Archive for May, 2010
Yissum And Technology Transfer At The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem
Yissum, the Technology Transfer Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, aims to promote the transfer of Hebrew University technology for the benefit of society, while maximizing returns to support research, education and scientific excellence.
Founded in 1964, Yissum is one of the first technology transfer companies worldwide – second only to the Weizmann Institute’s Yeda, founded in 1959, and many years senior to most American universities – which began their Technology Transfer Services activities following the Baye-Dole Act of 1980; European universities, which typically began these activities in the 1990′s and Japan, which only began in 1998.
Yissum provides the interface between the university’s researchers and industry, including:
· Licensing out of new technologies
· Creation and support of spin-off companies
· Industry-sponsored academic research
· Scientific services
These years of experience have borne fruit, as Yissum’s revenues place it among the top 15 universities worldwide. Close to $1 billion worth of products based on Hebrew University technology are sold worldwide annually. Yissum’s 2005 revenues were $35 million, of which $23.5 million in royalties Through its efforts in securing industry-sponsored research and other funding, Yissum contributes some 10% of the Hebrew University’s research budget, making the institution a true Technology Transfer University.
Charged with the protection and commercialization of the university’s intellectual property, Yissum has generated over 1,500 patent families over the past 20 years alone, of which 750 are currently active, including 250 which are licensed. In addition, Yissum holds equity in over 50 companies. In 2007, Yissum received 121 disclosures, submitted 91 patent applications and was granted 59 new patents worldwide.
On the commercialization side, over 400 projects were handled in 2007 and 418 agreements were signed, including 33 license and option agreements.
Yissum enjoyed the first Initial Public Offering of one of its companies on the Tel Aviv stock exchange in December 2005 when NasVax Ltd., based on technology from Prof. Chezy Barenholz, was successfully floated. The company now has $10 million in the bank and is in clinical trials with its influenza vaccine. This is not the first commercial success for Prof. Barenholz, who is also the developer of Doxil, sold by Johnson & Johnson (through its acquisition of Alza) in the United States and Schering Plough (under the trade name Caelyx) internationally. Doxil enjoyed worldwide sales of over $400 million in 2005.
Yissum, through the creation of Atox Bio Inc., was also proud to sponsor the submission to the NIH of a grant application by Prof. Raymond Kaempfer, who successfully received US$ 5.6 million for the biodefence applications of super-antigens. Yissum continues to support AtoxBio as it develops other applications of Prof Kaempfer’s technology.
BioCancell Inc., which was highlighted in last year’s report, successfully raised over US$3 million from private investors and the Hebrew University’s pension fund (as an independent investor), and successfully began clinical trials with its H19-based therapy in patients suffering from bladder cancer.
Following a change of management at the end of 2005, Yissum has announced some organizational changes aimed at providing the university’s researchers with better, more focused service. In addition, Yissum is in the process of simultaneously identifying the university’s Top 30 most commercially-attractive projects, and at the same time raising funds to invest in taking these projects through the proof-of-principle phase in order to achieve significantly higher valuations and much superior terms for commercialization. 2006 promises to be an exciting year for Yissum.
Yissum is the Technology Transfer Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Over the past 40 years, Yissum has granted more than 400 technology licenses and is responsible for commercializing successful products that generate nearly $1 billion in worldwide sales every year.
Consumers Suffer When Technology Gets Complicated
Technology, particularly home entertainment technology, should be simple to use. This simplicity of use is especially important for home entertainment technology because it ensures that the device that embodies that technology can be enjoyed rather than futzed with in order to make it work. Far too often technology is complicated by economic factors rather than just technical factors, and is therefore far too difficult to use in many respects. For example, it’s completely conceivable that some new home entertainment gizmo could be so expensive that consumers never get around to buying it, or worse never get around to using it because they’re too busy working extra jobs to pay for it.
HDTV DVD technology is a good example of a type of home entertainment technology that has problems. It has been expensive, but it’s not so expensive that normal people can’t afford it. (It has also been coming down in price in recent months.) High Def DVD technology is also very easy to use, so that’s not a barrier to purchasing it and enjoying it. What does present a problem for consumers when it comes to high def DVD technology is the fact that it comes in two incompatible formats that are in a format war right now.
