ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Retinal scanner for early Alzheimer’s test. Israeli-founded Canadian-based RetiSpec has developed the RS1, which uses hyperspectral retinal imaging and AI to examine the back of the eye. It can identify harmful amyloid proteins and other evidence that indicate Alzheimer’s Disease, even before the patient shows symptoms.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-duos-early-alzheimers-detection-test-brings-cure-one-step-closer/
https://www.retispec.com/
Osteoporosis screening for Scotland. Israel’s Zebra Medical Vision (reported here previously) is to trial its technology at the National Health Service in Glasgow and Assuta Medical Centers in Israel. It will be used to detect people at risk of developing osteoporosis.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-uk-teams-to-use-ai-to-help-flag-patients-at-risk-for-osteoporosis/
Pacemaker for the brain. For the first time in Israel, surgeons at Israel’s Sourasky (Ichilov) medical center implanted a Medtronic Percept DBS pacemaker in an epileptic patient. It records brain activity in addition to performing electrical stimulation. Medtronic owns several Israeli companies and has an Israeli R&D center.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/first-epileptic-patient-in-israel-gets-innovative-pacemaker/
Clinical psychology on your phone. (TY Stuart Palmer) Israel’s GGTUDE (mentioned here previously) has 7 free apps in its digital mental-health platform. It has now added GG Self Care, which provides a research-backed, personalized digital intervention for Covid-19-related psychological difficulties. Just 3 minutes a day.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bt58YY0FI2f2oRNpl_IctNIFu2TnYQej/view https://ggtude.com/
Crystal clear hearing. (TY Janglo) Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that the hair cells in the inner ear, vital for hearing, develop before birth in the same way that crystals form. They proved this using new 3D time-lapse imaging technology and computational simulations of the development of atoms in the hair cells.
https://english.m.tau.ac.il/news/ear-spiral
Use your phone to check your skin. Israel’s Derma Detect has developed an algorithm and AI applications for analyzing digital images to detect, treat, and manage non-pigmented skin lesions. The company’s platform analyzes images of the skin using deep learning and computer vision. Currently being trialed in Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/hillels-tech-corner-dermadetect-uses-phones-to-detect-skin-conditions-650413
https://www.dermadetect.com/ https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/derma-detect
German insurance gets Israeli vital signs. Israel’s Binah.ai (reported here previously) is partnering Europe’s largest insurance group, Generali Deutschland. The German company will integrate Binah’s health status vital signs monitoring technology in its new mobile application named VitalSigns&Care.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876299,00.html
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Seriously solar. The Israeli government has assembled its team tasked with achieving Israel’s 2030 goal of 30% of its energy sources from solar. It is currently examining existing potential roadblocks and policy changes necessary to advance solar energy. Reaching the goal is expected to save Israel up to NIS 8 billion a year.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/steinitz-convenes-team-to-raise-israel-solar-energy-to-30-percent-by-2030-650016
Microsoft’s green new Israeli campus. Microsoft’s new Herzliya 46,000 sqm building will support innovation and accessibility. It is the first Israeli office to carry a ‘LEED V4 Gold certification’ for its environmentally friendly design. It includes a 3,500 sqm garden, WaterGen’s water from air and a GreenWall vegetation wall.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3874995,00.html
Best inventions. The hifold fit-and-fold highback booster, the world’s most adjustable and portable car booster seat, from Israel’s mifold, was named in Time Magazine’s annual list of “The 100 Best Inventions of 2020”. Four other Israeli inventions are listed: Beehome, Trialjectory, Augmedics, City Transformer and DouxMatok.
https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2020/5911401/mifold-hifold-booster-seat/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8nL8Aa78Qk
https://nocamels.com/2020/11/5-israeli-time-100-best-inventions-2020/
Technion UK’s virtual gala. One of Israel’s Technion Institute’s four Nobel Prize Winners, Professor Aaron Ciechanover, is the keynote speaker at Technion UK’s virtual gala event on Dec 10th. His live talk entitled “Corona Days: New-Old Challenges” will include his visionary and very timely views on Science and Ethics.
https://technionuk.org/event/virtual-gala-event/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1w_sGahFoc
A smartphone in space. Israel’s next satellite, the Dror 1 being built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be Israel’s most advanced communication satellite. Fully digital with upgradable computers, communications and memory technology at the forefront of high-tech. IAI views it like a smartphone, with many applications.
