In the 15th Nov 2015 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:· A new Israeli treatment brings hope to relapsed leukemia sufferers.
· An Israeli medical device could help up to 2 million dialysis patients.
· A delegation of Druze Arabs is promoting Israel in the US.
· Israeli smart sensors are to be installed on London refuge trucks.
· Ryanair begins flights to Israel.
· A new investment fund for Israeli agricultural innovations is launched.
· An amazing discovery saves an Israeli stabbing victim.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Success in Leukemia treatment trials. Israel’s BiolineRx has reported positive results from Phase II trials of its BL-8040 treatment in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML). It had a triple positive effect on the leukemic cells only two days after a single cycle of therapy.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/
Genetic mutation explains how ovaries develop. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered a key gene responsible for ovary development. Four members of the same family had mutated Nup107 genes causing infertility. The discovery has widespread implications for research in cell biology.
US can now access Israeli stem cell research. (TY Atid-EDI) For over 30 years Israel’s Biological Industries has been providing cell culture media development, molecular and diagnostics tools, and stem cell research products in more than 50 countries. It now has set-up its first USA division in Cromwell Connecticut.
US approval for unique Israeli dialysis device. The US FDA has approved the Chameleon from Israel’s AV Medical Technologies. Chameleon is the world’s first and only angioplasty balloon catheter that allows for simultaneous balloon inflation and intravascular injection of fluids while maintaining guidewire access. Over two million angioplasty balloon catheters are used annually worldwide to maintain dialysis access.
Prize for discovering link from brain to immune system. On the anniversary of Chaim Weizmann’s death, KKL-JNF awarded the Blumberg Outstanding Medical Research Scientist Prize to Weizmann Professor Michal Schwartz for her groundbreaking research into the connection between the brain and the immune system.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1 gigabit Internet speed. (TY Michelle) Israeli chip design startup Sckipio is working with Intel to deliver 1 gigabit per second Internet access across existing copper phone lines.
Experience flying on a paper airplane. I featured Israeli startup PowerUp’s remote controlled paper airplane previously in Jun 2014. Following its success, PowerUp has now installed a live streaming camera on the plane so you can experience being on-board the plane. PowerUp will be crowdfunding on KickStarter soon.
Pollution emissions down significantly. Israel’s Pollution register of 500 companies shows that pollution has decreased between 18% – 53% since 2012. Key factors include the use of better technology, reduced discharges and vapor recovery systems.
Catching the Rain in Kenya. Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya launched the first of 45 “Catch the Rain” Projects in Kenya’s Kisii County. Each includes a 30, 000-liter rainwater harvesting kit, a fish pond, a greenhouse and drip irrigation units. Israeli-run Amiran Kenya supplied much of the equipment for the project.
Revolutionizing the delivery business. Israeli start-up Wave is bringing the digital revolution to the merchandise shipping industry. It is using innovative technology to share the “bill of lading” securely between all interested parties. The idea has many other applications, and even the United Nations is interested.
Israel’s largest solar field. Israel has inaugurated its largest photovoltaic energy field with a capacity of 55 megawatts. Built by Enlight Renewable Energy the field covers 800 dunam (200 acres) in the Western Negev, and contains 180, 000 solar collectors.
A disposable smartphone charger. Israeli startup mobeego is launching its mobeego disposable charger, which can provide up to 4 hours of charge to any smartphone battery. The charging unit weighs 24gms and will be on sale for $2.50 each at kiosks, stations, airports, stores, sports and entertainment venues.
Open the bottle to make a wish. (TY Michelle) Coca-Cola Israel worked with Gefen Team and Qdigital, to produce special bottles that, on opening, sends a Wi-Fi signal to a mini drone (unmanned plane) that then flies to 1, 000 feet and releases a firework, to resemble a shooting star. It just shows what technology can do.
Israeli eyes for London trucks. (TY Michelle) London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed during his Israel visit that London is purchasing 200 multi-vision smart sensors from Israel’s Mobileye. They will give drivers of London’s refuge trucks “a third eye” to help them avoid collisions with cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Testing mobile apps. (TY NoCamels) Over 1500 customers, including about 50% of the Fortune 100 companies, use Israel’s Perfecto Mobile to test their mobile apps. Perfecto has just raised another $35 million of funding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Fortune changes at irrigation company. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Rivulis Irrigation was losing $50 million a year when in 2014 it was acquired by Venture Capitalists FIMI for $60 million. New management and partnering India’s Dhanna Engineering now values Rivulis at $170 million.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/
Starting up with the right team. The most successful businesses are run by the best teams. So Israel’s Maverick Ventures organized the Co-Founders Speed Dating and Pitching Event in Tel Aviv to allow entrepreneurs, programmers and marketing experts to build teams that could launch the next Waze.
