Israeli doctors saved the life of Mohamed Ashgar from Gaza in 2012. (Photo by Sheila Shalhevet) This Weeks Sanity Report from Israel highlights include:
Israeli surgeons gave a new heart to a Druze boy, 3 years after giving a heart to his brother.
- An Israeli support group for start-ups is dedicated to helping people with special needs.
- An Israel app gives non-technical people the power to build apps for smartphones.
- Israel is the first-ever customer for oil from Kurdistan.
- After the US, Israel exported more computer security products in 2013 than any country.
- Efficiency improvements have reduced the cost of Israel’s domestic water again.
- An Israeli TV series won the International Drama award at the Monte Carlo festival.
This Weeks Sanity Report from Israel
Thanks to our friend Michael Ordman-verygoodnewsfromisrael
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Non-invasive test for bladder cancer. Israeli biotech Nucleix has raised more than $5 million to finance its test for early detection of bladder cancer. Nucleix uses epigenetics (tiny changes in a cell’s DNA) to identify cancer cells. In the future, the product could also be used to test for colon, lung and prostate cancers.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-cancer-screening-co-nucleix-raises-5m-1000946774
NaNose cancer detector is ready to market. In international trials, the lung cancer detector developed by Technion’s Dr. Hossam Haick correctly diagnosed early-stage malignant tumors 90% of the time – far better than previous methods. The device has been licensed to Boston’s Alpha Szenszor, for development to market.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/technions-nanose-catches-lung-cancer-90-of-the-time/
Vegetable collagen gel to treat wounds. (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israeli health organization Maccabi is to commence trials of the Vergenix flowable gel developed by Israel’s CollPlant. Two Maccabi wound clinics will use Vergenix to treat patients with chronic leg ulcers. Vergenix is based on CollPlant’s plant-based collagen.
http://www.collplant.com/userfiles/417a0805-a1e2-4cdb-bf80-6bd728cfa3c2.pdf
Druse brothers both given heart transplants. 13-year-old Dani, from the Druse village of Hurfeish, was born with a genetic disease that weakens the cardiac muscle. He has now received a new heart at Israel’s Schneider Children’s Medical Center. His brother Rani had the same disorder and received a new heart in 2011.
Nepal uses Israeli public-health model. (Thanks to Israel21c) Israel’s Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) program has reached mostly poor communities in more than 90 countries since 1960. Recently the model was implemented, on request, in Nepal at Dhulikhel Hospital in Kathmandu.
http://israel21c.org/social-action-2/nepal-is-latest-to-use-israeli-public-health-model/
Two Weizmann scientists in world “40 under 40” list. Weizmann Institute of Science, Drs. Maya Schuldiner and Jacob Hanna, are among 40 world-leading scientists in their field that have been selected by the prestigious journal Cell for their “40 under 40” list. Dr Hanna grew up in the Arab town Rameh.
1000 surgical procedures for MarginProbe. The MarginProbe cancer scanner developed by Israel’s Dune Medical has successfully performed 1000 tumor tests since it was launched in 2013. MarginProbe confirms that the entire malignant tumor has been removed, before the surgeon finishes the operation.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-breast-cancer-treatment-co-dune-medical-raises-21m-1000949326
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
An incubator to benefit those with special needs. (Thanks to Israel21c) Jerusalem NGO Pretense has started the business accelerator A3i (Accelerating Inclusion in Israel). It is the world’s first incubator exclusively for startups developing products and services for people with disabilities. A3i currently has 13 companies.
http://israel21c.org/social-action-2/the-incubator-that-fast-tracks-innovations-for-the-disabled/
SACH is still saving lives. Since the beginning of the search for Israel’s three teenagers, Israeli doctors at Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) have saved five Palestinian Arab children at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. Says Dr. Lior Sasson, SACH chief surgeon, “children from both sides, shouldn’t be a part of the conflict.”
Israel gives young Californian social entrepreneurs a boost. Los Angeles’s Israeli Consul General David Siegel presented three Californian students with the $1000 prize in the Jewish-Latino, High School-MBA collaboration for their project teaching urban youth how to grow and eat healthy foods.
