UK Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Sam Giymah MP, along with a substantial delegation made his first overseas trip as Minister outside Europe by heading to Israel to understand the ‘DNA’ of the start-up nation including the role played by universities.
The ecosystem of research, commercialisation and investment were key issues explored when visiting Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University followed by a meeting in the laboratory of Prof Koby Nahmias who is the founding director of the Alexander Grass Centre for Bioengineering. He is a co-founder of Israel’s BioDesign Medical Innovation programme, recently listed as a major reason for Boston Scientific’s continued investment in Israel.
Earlier in his Israel trip Minister Giymah met with the President of the Hebrew University Prof Asher Cohen expressing the hope for even greater levels of collaboration between two great centres of innovation – the UK and Israel.
Before his trip concluded, Minister Giymah launched the formal first call for proposals for the third round of BIRAX bilateral research, this time on the subject of ageing. The Hebrew University plans to be a major applicant.