The Israel Advanced Technology Industries opened MIXiii Health-Tech.IL 2026 in Jerusalem on Monday, bringing roughly 1,800 participants and representatives from more than 40 countries to the International Convention Center. The annual conference, one of Israel's central gatherings for the life sciences, biomedical and health-tech sectors, drew doctors, ambassadors, investors, fund representatives, startup executives, senior development professionals and engineers from Israel and abroad. Organizers described it as the largest biomedical industry conference in the Middle East.
The opening event was held in the presence of Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion; Mark Sabag, executive vice president, International Markets Commercial at Teva; Orit Efrati, chairwoman of Shenkar's Board of Governors; India's Ambassador to Israel Jitender Pal Singh; and Yossi Ofek, CEO of Teva Israel. The conference was produced by Stier Group and is led by IATI CEO and President Karin Mayer Rubinstein.
Investment Despite Security Challenges
This year's conference is being held under the banner of investment, with more than 60 investors and 30 venture capital funds from around the world participating, according to organizers. That international presence comes despite what Mayer Rubinstein acknowledged as a complex and challenging environment. She said the Israeli high-tech sector, including the biomed industry, is operating today alongside the security reality, geopolitical uncertainty and economic challenges, while also dealing with significant global changes led by the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
Despite those challenges, Israeli high-tech remains a central growth engine for the country's economy, continues to attract investors and international companies, and has repeatedly proven its resilience and ability to adapt, Mayer Rubinstein said. The agenda includes emergency medicine, a field that has taken on added importance due to recent wars and battlefield experience; tech-bio; healthcare venture building; home care and remote monitoring; emerging technologies from Israeli academia; and innovation in ophthalmology.
From Research to Market
One of the conference's main additions this year is the first IATI TTOs Pitch Session, which brings technology transfer organizations from leading Israeli research institutions, universities and hospitals to the stage. During the session, commercialization companies are presenting new life sciences and healthcare technologies to investors and venture capital representatives in an effort to strengthen the connection between Israeli research, the investment community and industry.
Mayer Rubinstein said the conference was designed to help turn Israeli innovation into partnerships, investment, and commercial activity. MIXiii Health-Tech.IL is a concrete expression of this strength, she said. Over two days in Jerusalem, hundreds of senior figures from the life sciences and digital health industries are meeting with investors, pharma companies, health systems, researchers, and decision-makers from Israel and around the world.
In a separate event hosted by the Jerusalem Development Authority, five biomed startups presented their developments after being selected from roughly 300 biomedical companies operating in Jerusalem. Among the participating companies was EMRIS Pharma, which develops treatments aimed at preventing skin toxicities caused by targeted cancer therapies. The companies presented their technologies to executives from leading biomed companies and investment funds from Israel and abroad.
Year-Round Effort
For IATI, Mayer Rubinstein said, the conference is part of a broader year-round effort to strengthen Israel's position in the global innovation arena. Throughout the year, the organization works to connect Israeli companies with investors and strategic partners, promote policy that supports industry growth, and expand international cooperation. Especially during this period, she said, it's important to continue telling the story of Israeli innovation to the world, strengthen investor confidence, and ensure that high-tech in general and life sciences in particular continue to serve as major growth engines for the Israeli economy in the years ahead.
Why This Matters:
The conference's success in drawing 1,800 participants from more than 40 countries demonstrates that Israel's innovation economy continues to function even under wartime conditions. The emphasis on emergency medicine reflects how Israeli medical technology has advanced through battlefield experience, turning security challenges into opportunities for life-saving innovation that benefits patients worldwide. The participation of 60 investors and 30 venture capital funds shows that international confidence in Israeli high-tech remains strong despite geopolitical uncertainty. For Israel, maintaining its position as a global innovation hub isn't just an economic imperative—it's a strategic asset that strengthens international partnerships and demonstrates the country's resilience. The health-tech sector's ability to attract global investment and collaboration during a period of heightened security threats reinforces Israel's narrative as a nation that doesn't just survive adversity but innovates through it.