Non-animal testing in Dubai; From Startup Nation to WaterTech Nation; 90 more Ukrainian Jews come homel; and much more!
by: Michael Ordman
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Proteins in focus for AMD
Tel Aviv Universit+y researchers have identified two genomic proteins LHX2 and OTX2 that affect the chances of contracting Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The discovery is a key stage in understanding the genetic mechanisms related to AMD and other complex genetic diseases.
https://english.tau.ac.il/risk_factor_amd
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001924
New peptides to target Alzheimer’s culprit
Scientists at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, working with Canadian scientists have developed peptides (small proteins) that in laboratory tests prevent the production of oligomers – small polymers that are the true culprits of the neuron damage in Alzheimer’s disease.
https://www.israel21c.org/treatment-for-very-early-alzheimers-under-development/
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2210766119
World’s most advanced children’s hospital
The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital just inaugurated at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, features unique early genetic tests for detecting and treating rare diseases. It will also treat children from the Palestinian Authority, Gaza, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/byhmjk1to
Dental center for patients with disabilities
The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine is establishing the Robert I. Schattner Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities. The state-of-the-art facility will provide accessible, optimal care for patients and specialized training for dental professionals.
https://www.afhu.org/hebrew-university-hadassah-school-of-dental-medicines-robert-i-schattner-oral-health-center-for-people-with-disabilities/
AI to build UK care center
AI technology from Israel’s Buildots (see here previously) is constructing the new maternity, pediatrics, emergency, and critical care center at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. It is the first UK healthcare facility to be built using Artificial Intelligent tech to increase efficiency and decrease costs.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-ai-construction-technology-helps-build-uk-hospital/
Partnering for medical air rescue service
Israel’s Magen David Adom and America’s Hatzolah Air are partnering to provide any future emergency medical evacuations in Israel. MDA’s flight paramedics will board Hatzolah Air and MDA Medevac helicopters to perform rescues via MDA’s Tiberias and Beer Sheva air bases.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/366974
Universities partner to study the brain
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Kentucky have received a joint $1 million grant to study new aspects of RNA biology. They will try to discover why humans have more complex brains than other organisms with roughly the same number of genes?
https://www.bfhu.org/2023/02/03/university-of-kentucky-and-hu-partner-to-study-brain-complexity/
Non-animal testing in Dubai
UAE’s MBZUAI has signed an agreement with Israel’s Quris-AI (see here previously) to establish a world-class Bio-AI center in Abu Dhabi, that will support development of personalized medications, specifically tailored to the MENA (Middle East Nort Africa) region population.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/01/18/2590734/0/en/Quris-AI-and-MBZUAI-to-launch-world-class-Bio-AI-center-in-Abu-Dhabi.html
Training Kenyan navy to treat casualties
For the first time ever, experts from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, including doctors, nurses, and simulation specialists, helped prepare Kenya’s navy for mass casualty scenarios. They worked alongside military and civilian personnel from Kenya, the US 5th fleet, Qatar, and Denmark.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-730225
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Wild Walks Project
“Wild Walks” Israel is a Jerusalem based project to help war-weary teenagers from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus adapt to a new life in Israel. It provides a safe space for these young men and women to use art, play and conversation to build their own world with their own places, friends, and activities.
https://www.dikieprogulki.org/wild-walks-project/
Young guardians – Jewish & Bedouin
HaShomer HaChadash (The New Guardian – see here previously) safeguards Israel’s lands by agriculture & education. Its 25,000 strong youth movement HaTnua HaChadasha now includes some 3,000 Bedouin children, mostly meeting at the charity’s Zarzir educational farm.
https://www.israel21c.org/youth-group-instills-love-of-the-land-in-bedouins-and-jews/
https://eng.hashomer.org.il/ (see Programs & Projects – HaShomer HaChadash Youth Organization)
Innovation to improve ties with New Zealand
The New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub (NZIIH) recently opened in Tel Aviv (see here previously). Founder Josh Brown and startup advisor Elinor Swery are promoting 23 initiatives to foster business ventures including foodtech, agtech, climatetech, and spacetech.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rj7zesani
Hospital equipment for Moldovan babies
Israel has donated $250,000 worth of perinatal equipment to nine hospitals in Moldovia. It includes incubators and resuscitation tables, replacing equipment over two decades old.
