This Week’s Sanity Report from Israel Nov. 28, 2021
The pace of Israel’s achievements is speeding up every week. There are many double events to celebrate in this week’s positive Israel newsletter. Just see the highlights below.
The floral photo is to celebrate both Chanukah and the family event. You may also spot Israel’s delicious Kobu fruit and part of a Marc Chagall painting.
the highlights include:
- Two Israeli breakthroughs in cancer research.
- Two Israeli women “break the glass ceiling” – in innovation and IDF leadership.
- Two historic events uniting Israel and the UAE.
- Two more cool Israeli energy-saving innovations.
- Boost in Israel’s economic ties with Serbia and Morocco.
- Four more billion-dollar Israeli companies.
- Israeli wins at the Emmy awards and in the World jiu-jitsu championships.
- Two major Temple-era archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Silencing tumor communications. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have developed a breakthrough cancer treatment by injecting analgesic nanoparticles into the bloodstream. These anaesthetize the nerves inside the tumors, shutting down communications between them, thus inhibiting tumor growth and spread.
https://www.jns.org/
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/
Immunotherapy dose reduced by a million. The NanoGhost cancer treatment targeted delivery mechanism developed by scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute is truly revolutionary (see here previously). It enables the dose of existing immunotherapies (e.g., TRAIL) to be reduced by a millionfold, to prevent toxic side effects.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Insulin pump gets attention. Israel’s Triple Jump is developing a unique small insulin pump patch that is placed on the patient’s body. The patch has mobile connectivity capabilities and will be included in a future artificial pancreas system. The device has attracted interest from medical devices giant Medtronic.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://finder.
Diabetes cured – in mice. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute genetically modified muscle stem cells from diabetic mice to express high levels of GLUT4 molecules, which transport glucose in the body. When re-implanted into the mice, it reduced blood sugar levels by an average of 26% and lowered levels of fatty liver.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
https://www.jns.org/technion-
Hospital to launch neurology startups. Tel Aviv’s Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center and Ra’anana’s Sanara Ventures are partnering to turn ideas and projects developed in the neurology department into groundbreaking projects in the fields of digital health and neurology. These include brain diseases, strokes and sleep disorders.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
An Israeli medical hub in New Jersey. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is partnering the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey to develop Liberty ARC HealthSpace2030 – a high-tech hospital simulation hub on at Jersey City’s SciTech Scity innovation campus. It will focus on digital health and home healthcare solutions.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Keeping employees healthy. Israel’s Insurights has developed an AI platform to help employees utilize their health benefits. It answers questions, highlights preventive care benefits, and finds lower-cost providers. Its key feature is Zoe, a “Virtual Chief Health Officer,” who can analyze any insurer’s healthcare plan.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Networking for patients. Israel’s Alike.Health connects patients with a similar medical condition at various stages of treatment or illness, allowing them to learn from each other about ways to cope. The startup has just been selected to join the “Google for Startups Accelerator”, Google’s 3-month mentoring program.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
It’s never too late. A 102-year-old woman has become the first Israeli to undergo cryoablation (freezing) treatment for breast cancer developed by Israel’s IceCure (see here previously). The usual surgical solution was not an option for her, as a previous heart catheterization meant that an operation was too risky.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israeli woman is top innovator. World Biz Magazine has chosen Israel’s Hamutal Yitzhak, CEO of Else Nutrition (see here previously) as No. 1 (of 40,000+ entries) on their list of “Top 100 Innovation CEO” awards for 2021. Shahar Fogel, CEO of Israel’s Rookout (see here previously), was also included in the top 100.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
Israel’s top female General. Brigadier General Orly Markman has been named as head of the IDF’s court of appeals. She will be promoted to Major General, becoming only the third Israeli woman to ever receive the rank. Israel’s first female Major General, Orna Barbivai, is now Israel’s Minister of the Economy.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
IDF Chief praises Specials. IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi gave an inspiring speech at Special in Uniform’s annual benefit for IDF soldiers with disabilities. He stated, “You are blessed in the IDF, you are essential to the IDF, and you are wanted by the IDF!”. Some 750 young “specials” perform important work at 60 IDF bases.
https://www.
