Behind every leap in healthcare, there is someone who chose to look at a challenge differently. Progress does not always come from the largest institutions or the most obvious paths. It usually starts with the leader who is not afraid to risk, build up the trust, and keep people in the heart of innovation. In Jordan, such an individual has been transforming the manner in which academia and industry are converging and demonstrating that sustainable transformation is built on credibility and partnership, and not short-term gains.
At the heart of this transformation is Dr. Khaled Khraisat, the Founder & General Manager of the Academia Industry Platform (JAIP). His vision goes far beyond building an organization. It involves building a bridge between research, policy, and business in a manner that results in practical solutions to healthcare. The balance that he introduces is what makes his story interesting. He is flexible, inspires through confidence and is very committed to empowering the next generation of innovators.
He has reinvented innovation in the healthcare industry by making the decisions to focus on credibility more than profit and resilience more than comfort. His journey illustrates that we should not look to conformity to change, but rather create systems that are adaptable, accommodating, and future ready. To Jordan and the rest of the region, this strategy is an indication of the emergence of a medical ecosystem that is collaborative, creative, and visionary in terms of long-term impact.
Let’s delve into the interview details below!
If you could pinpoint one unconventional decision or risk you’ve taken at JAIP that significantly shaped its journey, what was it and why?
One unconventional decision I made was offering many of JAIP’s early services—such as patent support, technology transfer, and commercialization guidance—free of charge to academic researchers. At the time, this went against traditional business models that prioritize revenue first. My belief was that building trust and credibility within academia was essential to creating a sustainable bridge with industry.
This strategy positioned JAIP as a trusted partner, leading to long-term relationships with over 30 universities both locally and globally. It also opened doors to institutional collaborations and policy advisory roles. Ultimately, this decision proved that prioritizing credibility over profit can yield far greater, long-lasting impact.
Healthcare innovation often challenges long-standing norms. Can you share a moment when your approach went against conventional thinking, and what was the outcome?
A key moment came during the COVID-19 pandemic when JAIP shifted its entire collaboration model to digital platforms. Traditionally, healthcare innovation relied heavily on face-to-face engagement, but we embraced virtual tools to manage projects like the EU-funded Bestmedgrape initiative and Oxfam’s Social Entrepreneurship program.
This allowed us to expand our regional footprint and continue building capacity uninterrupted. The outcome was more than successful project delivery—we emerged as a regional leader in digital healthcare collaboration, with partnerships across 10+ countries and a growing reputation for agility and resilience.
What personal habit, experience, or mindset do you rely on most when navigating complex challenges in the healthcare sector?
Adaptability. The healthcare sector is dynamic, shaped by shifting policies, evolving research, and global crises. My cross-sectoral journey in pharmaceutical sales, biotech, and business development taught me that rigid strategies rarely survive long-term.
At JAIP, adaptability has enabled us to respond to academic reforms, regulatory shifts, and even geopolitical instability—all while staying rooted in our mission. This mindset fuels innovation and allows us to pivot when needed, without losing sight of our vision.
Can you share a specific project or initiative at JAIP that, in your view, best exemplifies the platform’s impact on the healthcare ecosystem?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the JAIP platform emerged as one of the most trusted sources for reliable medical information. JAIP organized weekly webinars featuring renowned academic scholars and healthcare experts to discuss emerging trends and pressing issues in real time. Over those years, JAIP became a recognized reference point and a valuable platform for both academia and industry, serving as a hub for sharing and announcing medical research and studies related to the pandemic.
In addition, JAIP played a key role in transferring a patented pharmaceutical project, a mouthwash proven to have anti–COVID-19 properties as an oral antiseptic, through the approval process with the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), ultimately leading to its release on the market.
Have you faced a failure that unexpectedly became a turning point in your professional journey? How did it influence your leadership style or approach to innovation?
Early in JAIP’s journey, one failure was underestimating how difficult it would be to convince industry partners to trust academic outputs. Several collaborations stalled because companies were hesitant to invest in early-stage research. This experience taught me the importance of relationship-building and aligning innovations with clearly defined industry needs.
It shifted my leadership style from purely opportunity-driven to trust-driven, where building credibility and showing value upfront became central. This failure ultimately shaped JAIP’s collaborative model of listening to industry first, then translating needs into research proposals.
When you envision the future of healthcare, what is one bold or ambitious change you hope to see realized in Jordan or the region?
I envision a healthcare system in Jordan and the region that is digitally integrated, innovation-driven, and resilient to global crises. One bold change I hope to see is embedding academic research as a central driver of healthcare solutions rather than treating it as secondary.
By institutionalizing stronger academia-industry partnerships, supported by policies and incentives, we can create a culture where local innovations directly address pressing health challenges, from drug security to digital health adoption. This change would not only improve healthcare access but also position Jordan as a regional hub for health innovation.
Who or what has been an unexpected source of inspiration for you, and how has it influenced the way you lead or innovate at JAIP?
An unexpected source of inspiration has been students and young researchers. Their creativity, resilience, and willingness to take risks remind me why JAIP exists to give academic talent a pathway to impact society. Seeing students translate class projects into patents or startups, especially during initiatives like EU-funded capacity-building programs, and many other programs with institutions in both private and government sectors, has shaped my leadership.
It reinforced the importance of mentorship, inclusivity, and creating platforms that empower youth to contribute meaningfully to healthcare transformation.
If you could share three insights or guiding principles that define your approach to transforming healthcare, what would they be and why?
Three principles guide my approach:
- Trust before transaction – sustainable collaboration is built on credibility, not immediate gain.
- Adaptability with purpose – innovation must respond to real needs while embracing change.
- Youth empowerment – the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs is key to healthcare solutions.
These principles ensure JAIP remains a catalyst for bridging academia and industry while keeping innovation grounded in trust, flexibility, and future talent.
