Thank you to Dina Spiegel for her assistance in preparing this article. Dina is a professor of human resources, a career counselor/developer as well as an experienced headhunter, particularly in the life sciences. You can reach Dina at shpigeld@netvision.net.il.

Online Resources

• Israel Life Science Industry, www.ilsi.org.il
• Dun & Bradstreet Israel, www.dbisrael.co.il
• Israeli Industry Center for R&D, www.matimop.org.il
• Israel National Nanotechnology Initiative, www.nanoisrael.org
• Life sciences in Jerusalem, www.biojerusalem.org.il
• Israel Science & Technology Home Page, www.science.co.il

Understanding the Life Science Industry

The following is a breakdown of the Israeli life science industry. Note that the breakdown is by number of companies, not number of employees:

• Medical devices: 55% of the industry (500 companies). Most of the companies are extremely small – up to 10 staff members. Those with a background in GE medical devices, in particular, find that their expertise is very marketable in Israel.
• Biotechnology: 21% of the industry is involved in this area (184 companies).
• Pharmaceuticals: 12% of the industry (109 companies), including the giant Teva Pharmaceuticals (with approximately 28,000 workers) as well as much smaller players, Some examples (some of these companies produce generic drugs while also developing new medications):
• Dexcel, www.dexcel.com
• Taro, www.taro.co.il
• Vitamed, http://www.netguide.co.il/Vitamed
• Perrigo, http://www.agisgroup.com
• Trima, http://www.trima.co.il
• Agro (agricultural development): A small percent of the industry is involved in the development of watering systems and other inventions related to plant growth inventions.
• Cleantech: A small percent of the industry is involved in the development of alternative energies, such as bio-diesel.

Training Courses for Individuals with a Background in the Life Sciences

If you have a background in the life sciences and a degree in a health-related field that is not recognized in Israel (such as Physician’s Assistant), you can train to become a CRA (clinical research associate) or to work for a CRO (clinical research organization), which allows you to conduct clinical testing and to start working within the pharmaceutical field.

It must be emphasized that it is not easy to obtain employment in the life sciences industry -- even with an academic background in the life sciences -- if you have no actual work experience in the industry. Completion of a CRA training program allows you entry into this market, albeit at an entry level; you can then work within your company to obtain promotions and move up within the field. With experience, one can be promoted to become a testing supervisor.

The courses are offered (in Hebrew) at:

• BioForum (in Rehovot), www.bioforum.org.il
• PharmaJob, http://www.pharma-job.co.il/code/mihlala.asp   

Working for International Pharmaceutical Companies

Some of the International pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Merck, Eli  Lilly and Sanofi Aventis, have branches in Israel and are particularly welcoming of English speaking Olim who have experience in the life sciences, with working the FDA and the European Union, and sales and marketing.

Because Israeli medical standards are known internationally to be high and Israel is recognized for its innovative medical research, global companies are interested in testing their products in Israel.

Many of these companies are located in the central areas of the country, particularly in Herzliya, Petach Tikva and Tel Aviv. Because of the global nature of these companies (and the resulting need to converse in fluent English), Olim can easily become involved in interfacing between the local offices in Israel and the main offices situated overseas. However, on the local level, a good working knowledge of Hebrew is often necessary.

Note that international companies that have local offices in Israel tend to focus on importing and marketing products, as opposed to research and development. Generally, salaries are higher in international companies than in local ones.

Working for Israeli-Based Pharmaceutical Companies

While Israel-based pharmaceutical companies usually offer lower salaries than their international counterparts, they may offer employees some excellent benefits. Teva, in particular, provides a wide range of benefits and services to its employees including stock options and bonuses, and a high level of stability and professional growth.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology in Israel primarily involves small companies, located typically in the Rehovot area. The field operates at a very high level which is recognized and respected internationally.

Nanotechnology is a small, continually expanding part of the biotechnology field; and it is expected to continue to expand. There are several large international companies involved in nanotechnology which have a presence in Israel, such as Intel, HP, and Tower.

Medical Devices

The development of medical devices is a strong field in Israel and it is continuing to grow. Israel has the human resources to excel in this field, having a large pool of trained mechanical, electronic and electro-optical engineers. Additionally, military funding has, historically, been used to develop technologies which have applications in medical devices. This technological expertise is then often channeled into private companies for further innovation and development.

Furthermore, because the development cycle is much shorter and less expensive in the medical device industry than the pharmaceutical industry, it is easier for companies to obtain funding from investors.

There is great demand in Israel for professional experience in areas such as RA (Regulatory Affairs, interfacing with the FDA) and QA (Quality Assurance); monitoring and experience working with FDA regulations are in high demand. Note: A Ph.D. without experience in the field may not find it easy to break into this industry.

Technological Incubators

Incubators are generally located in outlying communities, though some are found in the center of the country. They are government-run, and the salaries are relatively low. Once the company obtains FDA approval, generally speaking, it becomes a private company and hires new staff for its managerial and marketing needs.

For individuals interested in working part-time, technological incubators can be a good place to look.

Venture Capital

If you’re searching for work, it is always good to connect with VCs because they are aware of industry developments and are well connected with a wide variety of “players” in the field. While there are many VCs in Israel, the following are among those involved in the life sciences industry:

• Pitango, www.pitango.com
• Medica, http://www.medicavp.com/
• Vitalife (medical devices), http://www.vitalifevc.com/

For a full listing of VCs, see www.science.co.il.

Patent Writers

Patent writers come with a background in the life sciences and/or law, and obtain employment in law firms. It is not necessary to have prior experience in patent writing in order to land a first job in this field. Most positions in patent writing are located in Tel Aviv.

Knowledge of Hebrew

Many areas of the life sciences industry involve extensive communication in English. A fluent level of Hebrew – while always important to one’s personal integration – may not be essential to obtaining working in this field.

Some exceptions are Production Managers, QA professionals and other positions that require interaction with production. Since these jobs generally require communication with workers who frequently do not speak English, they require a fluent level of Hebrew.

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