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Good News From Israel

Cancer therapy project wins International award; John Lewis uses Israeli tech for virtual showroom, and more good news from Israel.

In the 4th Oct 2015 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
 
·         The USA will use an Israeli burns treatment in mass-casualty incidents.
·         Five times as many Israelis graduated in 2014 compared to 1990.
·         Israel is helping Kenya with its vital national irrigation project.
·         An Israeli app allows reporting of illegal and dangerous driving.
·         Another leading UK retailer is to use Israeli visualization software.
·         Kayne West performed in front of 25, 000 Tel Aviv fans.
·         Tens of thousands visited Jerusalem for the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles)
 
Michael ORDMAN BLOGGER FRONTISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
CE Mark for heart valve repair system.  (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Valtech Cardio has received European approval for its Cardioband implantable mitral reconstruction device.  Trials showed that that Cardioband is a highly effective first-line treatment option for reducing mitral regurgitation (MR) and improving quality of life.
 
Hope for bipolar depression sufferers.  Israel’s NeuroRx has demonstrated a 50% reduction in symptoms of depression and a 75% reduction in suicidal feelings in a small trial of its Cyclurad treatment in combination with ketamine on treatment-resistant patients with bipolar disorder.
 
Improving cognitive function.  A successful clinical study confirms previously demonstrated benefits of Neuravena on acute improvement of cognitive function, showing efficacy for an 800 mg dose. Neuravena is a bioactivity tested, patented wild green oat extract, produced and marketed by Israel’s Frutarom. 
 
US dept buys Israeli burns treatment.  The Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA) – part of the US Department of Health – has awarded a $112 million contract to Israel’s Mediwound.  BARDA will use Mediwound’s NexoBrid product in major incidents, to remove dead tissues from medium to severe burns.  It will also help Mediwound finance its FDA approval for NexoBrid. 
 
Cancer therapy project wins International award.  A team from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev won the Best Heath and Medicine Project category in the 12th annual Giant Jamboree iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition in Boston with their cutting-edge biological cancer therapy called “Boomerang.”  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/aabu-ct092915.php
 
A digital medicine incubator.  IBM, Medtronic, Pitango and Rambam Medical Center have together won a grant from Israel’s Chief Scientist to open a digital medicine incubator at the Life Sciences Park being built in Haifa.  The incubator will select companies working in big data, predictive analytics, telemedicine, wearable and implantable diagnostic sensors, advanced diagnostics, personalized medicine and more.
 
 
 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
 
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions.  (TY Atid-EDI) The Israeli cabinet approved plans to slash emissions of greenhouse gases by 25% by 2030.  The NIS 800 million cost would eventually save the economy NIS 100 billion in fuel savings and reduced disease from pollution.
 
Better microchips.  (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli startup Optimal(plus) analyzes the production processes of semiconductor manufacturers.  By processing “big data” Optimal(plus) can make big cost savings.  Optimal(plus) has just raised $42 million to fund its rapid growth plans.  http://www.optimalplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Optimal+-Raises-42-Million-Growth-Round-Led-By-KKR.pdf
 
Automating the freight business.  (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Freightos automates freight sales for some of the world’s largest logistics providers.  It allows companies to give instant quotes to ship goods in any currency.  Freightos has just raised $14 million of funding.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0eBzeZbwY
 
Tighter EU regulation requires Israeli encryption technology.  Top international lawyer Dr. Patrick Van Eecke has stated that new stricter European Union regulations on data security in the wake of leaks at Target, Sony and the IRS, requires companies to seek advanced encryption software such as supplied by Israeli cyber-security firms.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/super-strict-eu-data-security-a-boon-for-israel-says-expert/
 
The brains behind fast-charging batteries.  (TY Michelle) This article complements last week’s technical one about Israel’s StoreDot – developers of fast-charging batteries.  StoreDot employs 20 PhDs – organic chemists. quantum physicists, electrical engineers and device engineers – all working together to build new molecules.
 
What’s happening at WATEC.  (TY Michelle) Foreign government ministers from dozens of countries will attend Israel’s International water conference WATEC 2015 starting Oct 13.  There are joint sessions with California, China, Europe and the OECD.  The event is preceded by Cleanvest – a full day investors’ summit.
 
Keeping West Point cadets in shape.  West Point Military Academy and numerous NBA teams in the US are turning to Israeli start-up PhysiMax, which, using 3D cameras, provides cloud-based analytics of how players are performing.  One of the main aims of the system is to prevent injuries from inefficient movement.
 
Exporting innovation.  (TY Michelle) First it was Microsoft, which rolled out its Israeli accelerator model to seven other locations around the world. In 3 years, Microsoft accelerators have graduated 410 startups.  Now IBM plan to export its Haifa Alphazone Accelerator where startups make use of IBM’s Watson supercomputer.
 