Digital marketer opens Israeli innovation lab. Israeli-founded Origami Logic is based in Silicon Valley, California, but global expansion means it needs to open a tech innovation lab in Israel. Origami produces digital marketing analysis for companies such as Visa, Cisco, Intel and Pernod Ricard.
http://www.origamilogic.com/
Taking the drudge out of sales work. Israel’s Pepperi successfully markets its cloud-based sales software suite in 60 countries to 1000 businesses such as cards and gifts maker Hallmark. Pepperi handles the filing, typing, order tracking etc., allowing the sales person simply to sell.
Gett launches courier service. Israel’s Gett (formally Gett Taxis) is launching a courier service that will pick up a parcel within ten minutes of a call and deliver it for a charge of NIS 25-55 depending on area. The service will initially operate in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Givatayim.
RyanAir starts flights to Eilat. Low cost airline Ryanair has begun its new service from Israel’s Ovda Airport, near Eilat, to Budapest, Krakow and Kaunas (Kovno) for as low as €10 one way. Passengers also receive a gift basket that includes Ahava hand cream and chocolate.
More Aeroflot flights. Russia’s Aeroflot airline is adding more flights on its routes from Moscow and St Petersburgh to Tel Aviv. Aeroflot only began services to Israel five years ago and soon will be operating 37 flights a week. The change reflects increased trade between Russia and Israel’s Russian immigrants.
A Chinese Zionist venture capitalist. (TY Michelle) Benjamin Peng attended the Go4Israel conference in Tel Aviv wearing a kippah (scull-cap). Three years ago he founded Chinese investment firm Yafo Capital (“Yafo” is the Hebrew name of the city of Jaffa) along with two Chinese partners. He even proposed to his girlfriend at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. http://www.ynetnews.com/
Boris sells London to Israeli start-ups. (TY Michelle) London Mayor Boris Johnson came to Israel to get more Israeli technology companies to expand to London and IPO on its stock markets. London has 141 Israeli tech firms of which 16 are listed on the London Stock Exchange, with a combined market value of £3.7 billion.
Michigan’s common bond with Israel. (TY Michelle) A delegation of 20 CEOs from the US State of Michigan came to Israel to see what makes the entrepreneurial ethos of “Start-Up Nation” tick. They were most surprised to learn from Israel about inner-city security and the automotive industry.
http://www.detroitnews.com/
Encouraging customers to respond. (TY Michelle) Israel’s Apester encourages business customers to respond to polls, quizzes and other types of interactive content.
New fund for Agriculture innovation. (TY Atid-EDI) Yissum Research – the technology-transfer company of the Hebrew University, has set up Agrinnovation, an investment fund focused on agricultural inventions. One of its first projects is an innovative protective coating for extending the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israeli doctors saving Palestinian Arab babies. (TY UWI) A video to accompany my August’s newsletter article from Israel21c about Hadassah Hospital’s “Heart for Peace” that has saved the lives of over 600 Palestinian Arab children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Druze Arabs promote Israel in US. A delegation of young Druze leaders from medicine, law enforcement and the IDF is visiting Boston, Los Angeles and New York, to spread awareness of their community’s unique place in Israel’s multicultural society. There are 104, 000 Druze in Israel. 86% serve in the IDF.
Israel has saved the lives of many US servicemen. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter praised the Israeli solution to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). “The Israelis were really quite ingenious in this area and we got a lot from them. There’s no question that lives were saved as a consequence of their (help)”.
Israeli elephant donates money for Thai elephants. The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo donated $1, 500 for an elephant hospital in Lampang. The check was delivered to the Thai Ambassador to Israel by a Biblical Zoo elephant named Tamar, who presented it to the Ambassador in her trunk.
Training Latin American water experts. 24 water experts from 10 Latin America countries took part in a water resources management course run by Israel’s Center for International Agricultural Development Cooperation and MASHAV. http://www.israel21c.org/
The best veggie food in the world. (TY Nevet) Tel Aviv has the world’s best vegetarian restaurants, according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine. It recommends several, including a Georgian vegan restaurant and an Ethiopian vegan cafe. Israel has some 300, 000 vegans, the highest per capita anywhere in the world.
