This Week’s Sanity Report from Israel Aug. 23, 2020
The speed and frequency of positive developments in Israel has now accelerated to phenomenal levels. They include one-second Covid-19 tests, mass-produced anti-viral stickers, the Israeli Air Force flying over Germany, hundreds of Israeli companies working in the UAE, the fastest microchips from Intel Israel, radar and testing for autonomous cars, new driver safety and traffic management systems, flying cars, fast battery charging, meat without animals, precision irrigation systems and forward-thinking educational devices and training.
The photo is of the Haifa center of Intel Israel, which is developing the next generation of super-fast computer microprocessors.
The highlights include:
- An Israeli Covid-19 test gives the result in one second.
- 4 Israelis win European Women in Tech awards.
- Hundreds of Israeli companies are doing business in the UAE.
- Israel’s new Intel microprocessor uses less energy for high-performance.
- Israel has massively boosted investment in the hi-tech sector.
- UK soccer club Chelsea has adopted an Israeli coaching system.
- Foreign students can once again enroll in Israeli University courses.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Covid-19 one-second gargle test. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is trialing a gargle-and-spit test that is 95% accurate in detecting Covid-19 infections. The USB-powered machine is the size of an ashtray and takes just one second to conduct light analysis of gargled mouthwash. Results from standard PCR tests take much longer.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Maya goes viral. “Maya” is the Israeli-developed 3D-printed nanotech sticker (reported here previously) that adds Covid-19 protection to surgical masks. It now will be mass produced at the DYKAM printing plant in Kibbutz Ein Harod and soon will be available to medical staff in Israel, Canada, Japan, Spain and elsewhere.
https://nocamels.com/2020/08/
Helping ADHD children to hear the teacher. Israel’s Nuancehear has developed the “Sound Selector” to help students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The device filters background noise to help focus on hearing a teacher or lecturer. A trial on 31 students with Clalit Health Services has been positive.
https://jewishbusinessnews.
Treating intrauterine conditions. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s OCON Healthcare has been awarded $13 million of orders for its Intra Uterine Ball (IUB) proprietary platform. The purchasers are South America’s DKT and UK’s Consilient Healthcare, where the product will be fully reimbursed by the National Health Service.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
https://www.oconmed.com/en/
Park ranger saves choking baby. Just a nice story featuring Afiw Bkreia, a park ranger at Nachal Amud in Israel’s Galilee. Afiw volunteers as a United Hatzalah paramedic, is a member of the canine rescue team, runs a photo club and much more. So, he did not panic when given a lifeless baby that was choking on a banana.
http://www.israelnationalnews.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Singing for Covid-19 relief. Popular Israeli singer Ishay Ribo performed at an event in New York to raise money for the coronavirus relief efforts of Israeli social and educational NGO Migdal Or (“Tower of Light”). Ishay recently recovered from Covid-19. Keynote speaker was Gilad Erdan, Israel’s new ambassador to the US.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-
https://migdalohr.org/
Israel’s European Tech Women. 4 Israeli female entrepreneurs have been chosen to speak at the first UK DIT European Tech Women Event in London on 2nd Sep. They are among 24 European Region women recognized for their achievements in the tech field. The Israelis are all founders and CEOs of their companies.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://nocamels.com/2020/08/
Making facemasks together. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan dropped in to see the Supergum factory in the Barkan Industrial Zone in Judea and Samaria. There, Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinian Arabs work together to produce surgical masks for the Israeli and overseas market.
https://www.jns.org/edelstein-
German & Israeli air forces fly together. For the first time, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is holding a joint drill with the German Air Force in Germany. During the two-week exercise, the planes are scheduled to fly over Dachau and Munich – two auspicious sites for Jews and Israelis.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
International aid to Covid-19 victims. (TY UWI) Great video summarizing Israeli aid to Honduras, Bolivia, Chile, Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Senegal, Philippines, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Western Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/
4,000 overseas agricultural students. In 1994, the Midwest Arava Regional Council invited 50 Thai workers to mix academic study with practical work experience of Israel’s agriculture technology and methods. Currently more than 4,000 students from around the world participate each year.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Untold News tells the news. Jacob Kamaras’ article below is a great advert for pro-Israel advocate Marcella Rosen and her Untold News initiative. Its Facebook page has over 725,000 followers including the important Hispanic community. The article itself describes many of Israel’s vital innovations to combat Covid-19.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.
