MIXiii Health-Tech.IL Conference Opens in Jerusalem: World Expresses Confidence in Israeli Innovation
New Life Sciences Report reveals: 25% increase in investments reaching $2.7 billion despite the war; 1,700 participants from 32 countries come to experience Israeli innovation
Jerusalem, March 4, 2025 - MIXiii Health-Tech.IL, the leading international conference for innovation in life sciences industries, opened this morning at the Jerusalem International Convention Center amid growing global interest in Israeli innovation. The impressive presence of 1,700 participants from 32 countries reflects international confidence in the Israeli biotech industry, confidence that is backed by unprecedented investment data despite the ongoing war.
Concurrent with the conference opening, the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI) and the Innovation Authority, in partnership with PwC, published the annual Life Sciences Report confirming the trend: a 25% growth in investments in Israeli companies totaling approximately $2.7 billion. The report also reveals a 37% increase in the number of new life sciences companies established in 2024, and four initial public offerings in the United States compared to zero in 2023.
Karin Mayer Rubinstein, CEO and President of the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI), notes: "Since October 7, the war in Israel has been fought on three critical fronts -- the military operation in the north and south, the battle for global public opinion, and the effort to ensure the stability of the Israeli economy. And on the economic front - we are proving our strength." Additionally, Rubinstein notes, "Thanks to uncompromising determination, around-the-clock work, and the joint efforts of everyone, the Israeli high-tech industry continues to adapt, innovate, and push the country forward." Despite the war, the Israeli biomedical industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience and accelerated developments in the field of rehabilitation medicine, with breakthrough innovations in DNA technologies for identification, smart prosthetics, and advanced medical equipment for treating the wounded. The Innovation Authority supported this trend with grants totaling half a billion shekels, with over half directed to medical equipment companies.
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Karin Mayer Rubinstein, CEO and President of the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI)
(photo: Constantin Costa)
"MIXiii has grown to become the largest healthcare conference in the Middle East," noted Yaacov Michlin, conference chairman. "Despite dealing with uncertainty -- with hostages in Gaza and soldiers fighting bravely on our behalf -- we managed to create an exceptional platform. I am proud to share that we have over 1,700 participants, more than 160 speakers, over 60 exhibitors, and an exciting and packed agenda. Despite the backdrop of the 'Iron Swords' war, investments in Israeli life sciences companies grew significantly, $2.7 billion was raised in 2024. An increase of over 25% from last year. As well as 4 initial public offerings and 4 exits exceeding $300 million."
The conference, which will last two days, focuses on positioning Israel as a technological powerhouse in the field of life sciences and provides an opportunity to strengthen connections between Israeli companies and international investors. The meeting organized by IATI comes at a critical time, as foreign investments in Israeli biotech constitute 58% of total investments in the field, reflecting the global reputation of Israeli innovation.
The conference will feature professional sessions on leading industry topics, including: a rehabilitation session focusing on innovative technologies for rehabilitating the wounded, a cancer session showcasing breakthroughs in oncological treatments, and a special session on advanced technologies in ophthalmology. In addition, a startup competition will be held in partnership with EY, showcasing the most promising companies in the field of life sciences in Israel.
Key points from the Life Sciences Report:
• In 2024, there was a certain recovery in investments and fundraising in the life sciences industry in Israel, as shown by the data in the report.
• While the number of companies operating in Israel and engaged in the field of life sciences did not change significantly, there is growth in the number of new companies opened this year - an increase of 37% compared to the previous year.
• Growth was also recorded in the total number of fundraising transactions in public and private companies. However, the trend of reduction in the average amount per transaction continues, which decreased to about $10 million on average per transaction.
• Private investments in life sciences companies totaled more than $2 billion in 2024. Similar to previous years, most private investments came from foreign investors, totaling about $1.2 billion, or 58% of total investments.
• Although the share of Israeli investors is still significantly lower than foreign investors, their total investment increased by about 62% compared to 2023. Most investments in life sciences companies, both from foreign investors and from Israeli investors, are made by venture capital funds. These funds are responsible for about 84% of the total private investments made this year, amounting to about $1.7 billion. The year 2024 completed half a decade in which every year there was at least one transaction exceeding half a billion dollars, and this year this transaction is one of the ten largest acquisition deals in the entire high-tech sector.
• Most public life sciences companies turn to the stock market in the United States as a primary source of funding. The growth trend in fundraising on various stock exchanges in the United States, especially NASDAQ, continued this year with total fundraising of about $637 million, representing a growth of 47% compared to 2023. After a halt in initial public offerings (IPOs) last year, in 2024 there were four initial public offerings of Israeli companies in the U.S., while the number of follow-on fundraising transactions this year is similar to that of last year. On the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, 2024 is the third consecutive year in which there were no new offerings of companies from the life sciences sector. However, the total follow-on fundraising jumped about 9-fold this year, reaching a total of about $19 million.
