ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Stem cell treatment can help MS patients. (TY Nevet) Jerusalem’s Hadassah-University Medical Center and Israel’s NeuroGenesis have developed a stem cell treatment for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. A Phase II human trial not only halted progression of the disease but led to improvement in neurological ability.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/hadassah-stem-cell-treatment-could-let-ms-patients-walk-again-651475
Hope for stroke and dementia patients. Israel’s BrainsGate has developed a technology for the treatment of ischemic strokes and vascular dementia. The Ischemic Stroke System is based on an implantable electrode stimulator that increases blood flow to the brain. Clinical trials are in progress.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879615,00.html http://www.brainsgate.com/eng/
Hackathon for autism. Israeli innovators and entrepreneurs participated in Hackautism 2.0 – a virtual tech marathon to create innovative technological solutions for the challenges of children and adults on the Autism Spectrum. The winning teams addressed sleep quality, non-verbal communication and job finding,
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879838,00.html
Israeli blood tests for the Gulf. The OLO finger-prick blood tests from Israel’s Sight Diagnostics (reported here previously) will soon be available in medical centers across the Gulf region. The Israeli company is partnering with Dubai’s Phoenix Capital who will install OLO initially in the UAE and then other Gulf states.
https://elwatanelarabynews.com/archives/67584
Games to fight diabetes and cognitive decline. Israel’s Maccabi Healthcare Services research and innovation center has initiated KSM Playzone – focusing on the field of health gaming. KSM has awarded $25,000 to the developers of two health education games – Diabattle (for diabetics) and Memento (cognitive rehabilitation).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879792,00.html
http://www.diabattle.mobi/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-ibwc4ziBw
Israeli doctors in Gaza. (TY Hazel) Israeli-Arab orthopaedists, neurologists, heart surgeons, and mental health experts are in the Gaza Strip relieving the strain on hospitals fighting coronavirus. They are conducting urgent (previously postponed) surgeries on non-Covid-19 patients and training up Palestinian Arab medical teams.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-medical-delegation-heads-to-gaza-to-provide-essential-care/
First vaccines arrive in Israel. An end to the coronavirus pandemic is in sight as hundreds of thousands of doses of Pfizer vaccines were flown into Tel Aviv. Vaccinations are due to begin on Dec 27. Israel is scheduled to receive 4 million doses of the vaccine by end Dec.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/1st-doses-of-pfizer-vaccine-arrive-in-israel-ahead-of-mass-inoculation-program/
Israel’s vaccine is vital. Progress has been made with the Israeli-developed vaccines and treatments. The MigVax oral vaccine is ideal for developing countries as it easy to transport and distribute. It is also much safer, e.g., for those who have allergies or compromised immune systems.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/after-coronavirus-vaccine-success-is-israels-migvax-still-needed/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK7u5e922f0
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israeli hi-tech on display in Dubai. For the first time, Israel participated at Dubai’s Gitex exhibition – the world’s largest digital exhibition. Export Institute Director Gadi Arieli called it “a milestone in building a platform for developing economic relations between us and the Emirates.” 130+ Israeli companies exhibited.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292659
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bv1j7rWWk
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Israel to Sign Free Trade Agreement with South Korea
Israel and South Korea are expected to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) next week, reports Globes. Because of the Corona Virus the FTA will be signed via Zoom with the ambassadors to the two nations and senior government ministers in attendance. https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/12/09/israel-to-sign-free-trade-agreement-with-south-korea/
Smart city winner. Israel’s Zencity has won the governance and economy prize at the 2020 Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC). SCEWC awards are granted to “pioneering projects,” innovations, ideas and strategies that make cities more livable, sustainable, inclusive and economically viable.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-avivs-zencity-wins-international-award-for-pioneering-smart-city-project/
Cultivated meat – who can tell? Israel’s Prime Minister tasted cultivated steak at Israel’s Aleph Farms. He said it was “unbelievable, delicious and compassionate.” He could not tell the difference from animal-produced meat. He saw Israel at the forefront of a global alternative protein ecosystem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292660
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDY6vpsy_hM
Autonomous driving to Tel Aviv. Tech business analyst Hillel Fuld posted a video clip of his morning ride to Tel Aviv. It was no ordinary commute, due to the self-driving system that was piloting his vehicle along the Ayalon’s fast lane. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-self-driving-suv-takes-the-fast-lane-to-tel-aviv/
Six robotic projects. Israel’s SixAI has six projects involving robotics. They comprise inspecting parts for defects, autonomous transport by forklift, autonomous microchip manufacture, goods delivery, recruitment and perimeter security.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879839,00.html https://www.sixai.tech/
Arcade games go online. Israel’s Gigantic is behind the game Clawee, which enables virtual playing of claw machines through live video streaming. Prizes are delivered to the winner’s doorstep. Players operate one of 220 real claw machines located at Gigantic’s Petah Tikva studio. Other games include soccer, hoops and golf.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879832,00.html https://clawee.com/
Solving the problem of textile waste. Israeli organization Re-born Textiles is piloting its solutions for preventing unwanted clothes ending up in landfills. New/nearly new are returned to retail for ReUse; older products are “ReMade” into new clothes; those in poor condition are “ReCycled” into industrial products.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-company-launches-pilot-program-to-help-solve-problem-of-textile-waste/
Antimicrobial fabric for new cars. Israel’s Sonovia Tech, makers of the facemasks that neutralize the Covid-19 virus, has partnered Italian car component manufacturer Adler Group. Sonovia will develop textiles using their antimicrobial fabric, to be used by Adler in carpets and other interior features for many makes of car.
