Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the University’s tech transfer company, and Tata Industries, a Tata group company, have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to fund and generate leading ‘commercialisation ready’ technologies in a wide range of fields, including engineering and exact sciences, environment and clean technology, pharmaceuticals and health care.

Under the MoU, announced last month, Tata Industries will be the lead investor in Ramot’s US$ 20 million Technology Innovation Momentum Fund, which will invest in promising breakthrough technologies.

Shlomo Nimrodi, the CEO of Ramot, commented, “Being a lead investor, Tata will be able to see a pipeline of technologies. They will have an option to commercialise certain promising opportunities from Tel Aviv University(TAU). The diversity of innovation at TAU, coupled with Tata’s uncompromising commitment, creates a major opportunity to impact communities across the world.”

K. R. S. Jamwal, Executive Director of Tata Industries, said, “Tata has taken the decision to partner with Ramot and TAU with a desire to enhance capabilities of Tata companies and leverage technology as a differentiator for our businesses. An extensive due diligence process was conducted by CTOs from major Tata companies prior to this MoU and we were encouraged by the technological leadership, the passion and the commitment demonstrated by TAU. During this process, the Tata team was exposed to more than 70 promising innovations and had the opportunity to interact with leading scientists at TAU.”

What started out as a mission for the ‘Love of Israel’, with his strong Christian beliefs, Tony Tam, Founder and Chairman of Hatikva group has set his sights even further.

Tam, a Hong Kong property developer and banker, felt the need to get closer to God and Israel, and has transformed his life around.

Initially distributing some of his own brand of Hatikva watches with Hebrew numerals and a few Judaica products, his Hatikva group has now developed significantly over the past three years. The company has recently moved into a larger office complex to store the group’s products as well as employ more full-time staff.

“What I am doing is 100% pure enjoyment, the satisfaction of making me happy and everyone around me,” Tam explains.

Hatikva has plans to expand the Judaica product range and produce an online product catalogue and launch a website. All products are sourced from Israel, and the range will be significant, well in excess of 1000 products. This development will offer both retail and wholesale distributing opportunities for the group.

The selection will range from Judaica art, ceramics, fashion, table cloths to more religious products such as kiddush cups, tallits, tefilan cases and bags. All in addition to his current product range which include kosher shofars, and menorahs bith sourced from the Holy Land.