This situation is unfortunate for consumers on a number of different levels. First of all, the two formats- HD DVD from Toshiba and Blu-ray from Sony- are both good technologies, and either one would provide plenty of enjoyment for anyone who buys the format. The trouble comes from the fact that no one is sure which format will still be available after the war is over. Therefore no one is sure which type of format to invest in right now, because while High Def DVD technology is affordable, it’s not so cheap that most people can buy one of each type of player. Even if most families could afford more than one high def DVD player, there is also the desire to choose the winning format. By extension, this creates an aversion to choosing the losing format, so since people don’t know which one will win, they’re choosing not to choose either of the two. Again, this is a shame because high def DVD technology in general is good, user friendly technology.
There are some noticeable differences between the two formats though that could influence the outcome of the war. While both formats are capable of storing an entire full length movie plus its bonus features on a single disc, there is a big difference in capacity between the two. HD DVD discs can store fifteen gigabytes on each side of the disc, so that if both sides are used, the total storage capacity is an impressive thirty gigabytes. The Blu-ray format does even better. Each side of a Blu-ray disc can store twenty five gigabytes for a total capacity of fifty gigabytes. With a difference in capacity of twenty gigabytes, Blu-ray obviously has superior data storage features. That having been said, HD DVD generally has superior interactive features, but it remains to be seen how important the ability to rearrange the scenes in a movie or order parts of the wardrobe online really are to most people who just want to watch a movie.
In all, the sooner the format war is over, the better for consumers.
Adobe to Present at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Exposition
t at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Exposition
March 25, 2008- Toronto, Canada – Adobe Systems Incorporated will be speaking and exhibiting at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Expo, taking place on April 15 -16, 2008 at the Design Exchange in Toronto Ontario.
Presenting on behalf of Adobe System will be Mark James, Business Development Manager. He is responsible for the marketing of Adobe Acrobat and enterprise solutions in Canada.
An avid speaker, Mr. James has presented in numerous Adobe and industry events such as the annual conference of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia and IEEE XPlore, and has written for a wide range of publications such as Enterprise Magazine and Government Purchasing Guide.
To register for Early-Bird Passes please visit http://gov.wowgao.com/registration OR call (416)292-0038 Ext. 812.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe Systems Incorporated offers business, creative, and mobile software solutions that revolutionize how the world engages with ideas and information. With a reputation for excellence and a portfolio of many of the most respected and recognizable software brands, Adobe is one of the world’s largest and most diversified software companies
About the 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference & Expo
The 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference and Expo will focus on the latest IT products and solutions being developed and sought after in the healthcare and public service sector, including Web 2.0, Patient Monitoring Systems, Document Management, Business Intelligence, Mobile Data Systems, RFID Solutions, Biometrics and much more.
As one of Canada’s leading annual IT conference and exposition, the event features ground breaking IT applications that aim to educate key IT professionals, Government officials, developers, architects, engineers and medical professionals with the necessary tools and techniques for the reliable, effective management of all public information services across Canada. For more information about the event, please visit http://gov.wowgao.com
About WowGao Inc.
WowGao Inc. is an award winning leading event management company that produces, since 2003, internationally renowned conferences and expositions that address the latest innovations and developments in the information technology industry. Our featured events include:
Government & Health Technologies Conference and Expo, April 15 & 16, 2008
Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference, July 15 & 16, 2008
RFID Forum, July 15 & 16, 2008
Financial Services Technology Forum, October 2008
For more information about the events, please visit http://www.wowgao.com/
For conference inquiries
Conference Producer
(416) 292 – 0038 ext. 840 | conference@wowgao.com
WowGao Inc. | www.wowgao.com
t at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Exposition
March 25, 2008- Toronto, Canada – Adobe Systems Incorporated will be speaking and exhibiting at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Expo, taking place on April 15 -16, 2008 at the Design Exchange in Toronto Ontario.
Presenting on behalf of Adobe System will be Mark James, Business Development Manager. He is responsible for the marketing of Adobe Acrobat and enterprise solutions in Canada.
An avid speaker, Mr. James has presented in numerous Adobe and industry events such as the annual conference of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia and IEEE XPlore, and has written for a wide range of publications such as Enterprise Magazine and Government Purchasing Guide.
To register for Early-Bird Passes please visit http://gov.wowgao.com/registration OR call (416)292-0038 Ext. 812.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe Systems Incorporated offers business, creative, and mobile software solutions that revolutionize how the world engages with ideas and information. With a reputation for excellence and a portfolio of many of the most respected and recognizable software brands, Adobe is one of the world’s largest and most diversified software companies
About the 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference & Expo
The 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference and Expo will focus on the latest IT products and solutions being developed and sought after in the healthcare and public service sector, including Web 2.0, Patient Monitoring Systems, Document Management, Business Intelligence, Mobile Data Systems, RFID Solutions, Biometrics and much more.