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/06/02/israel-gives-young-social-entrepreneurs-boost/
Israel offers to help Kenya fight terror. Israel’s delegation to Africa reached Kenya just after another deadly attack on Kenyans by Somali Islamist terrorists. Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman promised President Uhuru Kenyatta that Israel would join forces with Kenya in the struggle against terror.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/on-visit-to-kenya-liberman-vows-to-help-africa-fight-terror/
How Israel and (South) Korea can change the world. (Thanks to IsraelSeen) Tsvi Bisk writes of historic similarities between Israel and Korea. Surrounded by enemies, few natural resources, little arable land and far from markets. But they are two of the biggest success stories of the last 50 years. They should work together.
https://israelseen.com/2014/06/23/how-israel-and-korea-can-join-forces-and-change-the-world/
US students get taste of Israeli entrepreneurship. Haifa’s Hi-Center is part of the Onward Israel program for Taglit Birthright participants who want an intensive “Israel immersion” experience. US students work four full days a week with three different start-ups. The fifth day is for tours, educational and culture activities, and fun.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/haifa-accelerator-gives-us-students-taste-of-northern-tech/
Bringing Israeli innovation to African villages. (Thanks to 12Tribe Films) Israel’s Innovation: Africa has installed solar-power to run water wells, health clinics and vaccine refrigerators. Innovation: Africa’s 75 projects in six countries have changed the lives of over 650,000 people, all using Israeli technology.
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFe8FvmAmzU&w=520&h=315]
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
An app to build mobile apps. Israel’s Como has developed a do-it-yourself, mobile-app authoring platform, which lets anyone build their own mobile app, without having to hire technical staff. 10 million people use Como-powered apps every day. Over one million apps have already been built using Como.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/ceo-do-it-yourself-mobile-app-maker-big-hit-with-business/
HopOn, Zeekit and GreenIQ win Smartup2. The incubator prize in the 2nd Smartup competition hosted by Bank Hapoalim and Globes includes 20,000 Shekels plus advice. HopOn’s smartphone app pays for public transport. Zeekit virtually fits clothes onto a person’s photo. See second article on GreenIQ’s garden computer.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-greeniq-hopon-zeekit-win-smartup2-1000946782
http://israelnewtech.com/2014/06/greeniq-making-gardens-smarter/
Earn money with your “scoop” videos. Livelens, an Israeli-developed app, lets users take video using their iPhone, Android or Google Glass devices and share them with the world in a live stream, which they can charge money to view. Livelens even recruited a notorious South African celebrity to promote the app.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/live-video-streams-worth-money-with-israeli-app/
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzSSGEVnvHU&w=520&h=315]
Wind farms for Kibbutzim. Israel’s Afcon Holdings has secured NIS 200 million in financing to build two wind farms at Kibbutz Maaleh Hagilboa and Kibbutz Degania in the lower Galilee. The two wind farms will generate 21.25 megawatts of electricity altogether.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-shmeltzer-unit-secures-nis-200m-for-wind-farms-1000947012
Technion’s has had 11,000,000 youtube hits. The popularity of the youtube channel of Israel’s Technion reflects the progress of Israel’s longest established scientific institution. Subscription is free.
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx_-rnuOTkY&feature=youtu.be&w=520&h=315]
1.8 million Israelis separate wet and dry trash. There has been a 63 per cent increase in the number of households that participate in Israel’s waste separation-at-source program. 43 local authorities now collect approximately 2,707 tons of organic waste per month, most going to compost and anaerobic digestion facilities.
Israeli water technology for Singapore. A delegation of 15 Israeli companies made an impressive showing at Singapore International Water Week.
An app that just sends “Yo!” to your friend’s phone. Israel’s Or Arbel has built a smartphone app called “Yo!” that with one click sends a “Yo!” sound to another smartphone. The app has over a half-million users.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-20/don-t-blame-silicon-valley-for-the-stupid-yo-app-blame-israel.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYekudMZaw
skyTran for Tel Aviv. Israel Aerospace Industries has agreed to evaluate and develop NASA’s skyTran for deployment in Tel Aviv. The system is a network of computer-controlled, 2-person “jet-like” vehicles employing state-of-the-art passive Magnetic Levitation (MagLev) technology.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-iai-to-evaluate-nasa-units-levitation-transport-1000948932
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Economy grows by 0.2% in May. The Bank of Israel’s Composite State of the Economy Index for May 2014 increased by 0.2 percent, indicating moderate growth similar to the growth rate that has characterized the economy over the past three years.
http://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/23-06-2014-CompIndexMay2014.aspx
First oil shipment from Kurdistan goes to … Israel. Israel has a new Middle East ally – Kurdistan. The new breakaway region of Iraq delivered its first-ever tanker of Kurdish oil to the Israeli port of Ashkelon.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-first-kurdish-oil-tanker-arrives-in-israel-1000948006
Why Israel’s tech ecosystem became a world leader. (Thanks to David F) Another analysis on why Tel Aviv has become such a magnet for start-ups. It includes interviews with Gilad Japhet of MyHeritage, Saul Singer (author of Start-up Nation) and Shimon Shocken (Dean of IDC’s Efi Arazi School of Computer Science).