Ultra-orthodox site spreads cancer awareness. Throughout last month, Israel’s largest ultra-Orthodox news site, Kikar HaShabbat, colored its logo pink and wrote that it was doing so to give public expression to October being breast cancer awareness month.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
4 Israeli universities in top 50 entrepreneurs list. Four Israeli universities were listed in PitchBook’s 2021 ranking of 50 leading undergraduate programs that produce the most VC-backed entrepreneurs. Tel Aviv Uni was 8th, Technion Institute (12th), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (31), and Ben-Gurion University (44).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Outstanding entrepreneurs. The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers recently awarded the title of “Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center” to the Innovation Centers of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – the first ever such award for institutions outside of the US.
https://jewishbusinessnews.
Resurrecting New York. Some 400 people attended a ”Unicorn party”, organized by Israel’s Margalit Startup City in Soho, New York. Founder and Executive Chairman Erel Margalit said, “Israeli tech played a significant role in bringing New York back to life.” They included “People who innovate and don’t take no for an answer.”
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Electricity for water deal with Jordan. The UAE has brokered a “water for solar energy” exchange deal between Israel and Jordan. Jordan will export 600 megawatt of electricity to Israel from a UAE-built solar farm. Israel will export up to 200 million cubic meters of desalinated water to Jordan. The deal was signed in Dubai.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Israeli flag raised at UAE presidential palace. (TY David O) In a historic ceremony, the Israeli flag was hoisted and the Israeli national anthem Hatikva was played for the first time at the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. It marked the inauguration of Amir Hayek – the Israeli Ambassador to the UAE.
https://www.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Aiming for the Moon, with the UAE. The United Arab Emirates signaled its interest in joint space missions with Israel back in Dec 2020 (see here). This has now been formalized in an agreement to work together on a number of space projects, including a joint launch of the “Beresheet 2” space mission to the moon.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
https://www.jns.org/israel-
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Promoting innovation. Israel’s Innovation Authority (IIA) is investing around NIS 220 million over 3 years in four new technology consortiums. They focus on cultivated meat, insect farming, human-robot interface, and fluid sampling focused medical diagnosis. IIA CEO Dror Bin praised Israeli tech as “magic”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-
Cyber training for religious graduates. The Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT) has launched Cyber Elite 2.0, a program that provides cybersecurity training for orthodox and ultra-orthodox computer graduates. It aims to supply Israel’s high-tech and defense industries with newly skilled employees to meet its talent shortage.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Protection against ransomware attacks. Israel’s Cymptom protects businesses and lifesaving networks at hospitals, against cyber threats. Its software monitors, prioritizes the risks and recommends how to address them in real time. Cymptom was named Cybersecurity Best Product at the 2021 Global InfoSec Awards.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
See through walls from afar. Israel’s Camero-Tech has developed technology that can “see through walls” at long-range. The Xaver™ LR40 (XLR40) portable system can detect, in real time, live objects hidden behind walls from over 50 meters away. Besides security applications, it is relevant for search-and-rescue operations.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/
New lightweight communications satellite. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) revealed its new GEO Mini Communication Satellite at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) expo in Dubai. It weighs only 700 kg, so can be launched together in rideshares with other satellites, significantly reducing launch costs.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Safer public transportation. Israel’s Optibus (see here previously) has partnered with Israel’s GreenRoad (see here previously) to increase passenger safety and comfort. They aim to use historical road safety data (e.g. road and ride quality, collisions, injuries, and driver behavior) early in the transportation network planning stage.
https://jewishbusinessnews.
