4Dx AFR Feature: Tel Aviv Uni President Tells Aussie Unis to Do More to Support Innovation

11th April 2016, AFR By Yolanda Redrup

The president of Israel’s Tel Aviv University, Professor Joseph Klafter, says Australian universities need to find corporate partners to sponsor the development of early stage ideas, which have commercial potential.

Australian universities have historically struggled with the commercialisation of ideas, despite some shining examples such as Cochlear.

Professor Klafter said local universities should emulate their Israeli counterparts, which are considered exemplars in spinning out businesses.

“Universities, the way they work when it comes to innovation, are like a big portfolio, or large start-up by itself,” he said.

A lung imaging start-up which sprung from Monash University, 4DX, is aiming to be the next Cochlear, and last year Hatchtech, which came from Melbourne University, made a deal worth up to $279 million with an Indian firm to commercialise a head lice treatment.

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