https://untoldnews.org/
Latest UAE peace progress. (TY UWI) Immediately after the Israel – United Arab Emirates announcement, phone lines were opened, blocks on Israeli websites were removed, Covid-19 research agreements (see here) were signed, and an Israeli pop star was even invited to appear in Dubai.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
https://worldisraelnews.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
200 Israeli companies trade with UAE. According to the Manufacturers Association of Israel, some 200 Israeli companies are already exporting products – mostly telecommunications, medical equipment, and security – to the UAE. And OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved expects many more to join them soon.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Predicting the next Covid-19 outbreak. Israel’s Neura (reported here previously) has announced the adoption of ViruScore, the first ever Covid-19 predictive testing solution. It allows communities to track their “pandemic index score” using AI plus anonymized data from mobile devices. Testing can then focus on high risk areas.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
IAI’s 3rd round of innovators. The Innovation Center of Israel Aerospace Industries (see here) is opening its 3rd 13-week accelerator program to startups in machine learning, quantum computing, radar, sensing, robotics, big data, computer vision, smart cockpits, propulsion, drones, cyber, 3D printing, new energy, IoT, and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Arrow 2 test successful. Israel has conducted a successful test of the Arrow 2 defense system. The joint Israeli-US interceptor missile destroyed an incoming missile that simulated an Iranian Shihab-3 surface-to-surface missile. https://worldisraelnews.com/
https://www.jns.org/arrow-2-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Alder Lake is coming. Intel Israel is developing “Alder Lake” – Intel’s next generation of increasingly more powerful micro-processors. The new chip is scheduled for 2021, following Tiger Lake and the current Ice Lake. It is Intel’s first “hybrid” chip (2 core types) to give high performance in use, but low power when on standby.
https://www.extremetech.com/
End to end security. (TY JBN) Israel’s Ananda Networks allows companies to implement their own secure private network, but without having to trust or rely on any third party. All communications throughout the network are end-to-end encrypted, plus much faster and simpler than a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
https://www.ananda.net/press/
FoodTech innovators. Israel’s Future Meat (reported here previously) won the FoodTech Innovation startup contest, organized by Calcalist and Tnuva. Future Meat develops tech to produce GMO-free meat from animal cells, without the need to raise or slaughter animals. Runners up were Amai Proteins (see here) and NextFerm.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://future-meat.com/ https://www.nextferm.com/
WakeUp with a BioLift. The re-branded and newly launched Biolift WakeUp beverages (reported here previously) are designed to overcome the tiring midday slump known as ‘’Post Lunch Dip”. Scientifically tested at Israel’s Technion and Rambam Medical Centers, the 3 flavors are now available to purchase online.
https://www.drinkbiolift.com/ https://www.drinkbiolift.
From F35s to car safety. Israel’s RFISee has adapted technology from the F-35 fighter jet and air defense systems to prevent accidents in self-driving cars. Its low-cost phased array 4D all-weather imaging radar provides significantly improved visibility on existing radar technology for autonomous vehicles.
https://jewishbusinessnews.
https://rfisee.com/ https://www.youtube.com/
Safer transportation of fuel supplies. (TY JBN) Israel’s Eyesight Technologies (reported here previously) has partnered with the GloboConnect Group to develop a driver monitoring device targeted for the Oil & Gas fleets industry. It aims to improve road safety for an estimated 50,000 potentially hazardous vehicles.
https://www.eyesight-tech.com/
Managing traffic in Phoenix. Phoenix Arizona, the 5th largest city in the US, has partnered with Israel’s NoTraffic (reported here previously) who will install its autonomous traffic management platform. NoTraffic has shown that it can reduce vehicle delay times by roughly 40 percent.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
High demand for smart vehicle testing. Israel’s Foretellix (reported here previously) tests the safety of smart automatic vehicle systems. Despite Covid-19, it has too much business than it can handle, as Autonomous Vehicle manufacturers have just re-focused from full autonomy to ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
A partner for the flying car. Israel’s Urban Aeronautics (reported here previously) is partnering with U.S.-based non-profit Hatzolah Air to develop, produce, and market its CityHawk aircraft as an air ambulance. The EMS vehicle will be able to land in a busy street, treat and transport patients to appropriate medical facilities.
https://www.theyeshivaworld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
StoreDot is a game-changing pioneer. Israel’s ultra-fast charging technology company StoreDot (reported here previously) has joined Israel’s REE Automotive (see here) as one of the two Israeli top 10 winners of Bloomberg’s 2020 NEF Pioneer Award for game-changing companies leading to a low-carbon economy.
https://jewishbusinessnews.