Eco-friendly cooling. Israel’s NAM Technology has developed Ecokor – a new cooling system that saves up to 40% of electricity consumption and reduces emissions. Its innovative multi-cascade refrigeration works with the latest refrigerants. Ecokor can be installed in factories, warehouses, supermarkets, refrigerated trucks etc.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-
https://nam-technology.com/
Storing green energy. Israel’s Storage Drop has developed a system designed to store renewable energy (e.g. solar) as high-pressure air when the demand for electricity is low, and to convert the compressed air into electrical energy when required. The system is to be installed at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Boosting crop yields in California. The robotic pollinator from Israel’s Edete Precision Technologies (see here previously) has increased yields by 24%, during a pilot trial at an 82-acre pistachio orchard in Sacramento, California. Edete plans to use the system on thousands of acres during the 2022 blooming season.
https://www.futurefarming.com/
Get the best price for a product. Israel’s Karma’s has developed an Artificial Intelligent shopping tool that offers consumers a “guaranteed best price” on many e-commerce sites. It features an automatic coupon finder, cash rewards, plus price and inventory tracking.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Economy moves forward. Israel’s latest Composite State of the Economy Index returned to pre-Covid levels of increase. It was buoyed by increases in services revenue and services exports. Job vacancies are at a record high, reflecting employers’ desire to expand their operations following the reopening of the economy.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/
Serbia opens trade office in Jerusalem. Serbia has inaugurated its innovation and trade office in Jerusalem. The office, located in Margalit Startup City Jerusalem, is a sign of burgeoning business ties and designed to enable the countries to fulfill their bilateral economic potential.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
More flights to Arab countries. Moroccan national airline Royal Air Maroc is launching direct flights between Casablanca and Tel Aviv 3 days a week, commencing Dec 12. Also, UAE’s largest airline Emirates is starting daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv on Dec 6.
https://www.jns.org/moroccan-
Hi-tech data center for Bank of Israel. The Bank of Israel has a new “state of the art” data center. It is fault tolerant, earthquake resilient, and based on energy-saving green technologies.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/
Deloitte launches 7 more startups. Deloitte has selected seven more Israeli startups for its Launchpad initiative (see here previously). They will be mentored on how to grow their businesses in the US. They are Agora (see here), BlazePod, Craft.io, DigitalOwl, Hyro (see here), IVIX (see here) and SavorEat (see here).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.blazepod.com/ https://craft.io/ https://www.digitalowl.com/
Techstars accelerates. In its fifth year, Techstars Tel Aviv has launched its second 13-week accelerator program of 2021 (see here previously). The 11 Israeli startups are AgadoLive, Binsight, EyeKnow, Insuretax, EZCheck.me, optimusQ, Ovvio, Renbizz. retravel, Sea Analytics and YieldX. https://www.yieldx.biz/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Checking the state of Continental’s tires. The technology from Israel’s Traffilog (see here previously) will remotely diagnose the condition of truck tires for Continental AG. The German tire giant already has partnerships with several Israeli startups (see here previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Doing good while doing well. Israel’s Browzwear (see here previously) has been named one of Fortune Magazine’s Impact20 – companies that generate revenue while offering products or services that have a positive effect on the world. Browzwear’s VSticher 3D prototype software reduces fabric waste in the fashion industry.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Significant exits: Renasas acquired Celeno for $315 million; Medtronic to acquire Triple Jump for $300 million; Slinger acquired PlaySight for $82 million;
4 more Unicorns. Latest Israeli startups to become billion-dollar Unicorns are Celsius Networks (raised $400 million, value $3 billion); Lusha (see here) raised $205 million, value $1.5 billion; Augury (see here) raised $180 million, value $1 billion; OpenWeb (raised $150 million, value $1 billion).
https://jewishbusinessnews.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-
https://celsius.network/ https://www.openweb.com/
Look who is investing in Israel. One of the investors in Israel’s latest $1 billion company OpenWeb is the New York Times, which rarely prints anything complimentary about the Jewish State.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Investment in Israeli startups: Celsius Network raised $400 million; Lusha raised $205 million; Fabric raised $200 million; Augury raised $180 million; OpenWeb raised $150 million; DustPhotonics raised $33 million; Backbox raised $32 million; Tactile Mobility raised $27 million; OurCrowd raised
