Bioinformatics in Israel 2018

Abstract from outcome report:

The Israeli life sciences sector is dominated by three sub-sectors: medical devices (42%), healthcare IT (16%) and therapeutics (16%). In 2017 bioinformatics represented only 2% of the sector. The majority of the companies are small and are still prerevenue i.e. seed funding and R&D. There is relatively low activity in the biopharma sector, but the government is seeking to promote this. Tel Aviv and Haifa are the main concentrations of tech- and R&D-focused businesses in Israel. However, Jerusalem also has a significant life sciences sector. The city is home to some 150 life sciences companies that employ more than 3,000 people and accounted for 27-29% of local venture capital investment over the past six years.

Nearly half of the biotech and medical research in Israel is conducted in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and its affiliate Hadassah Medical Center. It was not possible during the mission to visit companies and research organisations based in Jerusalem. The Israeli biomedical industry (biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and digital health) is one of the fastest growing innovative industries in the country. In 1996, there were 186 companies in this sector, while today there are 1,400 companies with 120 new companies being formed each year. Forty per cent of these companies are already generating revenues for Israel’s healthcare providers.

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