http://indexventures.com/news-room/index-insight/israel%E2%80%99s-startup-velocity
Trendlines is Israel’s best incubator. (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Trendlines Medical received the Best Incubator award from Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist. Two Trendlines portfolio companies received Best Start-Up of the Year – Advanced Mem-Tech (water filtration membranes) and MitrAssist (valve to treat faulty heart valve).
http://trendlines.com/trendlines-scores-hat-trick-israels-chief-scientist-awards/
Dayton Ohio can mass-produce Israeli innovations. Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US State of Ohio to help boost the economic prospects of both. Dayton’s manufacturing strengths can complement Israel’s technological innovations, especially in the aerospace industry. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/business/dayton-seeks-ties-to-israel/ngKsp/
http://www.ohiochannel.org/MediaLibrary/Media.aspx?fileId=144020
Israel exported $3 billion of cyber security products in 2013. The total exports of Israeli companies in 2013 amounted to around 5 percent of the computer security market – more than any country except the USA. In fact more than the combined exports of all those other countries.
http://www.defensenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201406201519/DEFREG04/306200018
The Chinese billionaire who supports Israel. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Chinese entrepreneur Li Ka Shing is Asia’s richest person with assets worth nearly $32 billion. Of the 50 companies he has invested in, 20 are Israeli. He has also donated $130 million to Israel’s Technion.
Idomoo wins Global award. (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Global Telecoms Business awarded Israel’s Idomoo the “Best Consumer Innovation” prize for its “Live this Experience” Personalized Video campaign.
AOL is to invest in Israeli start-ups. AOL is moving ahead with its new project called Nautilus, an initiative that would see the Internet giant invest up to $1 million in Israeli startups. AOL noted that it would invest at least $100,000 in as many as 10 projects at a time, each for a year’s duration.
http://www.pfhub.com/aol-to-invest-up-to-1-million-in-israeli-startups-765/
Cost of water to be reduced, again. Israel’s Water Authority is to reduce water tariffs in July, following a previous decrease in January. The authority has improved efficiency despite the continuing drought conditions.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Jerusalem’s Woodstock revival July 10th 2014. Artists at the Kraft Stadium, Jerusalem will be performing hits of classic rock stars including The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. http://www.woodstockrevival.com/
Israeli to produce Star Wars movies. (Thanks to Size Doesn’t Matter) Israeli producer Ram Bergman has been chosen to produce two of the next three episodes in the “Star Wars” saga.
http://www.sizedoesntmatter.com/culture/israeli-to-produce-star-wars-films/
“Hostages” wins at Monte Carlo TV Festival.Israeli series “Hostages” won the Best International Drama Series award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. “Hostages” lead actress, Ayelet Zurer, took home the Best Actor in a Drama Series award.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4530497,00.html
Max the lemur predicts World Cup soccer results. (Thanks to Israel21c) You may remember Germany’s late “Paul the Octopus” who was quite good at guessing results in the 2010 World Cup. The star of the 2014 event, however, is Max the red ruffed lemur at Ramat Gan Safari park. He even predicted the demise of Spain.
http://israel21c.org/news/forget-paul-the-octopus-israeli-lemur-calls-world-cup-shots/
Is Israeli software sending you soccer World Cup images? Israel’s LiveU is responsible for ensuring that broadcasts of most World Cup games get out to the rest of the world. 200 LiveU mini-broadcast boxes are delivering television-quality video of coverage via cellular connections to broadcast centers and the Internet.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-tech-streams-world-cup-to-worlds-living-rooms/
Shooting some extremists in Jerusalem. Don’t worry; this just refers to photo-shoots of the extreme stunt riders and skaters who were brought to Jerusalem on a “Vibe Israel tour” by Israeli PR organization Kinetis. Thanks also to Zev of Janglo.net
[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=dllE72HQuro&w=520&h=315]
This Weeks Sanity Report from Israel
THE JEWISH STATE
Taglit- Birthright has brought 400,000 to Israel. Taglit-Birthright’s program’s 400,000th participant is 20-year-old Ryan Hunter, from Syosset, NY (Long Island). Israel’s Prime Minister personally greeted Hunter at a Birthright Israel Mega Event, attended by 3,200 participants from 60 tour groups. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4534703,00.html
$25 million donation for Ariel University. Sheldon and Miriam Adelson have pledged $5 million to develop the medical school at Ariel University and another $20 million for future academic programs. The Adelsons were inspired to action after the abduction of three Israeli teenagers. “..the medical studies at Ariel University underscore humanity, the desire for life and the value of human life wherever they are..” Sheldon said.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18367
This Weeks Sanity Report from Israel