As one of Canada’s leading annual IT conference and exposition, the event features ground breaking IT applications that aim to educate key IT professionals, Government officials, developers, architects, engineers and medical professionals with the necessary tools and techniques for the reliable, effective management of all public information services across Canada. For more information about the event, please visit http://gov.wowgao.com
About WowGao Inc.
WowGao Inc. is an award winning leading event management company that produces, since 2003, internationally renowned conferences and expositions that address the latest innovations and developments in the information technology industry. Our featured events include:
Government & Health Technologies Conference and Expo, April 15 & 16, 2008
Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference, July 15 & 16, 2008
RFID Forum, July 15 & 16, 2008
Financial Services Technology Forum, October 2008
For more information about the events, please visit http://www.wowgao.com/
For conference inquiries
Conference Producer
(416) 292 – 0038 ext. 840 | conference@wowgao.com
WowGao Inc. | www.wowgao.com
Information Technology
IT defines as Information Technology, IT is consists of study, design, advance development, accomplishment, support or administration of computer foundation information system, mostly software application and computer hardware. Information technology works with the use of electronic computers and computer software to renovate, defend, development, and broadcast and other information.
Information technology has overstuffed to cover many features of computing and technology, and this word is more familiar than ever before. Information technology subject can be quite large, encompassing many fields. IT professionals perform different types of responsibilities that range from installing applications to designing complex computer networks. IT professionalâs responsibilities are data management, networking, database, software design, computer hardware, management and administration of whole system. IT (Information Technology) is combined word of computer and communications or âInfoTechâ. Information Technology illustrates any technology which helps to manufacture, manipulate, accumulate, communicate or broadcast information.
Information Communications Technology (ICT):- ICT term comprises the entire technology for communication of advance information. It includes any intermediate to record information by paper, magnetic disk or tape, pen, optical disks, flash memory, CD/DVD etc. and also ICT technology used for broadcasting information by television, radio, microphone, loudspeaker and cellular phones. Information technology transfer information with the help of satellite system and intercontinental cables. Defiantly IT has developed into a type of a hub for communicating information.
Informative modeling: – it is an interdisciplinary myth for connecting information technologies field with architectural examination and modeling. IM aspires at improving the way evidences and information about architectural objects developed throughout time can be demonstrated. IM applies for studying of historic architecture, and objects been broadly transformed.
Technical support: – it is a range of services which has provided by technology products as mobile cell phone, television and computers or electronic & mechanical gadgets. Technical services attempt to facilitate the user resolve specific problems with the product. Somewhat that offering training, support services and other customization.
Most of the companies recommend technical support on behalf of the products, either they are freely available or for a pay. Technical support can be conveyed by the telephone or with the help of various channels like e-mail or a website. Major organizations having frequently internal technical service available to staff for pc related problems. Also internet is the best place to convey your problem in form of message and itâs freely available for tech support, where many of experienced users may advice and assistance you.
Technology and Education
Technology has completely changed the way mankind works. It has become an integral part of our lives and basic movements of man are now solely dependent upon technology. Technology has prepared mankind to work faster, smarter and allows the brain to concentrate on other exciting and challenging goals and milestones. The last decade is dedicated to the workmanship of technology and its impact on the human race. http://education.ixs.net/.It has given us sleeker cell phones, internet mobility on personal computers that can now fit in purses and an extensive database of knowledge called the internet.
There is no avenue that technology has not touched. The complete workforce of mankind now works with technology. Thousands of industries and organizations around the world are now reaping the benefits of technology. And the education system is no exception to the rule. Technology has advanced and honed policies, streamlined academic activity and provided extensive reporting that was never possible before. Unique systems are now available in the market that immediately notify parents if their child or children arrive late at school and allow teachers to remotely send homework and grade papers online. Students across the world now search and prepare term papers all from simple browsing the internet at home or libraries. The basic principles of knowledge have not changed but the very edifice of obtaining and teaching has been revolutionalised by technology.
Other benefits of technology in the education arena are the administration functionality that technology provides. It allows colleges and universities to monitor thousands of students at one given go and allow hundreds of students to register classes that are suitable to the teachers and the students by the click of a mouse. Elementary and high schools can use sophisticated voice mails to update parents of the progress of the updates of their children. Technology has also been able to successfully deploy dedicated networks across intranets within college domains to share documents and reports.
