This news follows a survey the Central Bureau of Statistics conducted at the initiative of the Science and Technology Ministry’s National Council for Research and Development.
By JUDY SIEGELSOSA, also known as the Global Network of Tech Innovation, will be leading the effort to transform Israel into a ‘ConstrucTech Hub’ in partnership with the Economy Ministry, the Construction Ministry and the Israel Builders Association. (photo credit: Courtesy)
There was a significant rise in the reporting of discoveries, the number of license agreements and in applications for the registration of patents in the universities’ commercialization companies in Israel last year.This news follows a survey the Central Bureau of Statistics conducted at the initiative of the Science and Technology Ministry’s National Council for Research and Development.“Research institutions in Israel are the national incubators of innovation, technology and groundbreaking developments, such as [Teva Pharmaceutical Industry’s multiple sclerosis drug] Copaxone and [vision-based advanced driver-assistance systems developer company] Mobileye, which began as studies in universities and turned into developments that changed humanity and contributed significantly to our economy and society,” Minister Ofir Akunis said on Thursday.There are eight universities’ technology transfer companies and five companies affiliated with research institutes and academic colleges, plus six attached to hospitals. Their role is to recruit, market and develop the knowledge accumulated in the institutions, take out patents for commercial products and help launch start-ups.In 2016, 1,328 inventions were reported by the technology transfer companies, up 32% compared to 2015 and 55% compared to 2014. A 25% increase was also recorded in patent applications – 635 in 2016, compared with 509 in 2015. The number of patents approved in Israel and abroad also rose significantly – from 540 in 2015 to 813 in 2016, an increase of 51%.