(R-L): Nili Shalev, Economic Minister to North America, Government of Israel Economic Mission; Richard A. Bendit, Esq., President of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC) and Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC; US Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA, 2nd District); Avi Hasson, Israeli Chief Scientist; Yaron Sideman, Israeli Consul General to the Mid-Atlantic Region; Dr. Mark L. Tykocinski, MD, Provost, Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), Dean, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at TJU; and Vered Nohi, Executive Director of the PICC
Reception Hosted at Thomas Jefferson University on June 16 Declared a Success
PHILADELPHIA (June 16, 2015)—The Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC) welcomed Avi Hasson, the Chief Scientist of the Government of Israel and the Israeli delegation to the 2015 BIO International Convention in Philadelphia at a reception hosted by Thomas Jefferson University on June 16. The reception introduced twenty Israeli bio, life science, pharma and medical equipment companies showcased their forward-thinking technologies.
“Introducing these high-level Israeli life science and bio-technology companies to our region is a true public service,” remarked Richard A. Bendit, Esq., PICC President. “Seeing these innovative technologies from Israel first-hand certainly will challenge the imagination of local business leaders and investors.”
The PICC was pleased to bring this event to the Greater Philadelphia Region in conjunction with the Israeli Economic Mission in NYC, the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia. Regional leaders including US Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA, 2nd District) and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter welcomed the delegates.
The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) in the Ministry of Economy is charged with execution of government policy for support of industrial R&D. The OCS’s objectives are to support industrial R&D, encourage entrepreneurs in high-tech start-up companies, leverage Israel’s highly capable scientific and technological labor force, facilitate the academic industrial interface for the transfer scientific know-how and technology and in general to stimulate cooperation in state of the art R&D at national and international levels. A variety of ongoing support programs developed and offered by the OCS play a major role in enabling Israel to be a key center for high tech entrepreneurship.
###
About the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
The Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC) is the go-to independent organization facilitating connections between Israeli and Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware based businesses, governmental agencies and economic development organizations.
The PICC also represents the US-Israel Binational R&D (BIRD) Foundation and BIRD Energy, which annually award 20-30 grants up to $1 million to U.S.-Israeli company technology ventures.
Why Collaborate with Israeli Innovators?
- Over 1000 life sciences companies
- Over 1/3 of LS Start-Ups already generate revenue
- Source of numerous blockbuster drugs such as Copaxone and Rebif, generating over $5B in annual sales
- First in the world in quality of scientific research institutions (World Economic Forum [WEF] 2011-12)
- First in the world for medical device patents per capita, 2th for bio-pharma (US Patent Office 2011)
- Pioneers in stem cell research and therapeutics
- Extensive international R&D and commercial partnerships
- World-renowned academic research institutes such as the Technion and the Weizmann Institute
- Unique financing tools and incubator frameworks for start-ups