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Good practice Imported

Yissum — Hebrew University's Technology Transfer Company

Israel · Jerusalem · See the Israel profile · See the Jerusalem profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 76% 57/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Founded in 1964, Yissum is one of the world's first university tech-transfer firms; it has spun off 80+ companies including Mobileye, and in 2018 alone signed 329 licences and helped found 74 startups — though it was bypassed on Mobileye's $15.3bn Intel exit in 2017.

16 years
Years founded before the US Bayh-Dole Act
more than 80 companies
Spin-off companies created since founding
623 applications
Patent applications filed in 2018 (2018)
604 applications
Patent applications filed in 2017 (2017)
329 agreements
Licensing agreements signed in 2018 (2018)
23%
Rise in licensing agreements vs 2017 (2018)
76%
Share of 2018 licences to Israeli companies (2018)
74 startups
New startups founded in 2018 (2018 (six-year high))
39 startups
New startups founded in 2017 (2017)
~$40 million USD
Anticipated royalties in 2004 (2004)
~$25 million USD
Anticipated royalties from Doxil and Exelon combined (2004)
1.354%
Yissum's equity stake in Mobileye from 2004 settlement (2004)
$40 million USD
Proceeds from sale of Mobileye stake
$15.3 billion USD
Intel's acquisition price for Mobileye (March 2017)
~$1 billion USD
Founder Shashua's personal stake in the Intel deal (2017)
Yissum — Hebrew University's Technology Transfer Company Yissum — Hebrew University's Technology Transfer Company

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.
Period
1964–present
Keywords
University technology transfer, pharmaceutical licensing, deep-tech spin-offs

Context

Yissum Research Development Company is the technology-transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, founded in 1964 — one of the world's first university TTOs, pre-dating the US Bayh-Dole Act by 16 years. Yissum evaluates invention disclosures, files and manages patents, negotiates licences, and creates and holds equity in spin-off companies.

Activities

Since founding, Yissum has created more than 80 spin-off companies, including Mobileye, BriefCam, OrCam, HumanEyes and ExLibris. Its pharmaceutical licensing income has included royalties from Novartis's Exelon and J&J's Doxil (developed by Hebrew University's Prof. Yechezkel Barenholz).

Results

2018 was a record year: 623 patent applications filed (up from 604 in 2017), 329 licensing agreements signed (23% rise on 2017, 76% to Israeli companies, 24% international), and 74 new startups founded (a six-year high, versus 39 in 2017). Haaretz reported Hebrew University anticipated ~$40 million in royalties in 2004, ~$25 million from Doxil and Exelon combined. A 2004 settlement gave Yissum 1.354% of Mobileye, which Yissum later sold for $40 million.

Conclusions

But per Haaretz, eleven days before Intel announced its $15.3 billion acquisition of Mobileye in March 2017, university leadership signed an agreement giving up all further claims on Mobileye's IP — reportedly over the objections of Yissum's own chairman — letting founder Shashua's ~$1 billion personal stake proceed unencumbered. The episode shows even a long-established, prolific TTO can see its flagship success routed around it by university leadership at the moment of greatest value.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k)
Time to results
Long (> 3 years)
Staffing & skills
Yissum Research Development Company staff evaluate invention disclosures, file and manage patents, negotiate licences, and manage equity stakes in spin-off companies., Hebrew University of Jerusalem leadership retains ultimate authority over major IP and equity decisions.

Conditions for success

  • Long institutional track record (founded 1964) building deep patent and licensing expertise.
  • Diversified portfolio spanning pharmaceutical licensing and technology spin-offs.
  • Equity stakes in spin-off companies providing long-term upside beyond licensing royalties.

Common failure modes

  • University leadership can override or route around the TTO's claims at moments of peak commercial value, as in the Mobileye/Intel episode, undermining the TTO's institutional position despite its track record.

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes

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Data sources

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