The primal goal of these communications servers are designed to streamline information and messaging within the school system’s administrative and teaching community. This type of system can also help facilitate communications between various designated groups, clubs, the entire student body, and parents. Through this, everyone can stay better informed of special events and check the system frequently for any updates or changes that may have occurred. All student games, activities and personal information of students can be stored and retrieved at any given time by school officials.
The other important benefit of technology in the education sector is the exponential increase in enrollment due to the availability of online courses. People do not have to be physically available to take part in an important meeting or class across the world. Simple bandwidth connectivity will do the job and allow thousands of people in one global sphere to easily communicate with people in dispersed areas.
Hundreds of companies exist that build and provide applications and sophisticated softwares that further improve on the benefits of technology in education. Applications now provide video conferencing and remote logins to servers. For more information and details visit: http://education.ixs.net/content/Technology-and-education.php
Technology for Hotels and Hoteliers
Anytime from mid to late June, my diary is normally reserved for attendance at HITEC, undoubtedly the world’s leading hospitality technology event. This year was no exception so I found myself in Austin, Texas. What a great place – with hotels close to the Convention Centre, this ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ also enjoys being one of the world’s technology innovation capitals. This year I came away excited by the evidence that the global hotel industry and its technology providers are working on the right issues.
HITEC offers a unique combination of highly rated educational sessions, a huge technology exposition and many, many sponsored evening parties for those ever valuable networking opportunities and conspicuous consumption of margarita cocktails! Sessions are led by industry peers and experts whilst the expo showcases the latest industry products and services from over 300 companies. Combined with the opportunities to connect with fellow hotel technology professionals, HITEC has everything to keep me current in my thinking for today and the future. This year I came away excited by the evidence that the global hotel industry and its technology providers are working on the right issues.
Innovation
Today’s connected world allows for businesses to be structured in very different ways, with innovation being accessed from both inside and increasingly outside the organisation. In some ways of course this is the trend that Hotel Solutions Partnership is part of – enabling clients that engage online to import expertise that can be delivered in person and/ or on-line. There are many examples of hotel companies distributing and networking to garner a higher level of thinking and innovations in service, experience, design, creation and execution than that which is available within the four corporate walls.
I’ve written in these columns before about how technology is allowing the customer to be the innovator of the bedroom experience and once again I saw the Guestroom of the Future at HITEC. Such has been the interest that Guestroom 2010 is looking much further into the future by recently re-branding as Guestroom 20X. At this years show I also noted that progressive hotel brands are increasingly willing customers to engage online with one another and with the organization. The goal is to tap into this new type of guest engagement for shareholder gain. Brands are engaging with guests to design, test and market different elements of the guest experience. With improved insights into the guests needs, such brands should be better equipped to quickly reconfigure the hotel product, service and overall experience.
As my associate Larry Bowman points out later, technology allows employers to tap into the pool of talent in very different ways than in recent years. And I think we will see an increasing willingness to outsource more and more essential but non-core processes leveraging the web as hotel companies drive toward further and further productivity gains.
Business information
My hobby horse for a number of years has been the opportunity that BI (business information) systems offer; Take a look at the tools provided by such vendors as Datavision and Aptech. Systems are becoming more and more interconnected through common standards (think of HTNG’s efforts in this regard) for exchanging data – providing not only better, deeper and wider information for decision making but also enabling new levels of automation.
But its also unbundling that is a trend – using other companies and entrepreneurs to enable rapid scaling (up or down) whilst keeping balance sheets light and tight. This is more and more enabled by technology (e.g. Saas) where hotels and hotel companies are more trusting of security and bandwidth reliability and are making better use of web services and related technologies.
These columns have previously drawn attention to the role that technology tools have played, are playing and will play, in transforming revenue management. Predictive technology tools are increasingly available and used – bringing more and more discipline into many aspects of hotel management. Sometimes I sense the balance has gone a little too far (don’t lose sight of the hotelier in us!)but there can be no doubt that the hotel industry is a much more effective user of productivity and performance enhancing technology tools than it was even a few years ago
Evolution
Finally in this rapid scan across the technology available to the 21st century hotelier it is worth also remembering that some businesses have evolved that are essentially accumulating pools of data and making revenue by providing access to selected data or the entire data. TravelCLICK is perhaps the most obvious example of a business based on this premise, but so too the newly emergent STR Global.
I wonder what the technology landscape in 2020 will be like. Any suggestions? You can bet your last dollar that the new and inventive landscape will be badged as addressing “Generation Z’s” “must haves”. It’s a little scary to be a member of the Baby Boomers – now there is something I can’t change.