What does it take to turn a scientific discovery into a technology, a startup, or a product that changes people's lives?

That's the conversation we're bringing to Irvine on November 9, when the Jewish American Tech Network (JATN) hosts a special evening with Dr. Sharon Fireman from the Weizmann Institute of Science, supported by Smartexe as an event partner.

From a Scientific Discovery to a Startup

A breakthrough in the laboratory is only the beginning. Bringing it into the real world takes funding, industry expertise, the right partnerships, and someone who knows how to connect scientific potential with practical opportunities.

And it's exactly the kind of story our guest speaker, Dr. Sharon Fireman, knows from the inside. She has spent more than 15 years working at the intersection of pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, and business development.
Before joining the Weizmann Institute, she held leadership positions at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, where she managed drug development projects for the U.S. and European markets.

Later, as Corporate Development Director at RISE, Teva's venture innovation unit, she worked on connecting scientific ideas with business opportunities. She also served as Executive Director of Business Development at a biotech accelerator.
Her academic background reflects the same combination of disciplines: a PhD in Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from Tel Aviv University.

Today, Dr. Fireman leads BINA* — Bridge, Innovate, Nurture and Advance, the Weizmann Institute's Translational Research and Innovation Unit. Her mission is to help promising discoveries move beyond academic research and take their first steps toward practical applications.

*BINA works with Weizmann scientists to identify promising applications, organize proof-of-concept development, and connect research teams with the expertise and resources they need. Under Dr. Fireman's leadership, the unit helps researchers navigate the early stages between scientific discovery and commercialization. BINA in numbers:

• Supported and mentored 81 research projects
• Transferred 19 technologies to Yeda, Weizmann's technology-transfer company
• Contributed to 9 startup launches or licensing deals

TOP 3 Reasons to Join the event

1. Understand how scientific discoveries become businesses. Dr. Fireman will speak about the development process behind emerging technologies, from early research and proof of concept to industry partnerships and commercialization.
2. Discover opportunities before they reach the market. Explore how research at the Weizmann Institute moves toward commercialization and where science, technology, and entrepreneurship intersect.
3. Meet people who could change your next big idea. Connect with founders, investors, executives, and innovation leaders over dinner and conversations.
   At Smartexe, we know how much the right connections matter, which is why we're proud to support this JATN event, organized by Anna Koreban and Arie Shen, in collaboration with the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Registration is complimentary, but space is limited, and attendance requires organizer approval. The event is already practically sold out!

Event Details: JATN Presents Weizmann Institute of Science

• Speaker: Dr. Sharon Fireman, Head of BINA, Weizmann Institute of Science
• Date: Monday, November 9, 2026
• Time: 5:30–8:30 PM
• Location: Irvine, California (exact address shared following registration approval)
• What to expect: Insights into innovation, commercialization and industry collaboration, dinner, networking & great conversations

Join us to explore what it takes to bring them into the real world. 

Register Now

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