About half of the patent applications filed in Israel in 2005 were in the life sciences, including biotechnology, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, according to a study by the Life Sciences and Chemistry Group at the Reinhold Cohn & Partners law firm. The firm, which specializes in patents, conducted the survey ahead of the Biomed Israel 2006 conference and exhibition.
Dr. Ilan Cohn, an owner of the firm, said, “Awareness of patent matters in the life sciences has grown dramatically in recent years. In many cases, company directors demand that management carry out massive patent work, and report on it accordingly. Whereas in the past, many companies were satisfied with registering a single patent, the emphasis is now on building a comprehensive patent portfolio. The importance attached to the matter is also reflected in the weight patents receive in due diligence in life sciences companies before an investment.”
Cohen said Israel was still one of the top countries in terms of patent applications per capita. 2,827 patents per capita were filed in the US in 2005, compared to almost 1,000 in Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 14, 2006
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