IP in Biotechnology Research in Israel 

Facilitating Collaboration in Stem Cell Research 

Through Intellectual Property

Symposium Abstract 

20 December, 2012

The Symposium introduced the findings of a study Facilitating Collaboration in Stem Cell Research through Intellectual Property. 

The study was conducted by the Haifa Center for Law and Technology (HCLT) in collaboration with The Samuel Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology and was funded by the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology.   

The research team included: 

HCLT:                                        The Samuel Neaman Institute:

Prof. Niva Elkin-Koren (PI)         Dr. Daphne Getz (PI)

Dr. Yael Bregman-Eschet           Larissa Eidelman​​

Sharon Bar-Ziv                           Miriam Asotsky

Talya Ponchek                            Bella Zalmanovich

Dalit Sagiv                                   Yair Even-Zohar

The purpose of the study was to provide a systematic basis for designing a research and development (R&D) policy and to facilitate knowledge transfer in the area of stem cell research. 

The study mapped the R&D activity in Israel in the area of stem cells research, identifying the major players and their research output measured by academic publications and patents. It also surveyed attitude among researchers in the stem cells field to identify legal impediments on research and collaboration.  

The study explored different frameworks for collaboration between government, industry and academic research centers, and proposes effective valuation methods. Stem cell research is at the forefront of biotechnology research today; being an essential part of drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and transplantation medicine. 

Yet, stem cell research, whether conducted in public and non-profit institutes or in the framework of the private sector, raises various legal and ethical issues, concerning the patentability and commercialization of stem cell research. These issues could potentially impede research, create obstacles for collaboration at the national and international levels and slow down the development of scientific discoveries. Therefore, these issues require attention by policymakers  in order to establish a sound and effective R&D policy. The study analyzes these issues and provides a comprehensive framework for designing an R&D policy that will foster stem cell research in Israel and will facilitate collaboration at the national and the international levels in the best possible ways.

The symposium brought together lawyers, scientists, researchers and policymakers from different sectors of the biotech research: government, academia, hospitals and the private sector. In four panels, panelists discussed different regulatory options to Intellectual Property Rights in stem cell research and presented empirical evidence and bibliometric analysis of the scientific output in the stem cell research field.

The Symposium was funded by the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology [to the website in Hebrew​]. 

To the Project Pages: HCLT​ & The Samuel Neaman Institute