Israeli universities are taking note. All the major institutions have set up companies for licensing technology developed in-house. The Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa has invested in incubator projects, as has the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. The Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheba has plans for developing a large high-tech industrial park. Itamar Rabinovich, president of Tel Aviv University, said a local venture capital fund had also invested in the new start-up and negotiations are under way for several additional ventures.
Talks are under way with local venture capital funds and investors.
The university is also planning a high-tech industrial park at its Givat Ram campus in Jerusalem. Mr. Vigdor said. Rents will also be substantially cheaper than elsewhere. The first start-ups are expected to move in as early as next year. On the academic side, the university has also introduced high-tech related courses in the computer, business and law schools.