The Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology at the Technion, which for the past two years had been spearheading an initiative to set up a biotechnology cluster in nothern Israel, recently has succeeded in attracting four leading organizations to join it in this endeavor; the Haifa Economic Corporation the Technioin, the Rappaport Institute for Research in Medical Science and the Rambam Health Care Centre.

 

Together they harvest up the Northern Israel Life Sciences and Biotechnology Network, whose goal is to promote cooperation between biotechnology industries and researchers in academia.

 

Dr. Avraham Rotem, the projects coordintor for the Neaman Institute explained that biotechnology industries all over the world make up the fastest developing sector, especially in the framework of "clusters".   These industries which develop around advanced academic centres are reinventing science, especially in the areas of biotechnology, life sciences, biomedical engineering, pharmacology, food, agriculture and ecology.

 

In this initiative's framework, meetings were held at the Neaman Institute between leading researchers in academia and senior representatives of biotechnology companies and research institutes in the north.  As a resulty of these meetings, and in the wake of conclusions published  communication and information site on the internet is now being set up : www.bionorth.org.il.

 

The site constitutes an important first step that will assist in advancing the idea of a northern biotechnology cluster.  It includes live and constantly updated information about industrial companies, incubators and start - ups as well as researchers in the north, scientific publications and patents.   It gives surfers up-to-date information on labs and knowledge centres that can serve industries in the north and also information on news and event such as seminars, scientific conferences, etc.

 

It is already possible to find details abouth moren than 100 biotechnology researchers in the north, 10 industrial companies, 6 incubators, 15 start-ups, 24 labs and 5 knowledge centres.  Since the site was put up, it has been receiving requests to join from both researchers and companies.

 

The site is intended to create a live communication network for transferring updated, interactive information among all those involved in the field in northern Israel.

 

The site aims to promote the creation of connections among all those dealing with biotechnological research in the north, to assist academic researchers to connect with start-ups and industries in their day to day activities and to contribute to the greater economic success of its partners.