The nascent Israeli biotech industry boasts brilliant technology but remains in the early stages of commercial development. Biotech requires long-term commitment and considerable financial investment for commercialisation. Israel is attracting investment and industry leaders say an aggressive technology sector and supportive academic community will make biotech work. The Weizmann Institute of Science plays a key part in the development of Israeli biotechnology. However, the possibilities are often endless.
Computer simulations are far more efficient in pinpointing potentially successful complexes.
This computer algorithm may lead to medicinal applications based on increasing or inhibiting protein activity and new diagnostic procedures including antibody detection. In bioinformatics, Weizmann scientists have developed computational genomics systems that include GeneCards, a database of genes, their products and their involvement in diseases. Yeda Research and Development Company is the Institute's technology transfer organisation. Since its establishment in 1959, Yeda has licensed several of the Institute's biotechnology products to industry. Yeda also assists in establishment of start-up companies and joint ventures based on Institute research and inventions.