Israel Innovation Authority Appoints Dr. Shai Melcer as Head of National Bio-Convergence Program
Dr. Melcer to lead implementation of bio-convergence goals for TELEM – the National Infrastructure Forum for Research and Development
JERUSALEM – June 23, 2024 – The Israel Innovation Authority announced today the appointment of Dr. Shai Melcer as Head of the National Bio-Convergence Program. In this role, Dr. Melcer, who brings 15 years of experience and entrepreneurship in the bio-medical ecosystem, will lead the implementation of the bio-convergence goals for TELEM – the National Infrastructure Forum for Research and Development. Dr. Melcer, 50, an LLM in Law and PhD in genetics from the Hebrew University, has collaborated with various entities such as the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center, IBM, the Jerusalem Development Authority (Bio-Jerusalem), and others to establish numerous innovative bio-med ventures, including BioGiv, BIOHOUSE, and Hadassah Accelerator.
In his public and private sector activities, Dr. Melcer has worked with hundreds of bio-medical companies in Israel and around the world in the fields of pharma-biotech, medical devices, and digital health, many of which are in the bio-convergence sector. He also served as the Chief Business Officer at Minovia, a company in the liquid biopsy consortium established by the Israel Innovation Authority as part of the bio-convergence program.
Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority: “Shai brings substantial experience and an impressive track record, and I am pleased he chose to join the Israel Innovation Authority to serve in this important role. I am confident that under Shai’s leadership, the national program will continue to develop and enhance the competitiveness of Israeli high-tech against other global innovation hubs.”
Dr. Shai Melcer: “In my professional journey, I have served in various capacities – in academia and medical institutions, the industrial and government sectors – and have had the privilege of closely experiencing fascinating content worlds, both in the scientific-technological aspects and the business-human aspect. The field of bio-convergence is a good example of the constant motion in a world of accelerated technological progress, requiring mental flexibility and adaptive creativity and the need to always keep in mind that the value created is intended for the individual and society.”
TELEM – the National Infrastructure Forum for Research and Development is a joint body of several governmental entities that promotes research and development programs in scientific/technological fields and projects through the establishment of national R&D infrastructures and inter-organizational, inter-ministerial, and international collaborations.
The state bodies involved in R&D cooperate in the TELEM include the Israel Innovation Authority, the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education, the Directorate of Defence Research and Development, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The goal of the Telam Forum is to initiate, coordinate, examine, allocate resources (from the budgets of the forum’s constituent bodies and other relevant bodies), and determine the responsibility for the establishment and operation of national research and development infrastructures.