GE launches Israel accelerator.  US giant General Electric (GE) is to start an accelerator in Israel. It will focus on cloud computing and big data, with an emphasis on industrial Internet. The first group of four software startups will begin in July, and a second cycle in December. GE has already invested in a series of Israeli firms.
 
App to report bad drivers.  Just the ticket!  The iPhone dash-cam app from Israel’s Nexar records and reports traffic violations and reckless driving.  Israeli drivers, please join the Nexar community to make the roads safer.
 
Israeli firm to refurbish Santa Barbara de-sal plant.  Israel’s IDE Americas is to refurbish, operate and maintain the recommissioned Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara, California. IDE was chosen for its proven experience, modular approach, and ability to meet the city’s short timeframe.
 
 
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
 
Record trade with the UK.  (TY Michelle)  Exports of Israeli products and services to the UK increased by 3.7% during Jan and July 2015.  Bilateral trade during the same period reached a record £2.4 billion.
 
John Lewis uses Israeli tech for virtual showroom.  UK’s leading retailer John Lewis is to use the augmented reality software from Israel’s Cimagine to help customers visualize new ways to personalize and design their home.  Cimagine is already in use at UK’s online retail giant Shop Direct.
 
Google chairman’s 4th Israeli investment.  (TY Michelle) Israel startup Taykey has developed a trend-tracking system that has earned it over $10 million in revenue this year.  One of its main investors is Innovation Endeavors, owned by Google’s Eric Schmidt.  (See here for Schmidt’s other Israeli investments)
 
No investment necessary.  (TY Michelle) Some Israeli startups have become successful without seeking external funding.  Using their own funds (known as “Bootstrapping”) the entrepreneurs that founded Optimove and Fitness22 have retained control of their businesses and are now enjoying the rewards.
 
A change in the energy mix.  (TY Michelle) Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water, discusses the current situation of the country’s energy mix and the transformation which is set to occur following the natural gas discoveries in the Leviathan and Tamar gas fields.
 
Israeli universities produce top entrepreneurs.  Tel Aviv University was 9th in the PitchBook report for undergrad programs that produced the most start-up founders. TAU was the only non-US university in the top 10.  Israel’s Technion came 20th and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem came 39th.
 
Teva buys respiratory disease monitoring company.  Israel’s Teva continues its expansion into digital medicine by purchasing US-based Gecko Health Innovations. Gecko has developed CareTR, a cloud-based solution that simplifies chronic respiratory disease management by connecting patients and caregivers through remote monitoring and real-time adherence tools.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
 
New center for Jewish and Arab hearing impaired children.  The Jerusalem Foundation has opened a home in Abu Tor, for Jewish and Arab children with hearing impairments.  The MICHA (Society for Deaf Children in Israel) center contains 4 pre-school classes and an audiology institute with clinics and advanced technology.
 
Israel’s Bedouin tennis champions.  9-year-old Karin, 12-year-old Samar and 15-year-old Shadi al-Touri train at the Yad Eliyahu Tennis Center in Tel Aviv. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0, 7340, L-4705141, 00.html  
 
Academic degrees increase 500% since 1990.  (TY Steven) The number of university-level degrees handed out in Israel has multiplied by five over the past 25 years.  At the end of the 2013/2014 school year, 75, 100 degrees were awarded to Israelis students.  The increase is particularly high amongst Israeli women and Arabs.
 
Study Israel in Washington DC.  George Washington University is establishing an Israel Studies program, including an endowed professorship, in the latest example of universities developing closer ties with Israel.
 
Educational ties with India.  (TY Michelle) Leading Indian educational institutes are strengthening the Indo-Israeli alliance.  In the latest, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool) of Mumbai signed agreements with Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University and the IDC Herzliya.
 
Zambia re-opens embassy in Israel.  (TY Hazel) Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba re-opened the country’s embassy in Israel saying, “We view Israel as a true friend in the Middle East.” Mr Kalaba also said Zambia expects “cooperation and the strengthening of ties” over a wide range of fields, including economic, security, agriculture, and tourism.  http://allafrica.com/stories/201509170187.html
 
18-country delegation to fight BDS.  A delegation of 22 parliamentarians from 18 different countries is in Israel as part of the Israel Allies Foundation’s annual Jerusalem Chairman’s Conference.  They will sign a resolution declaring support for Israel and vowing to take a stance against anti-Israel movements such as BDS.
 
Supporting Kenyan irrigation project.  (TY Hazel) Israel is giving technical support to Kenya’s six-year Galana / Kulalu irrigation project.  The project will provide water for sustainable farming through development and modernization of irrigation and drainage, to enhance food security, reduce poverty, and generate jobs.
 

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