https://www.israel21c.org/sonovia-antimicrobial-fabrics-will-be-going-into-new-cars/
Manage security in the cloud. Israel’s Wiz provides companies with complete visibility of the security of its computer infrastructure in the Cloud. It enables risk management of networks, identities, applications and vulnerabilities. Easy to install, focusing on the critical issues and providing speedy analysis of the root causes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880455,00.html
Fast analysis of data. The high-performance technology from Israel’s Firebolt allows companies to analyze much larger volumes of up-to-date data than previously possible. Firebolt combines the simplicity, elasticity and low cost of the cloud with the latest innovations in analytics.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880374,00.html
An AI marketing assistant. Israeli-founded Exceed.ai uses Artificial Intelligence to work alongside sales reps. It emails and web chats with prospective customers, handling the mundane tasks 24×7 while reps close deals. It personalizes answers to queries just like a human assistant, books meetings for the reps and ensures follow-up.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880336,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AeJpybx00c
Monitoring 50 million trees. Israel’s SeeTree now monitors over fifty million trees globally for their health and productivity. SeeTree extracts data using high-resolution, multi-dimensional sensing imagery obtained from drones, paired with ground sensors and samples taken by forest rangers.
https://nocamels.com/2020/12/agtech-seetree-30m-ai-network-trees/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
New Israeli Airship Innovations Will Change Transportation Forever
Atlas LTA, a newly established Israeli company is developing a new generation airships that will change the world of tourism and cargo transportation logistics, especially oversized cargo, and getting to rural areas for humanitarian aid. Today’s logistic difficulties are significant obstacles to those organizations’ important mission.
Microsoft Picks Israeli Startup Eloops For New Collaboration. Israeli firm Eloops‘ employee engagement platform now integrates with Microsoft Teams. Eloops has been added at Microsoft AppSource. With Eloops employees get to earn company virtual currency through engaging with content and activities like quizzes, challenges and a Peer-2-Peer recognition program and then redeem for rewards of their choosing in their virtual and customized company store.
Investment up 20% with a month to go. Start-Up Nation Central reports that capital raised by Israeli startup companies is breaking records in 2020 despite the Covid-19 crisis. Israeli companies raised $9.5 billion in the 11 months of 2020, eclipsing 2019’s $7.7 billion total for the whole 12 months.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879857,00.html
New record for currency reserves. Israel’s reserves of foreign currency soared again last month. At the end of November, Israel held nearly $167 billion of foreign currency – over $6 billion more than at the end of October.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/07-12-2020.aspx
Israeli Startup Innoviz Technologies Looking to $1.4 billion IPO
Innoviz Technologies, an Israeli startup which offers high-performance, solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software, will go public in the first quarter of 2021 and expects to hit a valuation of $1.4 billion. The company will be listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “INVZ.”
Lower housing costs. The Israeli government has approved plans to lower housing costs throughout the country. Housing units subsidized by the government will be listed alongside properties on the free market. It will create competition and lower the cost of living for eligible Israelis on low income.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-government-to-offer-subsidized-housing-across-the-country-651394
InvestiNation. Israel’s InvestiNation is a new equity crowdfunding platform, offering accredited US investors access to Israeli early-stage startups in fintech, ed-tech, construction and property technology.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-equity-crowdfunding-platform-launched-in-israel/
eToro value soars. An unnamed US institution just bought $50 million of shares in Israel’s eToro. It values the company at a staggering $2.5 billion, turning it into another Israeli Unicorn. eToro’s clients now number over 16 million, who use eToro’s platform to trade stocks, commodities, FX etc.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/12/08/new-israeli-unicorn-etoros-value-soared-to-2-5-billion/
Reacting to Covid-19. Israeli medical AI triage platform Diagnostic Robotics used the coronavirus pandemic to successfully change its focus and operations. It split its workforce into two, to reduce the risk of infections and formed a digital health partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Health.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3878174,00.html
Predicting property values. Israel’s Propdo AI develops technology capable of predicting residential real estate property prices. Its algorithm and data-based tools produce a projected valuation of a prospective purchase. The company will initially operate in the Israeli real estate market.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3877897,00.html
Hiring staff? Watch the video. Israel’s myInterview allows companies to see and hear recruitment candidates without the need for face-to-face meetings – useful in these coronavirus times. Candidates record videos to promote themselves and the recruitment team can watch, review and agree whom to invite to a live interview.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880390,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03g-smH7vxU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYlHfMhSj9Q
Investment in Israeli startups:
Wiz raised $100 million; Firebolt raised $32 million; Salt Security raised $30 million; SeeTree raised $30 million; Biosight raised $27 million; Brainsgate raised $14 million; Gigantic raised $7 million; Cylus raised $7 million; SixAI raised $5 million; myInterview raised $5 million; Exceed.ai raised $4 million; Propdo AI raised $2 million;