https://www.jns.org/an-insiders-look-at-israels-next-satellite-a-smartphone-in-space/
Reinventing insurance. Israeli insurtech company Novidea has developed a platform that translates insurance data into business insights in real-time. It has advanced analytic capabilities and information for brokers and agents to act upon. Research firm FinTech Global selected Novidea in its InsurTech100 for 2020.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875873,00.html https://vimeo.com/219412574
https://www.novideasoft.com/novidea-selected-for-global-insurtech100
Shaping agriculture around the world. Israel’s Azrom has specialized in designing, building and installing customized greenhouse systems since 1979. It has completed some 1,500 projects in more than 70 countries. Hydroponics, flowers, watermelon, pineapple and mango. Recycling the water and using hardly any pesticides.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-technologies-helping-move-agriculture-indoors/ https://azrom.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr-Q4pFHmzw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOPFOCzBVJY
A vertical farm at the supermarket. Israeli supermarket chain Rami Levy will soon be growing eco-friendly fruit and vegetables in its stores for direct sale to customers. It has partnered Israel’s Vertical Fields for the geoponic vertical farm technology and Israel’s BIOLED for eco-lighting and growing containers.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-supermarket-to-build-vertical-led-farms-sell-home-grown-produce-649753
Using AI to increase manufacturing efficiency. (TY JBN) Israel’s Vanti Analytics uses Machine-Learning AI technologies to significantly reduce ramp-up time, errors and test time for electronics manufacturers. Its SaaS software platform requires no prior data-science education to quickly and autonomously optimize production.
https://www.geektime.com/israeli-ai-startup-raises-4-5m/ https://www.vanti-analytics.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Peace for economic reasons. The first Israel-Dubai conference focused on the prospects of a prosperous partnership between Israel and the UAE. The Emirates is a gateway for Israeli tech companies to expand to the Middle East. The 3-day conference had many inspiring presentations, of which these are just a sample.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876851,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876971,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876692,00.html
Tech salaries are rising. The effect of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on salaries in Israel’s tech sector was minimal compared to other sectors. A survey of 60 Israeli tech companies by HR analytics startup Piplwize has shown that 84% of them intend to increase salaries in 2021 and half of them by at least 6%.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875051,00.html
Israel and Turkey do business. The first-ever online conference: “Uniting hi-tech from two nations – Turkey and Israel” attracted dozens of participants, including Turkish entrepreneurs and investors. The organizers included Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/23/turkey-israel-discover-the-potential-to-collaborate-in-high-tech/
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-online-event-links-israeli-and-turkish-tech-industries-1001350640
Ships for Senegal. (TY Hazel) Israel Shipyards delivered the last of four patrol ships for the Senegalese Navy, fulfilling an agreement signed in November 2019. The Shaldag MK V patrol ship follows the earlier supply of three Shaldag MK II patrol ships. The agreement includes training, maintenance and technical support.
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/46482
New fund to invest in Israeli tech. US Venture Capital firm Ibex Investors has raised its second fund in Israel amounting to $100 million. Ibex Investors has previously invested in many Israeli startups, helping them enter the global market. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875553,00.html
A travel agent for investing in Israel. Israel’s Tech It Forward, founded by two immigrant women, is a bridge between investors and Israeli entrepreneurs. It organizes trips, conferences, networking events, pitching events, meetings and mentorship programs to connect global investors with the Israeli startup ecosystem.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/22/jessica-rosner-and-jennifer-elias-promote-startup-nation-with-tech-it-forward/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJEsc3QP8E https://www.techitforward.com/
Streaming ahead. Israel’s Qwilt (reported here previously) has signed a substantial deal with entertainment giant Disney, just a month after a similar deal with British Telecom. Qwilt’s technology will be integrated into the Disney+ streaming service, which was launched in 2019 and now has more than 75 million subscribers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875416,00.html
Flying high. Israel’s Appsflyer (see here) became a Unicorn (value over $1 billion) in January. It is now worth $2 billion after an investment from Salesforce. Appsflyer integrates with Salesforce and Salesforce Ventures. Its marketing measurement platform was included in the Forbes 2020 Cloud 100 list for the 2nd year in a row.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/24/appsflyer-hits-2-billion-valuation-with-investment-from-salesforce/
How to make your customers stick with you. (TY JBN) Israeli startup Glue offers a loyalty management platform for small businesses. With Glue, each company can retain its customers using incentives such as coupons, loyalty cards, a points earning system, subscriptions, prepaid passes and even play-to-win games.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875771,00.html https://glueloyalty.com/#
The first TASE food-tech IPO. Israeli food-tech startup SavorEat (reported here previously) brought in NIS 42.6 million (about $13 million) in an IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). It was the first time that a food-tech firm went public on the Israeli exchange.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/26/savoreat-scores-more-than-13-million-in-first-ever-food-tech-ipo-on-israeli-exchange/
By Michael Ordman
photo:Thomas Serer /Unsplash
