investment
Match Making
Mission expands, energizes Michigan-Israel business ties.
Ron Perry
Special to the Jewish News
Jerusalem
I
sraeli business mission on steroids?
That describes all Michigan Israel
Business Bridge (MIBB) missions to
Israel and certainly the latest trip in
May we organized for Oakland University
(OU) and the Oakland University William
Beaumont School of Medicine.
Why steroids? Because Israel — a
global leader in entrepreneurship, science
and technology — presents a plethora
of opportunities for those seeking new
and exciting business partnerships.
In Jerusalem at Hadassah Hospital: Dr. Robert Folberg, Dr. Virinder Moudgil, Bob
Throughout the world, entrepreneurs,
Schostak, Ron Perry, Ophir Shahaf (CEO, Hadasit Bio-Holdings, Ltd., the technol-
business leaders and policy makers are
ogy transfer arm of Hadassah), Grant Trigger, Dana Cohen (CEO, Bio Marcare), Dr.
recognizing Israel's enormous contribu-
Gary Russi and Robyn Lederman
tions, especially in the areas of science
and technology. Many companies are
ticipants included Dr. Gary
vying to build relationships with Israel's
Russi, president of OU; Dr.
numerous accelerators, research institu-
Virinder Mougil, senior vice
tions and companies. Due to Israel's
president of academic affairs
small size, innovators must seek to
and provost, OU; Dr. Robert
access global markets.
Folberg, founding dean of
The Michigan statewide-based MIBB
the OU William Beaumont
has been in the business of making suc-
School of Medicine and chief
cessful shiduchim, or matches, between
academic officer, Royal Oak-
Michigan and Israeli companies, entre-
based Beaumont Hospitals;
preneurs, universities and healthcare
Bob Schostak, chairman
institutions for the past two years. One of
and CEO, Livonia-based
the ways the MIBB does this is by orga-
nizing and leading customized business
Schostak Brothers & Co.;
In Caesarea at IceCure: Grant Trigger, Dr. Virinder
and Grant Trigger, partner,
delegations to Israel.
Moudgil,
Bob Schostak, Dr. Gary Russi, Dr.
Oakland County-based 02
That the opportunities are so numer-
Robert
Folberg
and Simon Sharon (vice president,
Investments.
ous creates quite a challenge in planning
research
and
development)
The energy and excitement
a mission. How do we choose whom
to meet? More importantly, how do we
of the mission participants
in lifelike settings, from simulated battle
made it possible for us to complete the
maximize the chances of successful col-
field triage to routine physician visits to
laborative ventures?
agenda, which had us working a mini-
learn how to deal with different patient
mum of 15 hours a day.
During the mission, connections were
personalities.
Getting Ready
Second, we were impressed to see the
made with universities, hospitals, incu-
For the OU and OU William Beaumont
advances made by a stem cell research
School of Medicine Mission from May
bators, accelerators and companies for
company in Jerusalem that enables the
potential partnerships, collaborations and
9 to 14, Robyn Lederman, chair of the
expansion of stem cells sourced from
investment opportunities. We also saw
MIBB Missions Task Force, and I person-
umbilical cord blood. This company cur-
the newest medical devices and biotech-
ally vetted hundreds of potential Israeli
rently has a product in Phase III trials that
nical advancements coming from Israel;
partners based on the specific needs and
is intended as an alternative experimental
many present investment opportunities
goals of the participants. With the help of
treatment for patients with blood cancers
contingent on creating jobs and manu-
other MIBB volunteers, we set the final
who cannot find a matched bone mar-
facturing opportunities in Michigan.
agenda — a grand total of 48 meetings
row donor. This company may attend
While there were many noteworthy
in six days!
the World Stem Cell Summit in Detroit in
visits, three innovations really stood out
The agenda allowed OU and the OU
October later this year.
to Robyn and I. The first was the visit to
William Beaumont School of Medicine to
Third, a visit with a unique inventor,
Sheba Hospital's medical simulation cen-
explore and establish academic, research
who
himself is a quadriplegic and thus
ter, where healthcare professionals train
and business partnerships. Mission par-
unable to use the device, allowed us to
witness a demonstration of an exoskele-
tal device that allows paraplegics to walk,
seeing eye to eye with the able-bodied
for the first time in years. The device was
demonstrated by Radi, an Israeli who has
been confined to a wheelchair for the last
20 years.
Strengthened Bonds
Throughout the weeklong mission,
academic partnerships were further
solidified. Dr. Folberg guest lectured at
Emek Medical Center's first Ophthalmic
Pathology Symposium. Ophthalmology
specialists, residents, professors and
medical students from all over Israel
attended the event. Emek Hospital, as
many readers may know, is located in
Michigan's Partnership 2000 region of
Israel, the Central Galilee. Dr. Moudgil
also visited Max Stern College in Migdal
HaEmek to discuss possible collabora-
tions.
While our focus and priority is facilitat-
ing connections that could lead to viable
partnerships, we also enhanced the visit
with some cultural highlights. On the
OU mission, we were able to arrange a
meeting with award-winning author, Alon
Hilu, winner of the presidential and Sapir
prizes for literature. Because many MIBB
members have deep connections to
Israel, we are often able to arrange more
than the typical "tourist" visit.
For the MIBB, mission participants and
others, it is obvious that Israel's tech-
nological and scientific sectors present
incredible opportunities to contribute to
the economic development of our own
communities. While Israel benefits just as
much from such partnerships — because
its small size means businesses must
access global markets to survive — its
leadership has shifted the historic dias-
pora/lsrael economic relationship to one
that is mutually beneficial.
Back in Michigan, mission partici-
pants continue to follow-up on the new
Israeli relationships to pursue coopera-
tive opportunities that will surely have a
positive economic impact for our state.
We are optimistic that we will continue
to benefit from the outcomes of this trip
both now and the long term.
❑
Ron Perry is director of business development
for the Michigan Israel Business Bridge.