A slice of printed meat. Israel’s MeaTech (reported here previously) has reached a milestone in its “Project Carpaccio” to bio-print real meat using stem cells, but without harming animals, causing pollution etc.. It successfully 3D-printed a thin layer of meat and is now on target for printing a 100-gram (quarter pound) steak.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
S&P maintains Israel’s credit rating. Karen Vartapetov, the credit analyst at Standard & Poor’s in charge of setting Israel’s sovereign rating, said there is no immediate threat for a downgrade. He said advanced countries including Israel, have relatively effective institutions, relatively high income and credible economic policies.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
More cash for tech startups. Israel’s Innovation Authority (IIA), the government’s tech investment arm, has had its budget increased by NIS 390 million budget. It will now extend its Fast Track Incentive program to help hi-tech startups during the coronavirus crisis. It has also renewed its GovTech Incentive Program.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Improved protection for investors in startups. Israel’s Investment Authority is encouraging investing in early stage startups. It has reduced the minimum investment eligible for government protection to NIS 100 million (was NIS 150 million). The state will provide up to 40% of the original investment in case of losses incurred.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
A good tip. Israel’s Tipranks (reported here previously) provides analysis and ranking based on text data on news sites, analyst reviews, corporate reports and more. Its services are now used by millions of direct users, plus clients of Santander, TD Ameritrade, Nasdaq Etrade and most of Israel’s banks and investment houses.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
A smart Israeli irrigation partnership. Israel’s Viridix, a developer of data-driven precision irrigation systems, is partnering Israel’s Talgil, a manufacturer of professional irrigation controllers. They will provide farmers with the ability to automate irrigation cycles by optimizing water needs for each crop.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
http://www.talgil.com/Home https://www.youtube.com/
More precision irrigation. Israel’s CropX (reported here previously) is partnering US giant irrigation company Reinke Manufacturing. Farmers using Reinke’s ReinCloud app will be able to remotely run their irrigation system while simultaneously using CropX’s soil sensors and analytics to maximize crop yields.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Success in investment analysis trials. Israel’s Fintica (reported here previously) has successfully completed its Proof of Concept with Japan’s Nikko Global Wrap (part of Sumitomo Mitsui). Nikko will continue to use Fintica’s AI engines to help its financial decision-making. Fintica is part of Israel’s Cortica (see here).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Taking note of AudioCodes. Live Cloud for Microsoft Teams developed by Israel’s AudioCodes has been selected by secure communication service provider Enablis for its customers in Australia and New Zealand. AudioCodes’ ‘Mia’ (reported here previously) automatically helps enterprises with note-taking.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Investment in Israeli startups: K2View raised $28 million; Bambi Dynamic raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
On with the show. (TY Sharon) Even during a pandemic, in Jerusalem the show must go on. Western Wall prayers meet Covid limits; nature trails are popular; construction continues; IPO musicians and Rock school students perform outdoors; the Tower of David show is sold out and several festivals are scheduled to go ahead.
http://rjstreets.com/2020/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
What’s Up at Center Stage. Last week’s On-Cue interview at Israel’s theater for English speakers featured comics Lenny Ravich and Mike Kroll (see here). Tonight (Aug 23 noon EDT) see “The Wandering Israeli” Elad Shippony with Aaron Scheer of “The Daily Freier”. Coffee Club on Aug 26 features Keep Olim in Israel.
https://us02web.zoom.us/
https://us02web.zoom.us/
https://www.centerstageisrael.
Thousands watch meteor display. (TY Janglo, Arutz 7 and I24 News) There was plenty of space in the Mitzpe Ramon crater in the Negev for 40,000 Israelis to watch this year’s Perseids Meteor Shower. Many lucky Israelis were surprised earlier in July, when comet Neowise appeared, for the first time in around 7,000 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Perfect Play at Chelsea FC. Top British soccer club Chelsea has launched the Perfect Play soccer training app. Israel’s Coach-AI developed the app’s virtual coach in labs in Germany and Israel. The technology helps soccer players improve skills based on professional knowledge from the Chelsea FC Academy.
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/
https://coach-ai.com/ https://perfectplay.com/
THE JEWISH STATE
Books for Israeli children. Harold Grinspoon’s Foundation HGF runs PJ Library, the world’s largest children’s Jewish book program. In 2009 it partnered Israel’s Ministry of Education to launch Sifriyat Pijama (Hebrew) and Maktabat al Fanoos (Arabic “Lantern Library”) the world’s largest Arabic book-gifting program.
https://www.tabletmag.com/
Israel re-opens to international students. Israel is re-opening its borders for international students to begin academic studies during the 2020-2021 academic year. Many universities and colleges are still accepting applications for the fall semester beginning mid-October. See the official Study in Israel website.
https://jewishbusinessnews.
https://studyinisrael.che.org.
Educating Haredi for tech. Good article about the Jerusalem College of Technology. 89% of their haredi students gain employment immediately after graduation. It has retrained garment makers into cybersecurity experts and placed haredim into the cyber departments of aerospace companies and also cyber start-ups..
https://www.jns.org/opinion/
More good publicity for Israel. Last week’s positive Israel newsletter was featured for the first time in two international media publications – San Diego Jewish World and Israel Bonds.
https://www.sdjewishworld.com/
https://israelbondsintl.com/
Saving lives together. (TY UWI) Israeli-Arab Eyad and Israeli Jew Ya’akov are both paramedics with Magen David Adom. During their work saving lives of Jews and Arabs, they have developed a strong friendship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
