Academic Research and Letting Go — Israel’s Technology Transfer Success Story

Almost half of all Israeli exports are produced by hi-tech companies. They make up more than 11% of GDP which is the highest (on a par with the USA) among leading industrial countries. Michael Zinigrad, Rector of Ariel University, will give a public lecture at HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge on the 29th October about how Israel has produced stunning results in commercialising academic research.

‘Science and business are two absolutely different areas of activity and both academics and businessmen need to be left in peace to do their work,’ says Professor Zinigrad. ‘However, without each other, they can’t function and their interests converge in technology transfer.’ 

Even the term ‘technology transfer’ is no accident, says Zinigrad. The very idea that to bring technology into production you have to transfer it, give it up, to a commercial, industrial enterprise is one of the biggest problems. Just as parents find it difficult to let go of their children, inventors and even universities often find it painful to hand over their new creations and designs.    

Israeli HEIs have achieved inspiring results in commercialising technology in the last 50 years. Breakthroughs in innovation have driven the country’s rapid economic development. Israel has more than 4,000 hi-tech organisations - a figure only outnumbered in the USA. Government spending on hi-tech is the highest in the world at 5% of GDP. (The US spends 2.8%.)  The annual exports of hi-tech companies are worth 20 billion dollars.

Professor Michael Zinigrad’s public lecture will be at 18.00 on October 29th in room 325, 9/11 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa. 

All are welcome. Please bring ID.

Register for the event.