the agency operates around the world and operates alongside Italian embassies and consulates a large network of assistance services for Italian businesses abroad with the aim of teaming up with foreign companies, focusing on the needs of small and medium businesses, associations and partnerships. The agency also promotes the marketing of Italian technologies, goods and services.
"Israel and Germany complement each other in the field of life sciences",
A delegation including representatives of four "branches" of life sciences and medical devices from Germany, arrived in Israel for the IATI-Biomed Israel Week 2013, to demonstrate the latest innovations and developments of the German research, development and production bodies, in the fields of medical technology and bioengineering. The representatives, which include researchers from diverse fields of research and development, took part in the lectures planned for the three days of the conference and even presented in the booth that also served as a meeting point with their colleagues from Israel. The delegation's visit is organized as part of an international campaign under the title "Germany - Partner for Medical Technology", which is the responsibility of the Government Ministry of Education and Research in Germany, which aims to present the innovations of medical technology and promote international cooperation in research and development between Germany and potential partners, such as Israel .
The four German R&D networks and centers that presented and demonstrated their scientific results are from the fields of 3-D imaging in medicine, bio-nanomedical technology (BioNanoMedTech), molecular imaging (Molecular Imaging Network-MOIN) and plasma medicine Medicine). These clusters represent trend-setting research in the fields of imaging techniques, in vitro diagnostics and cell and tissue engineering.
"Israel and Germany complement each other in the field of life sciences," says Dr. Georg Shuta
(Dr Georg Schütte), State Secretary, Ministry of Education and Research in the German Federal Government (BMBF). "During the 'Biomed Israel' conference, we presented through our most advanced R&D centers the inherent advantages - for both parties - of cooperating with them."
According to Dr. Shota, medical technology and life sciences, which overlap and touch in quite a few fields with the fields of information technology and engineering, are becoming more and more important in all of our lives. This fact is also true for Germany, one of the leading and largest manufacturers in the world in the production of quality medical equipment. The field of medical devices and medical technologies in Germany currently holds approximately 14.6 percent of the world market, being second only to the United States. Beyond that, between 5-20 percent (depending on the field) of scientific publications on medical technology come from Germany. The expertise in the field, and the cross-sector and interdisciplinary cooperation in Germany, has positioned German medical technology around the world as one of the global factors driving innovation in the field and cooperation with Israel, which belongs to the top tier of global players in the field of life sciences, is requested.
"Today, when scientific and technological progress is no longer limited by national borders, and is part of international cooperation, the government ministry of education and research in Germany initiates development and research projects between Germany and partner target countries, such as the USA and Israel. The delegation's visit is part of this move," says Dr. Shota.
The office presented Germany's innovations in the field of medical technology in trend-setting topics and initiatives of research and development projects and international collaborations, which are conducted between Germany and partner countries such as Israel.
The bio-nanomedical technology cluster - scientists from universities and companies of the bio-nanomedical technology cluster - BioNanoMedTech - conduct research in the field of new imaging techniques and treatments, all on a tiny (nano) scale. Nanotechnology can be used in medicine to encapsulate pharmaceuticals in tiny capsules or to coat implants with tiny particles (nanoparticles). As for diagnostics, in this field the scientists focus on the documentation and analysis of cell anatomy on a tiny scale (nanoscale) as well as on miniaturized systems used to conduct in vitro diagnostics. The field of nanotechnology, combined with the use of stem cells capable of culture, opens completely new opportunities for organ regeneration (regenerative) medicine.
Molecular Imaging Network (MOIN) — The scientists in this cluster focus on tiny particles using imaging techniques. The cluster develops and researches new imaging processes for diagnosis (diagnostic) and imaging for treatment (therapeutic) that are used for the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous, inflammatory and nervous (neurological) processes. Molecular markers locate damaged and degenerating tissues in the body by attaching to abnormal cells, thereby exposing them. At MOIN's preclinical medical research center, molecular imaging and molecular markers are used to test "in-vivo" new therapeutic approaches and new pharmaceutical substances, in a way that is much more effective and animal-friendly. In combination with molecular diagnostics in vitro, the molecular imaging in a living body opens new horizons in the fields of research and development and diagnosis and treatment.
3-D Imaging in Medicine Cluster, which operates around the Central Institute for Medical Technology (ZiMT) at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen (FAU), develops processes for combining a large number of separate medical images to create a high-resolution XNUMX-D display high A special chest CT system - computerized tomography for x-rays of the chest in three dimensions - not only improves the comfort of the patient, it also allows for higher reactivity in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. Different techniques for XNUMXD documentation, such as time of flight or structured light, which were previously used mainly for computer games or in vehicle engineering, are now integrated in order to compensate for the movement. This technique makes it possible to carry out radiation treatments independently of breathing (branding according to the respiratory cycle) of lung cancer and also to receive undistorted images of a beating heart in XNUMXD.
Plasma Medicine - The Plasma Medicine research cluster conducts basic research of antibacterial properties and properties for polishing surfaces with the help of low-temperature plasma and the application possibilities for this in medicine. In the future, it will be possible to use non-thermal plasma for the preparation of implants and for the treatment of injuries in the field of dentistry and skin diseases. The research cluster has already taken an important step in the development of kINPen MED, which is in the process of being approved for dermatological use (healing of the skin) in the treatment of infectious skin diseases.
According to Dr. Shuta, today, more than in the past, scientific and technological progress should not be limited within the borders of countries, but be prevented from international cooperation, for the common benefit of the countries involved. "Israel, with its research community and innovative start-up companies, especially in the field of life sciences, is an important partner country for Germany and its scientists."