https://www.moldpres.md/en/news/2023/01/27/23000648
Saving lives in Turkey
Israel’s IDF “Operation Olive Branches” has hundreds of medics and Search & Rescue experts in Turkiye (Turkey). They have pulled dozens of survivors from the rubble of the massive earthquakes. Israel’s United Hatzalah, Magen David Adom and Zaka have also sent relief missions.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/great-privilege-to-reach-out-to-our-neighbor-idf-aid-delegation-heads-to-turkey/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-730836
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/367108
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/367187
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/367141
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/367283
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israeli tech is saving lives in Turkey
Israeli NGO United Hatzalah is using cloud-based tech from Israel’s Carbyne (see here) to share real-time location data, video, and images with its remote medical teams in Turkey. Separately, Israel’s Sight Diagnostics (see here) will deploy its blood count devices at the IDF’s field hospital.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-first-responders-in-turkey-use-real-time-tech-for-remote-victim-care/
CyberTech Global 2023
Cybertech Global is the cyber industry’s foremost Business-to-Business networking platform. The 2023 Tel Aviv event was as popular as ever with speakers including Israeli leaders, cyber leaders from governments and industry, both Israeli and global.
https://www.cybertechisrael.com/speakers
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/defense/1675170832-israel-s-cybersecurity-authority-foiled-over-1-000-major-attacks-in-2022
https://english.news.cn/20230201/50075bc54e78471d8d168486967c17b5/c.html
Microsoft partnership for quantum education
The quantum computing platform from Israel’s Classiq (see here previously), plus Microsoft Azure Quantum’s cloud have been made available to Israeli professors, students, and researchers for conducting courses and carrying out research in all aspects of quantum computing.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syqgngwto
Promoting innovation in Engineering
The Azrieli Foundation has donated $3.75 million to create the Azrieli Center for Excellence in Engineering Education in Israel (Azrieli E3). The new center will develop and promote innovative methods of engineering education, while nurturing engineers over the course of their careers.
https://www.jns.org/azrieli-foundation-donates-3-75-million-to-boost-engineering-education-in-jerusalem/
Cleantech award in the UAE
Brenmiller Energy (see here previously) is the first Israeli company to win a World CleanTech Award from the CleanTech Business Club – a group of industry, government, and investment leaders from 36 countries. CEO Avi Brenmiller received the outstanding startup award in Abu Dhabi.
https://www.israel21c.org/brenmiller-energy-wins-world-cleantech-award-at-uae-event/
Tomato-picking robot picks up the pace
The tomato harvest robots from Israel’s MetoMotion (see here previously) now work at two greenhouse growers in the Netherlands. MetoMotion is looking to install 10 to 20 of the robotic machines this year, targeting Western Europe, followed eventually by Canada and the US.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-develops-first-ai-robot-for-picking-tomatoes/
Japanese forests in Israel
At an ecological community site in Southern Israel, LyOr Rabinowiz and a group of volunteers are growing a forest using the Japanese Miyawaki method. They planted saplings close together, which helps the trees defend each other against pests, revitalize poor soil, and are said to grow much faster.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-crowded-japanese-style-forest-israeli-trees-find-space-to-grow/
From Startup Nation to WaterTech Nation
Great summary by Seth M Siegel (author of “Let There Be Water”) of Israel’s successful strategy to overcome its water scarcity. Seth is Chief Sustainability Officer at Israel’s N-Drip. See also here and here previously.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjefnmftj
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Ohio buys more Israel Bonds
The government of Ohio State has purchased $20 million of Israel Bonds to take its overall holding to $182.5 million and become one of the largest government owners of Israeli Bonds in the United States. Since 1993, every Ohio state treasurer has purchased Israel Bonds (see here previously).
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/366917
All happening at Investor Summit
The speakers lined up for OurCrowd’s Global Investor Summit, this coming week, include Israel’s President Herzog, US Ambassador Nides, Author Saul Singer, “Fauda” actor Lior Raz, ex-Mossad head Yossi Cohen, Natan Sharansky, and many, many more.
https://summit.ourcrowd.com/
https://summit.ourcrowd.com/speakers/
$125 million for Israeli space-tech
Israel’s Earth & Beyond Ventures (see here previously) has raised $125 million to invest in Israel’s emerging commercial space ecosystem. It will focus on aerospace and satellite engineering startups. Investors include NASA supplier Corning, Japan’s Kyocera, and Israel’s Spacecom.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/earth-beyond-launches-new-125-million-fund-to-invest-in-israeli-space-tech/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1611pgai
University VC fund reaches its target
Israel’s Reichman University has successfully raised the $30 million it announced previously in June for startups founded by its graduates. RUNI Ventures, will offer some $500,000 to each promising startup, plus workspace, mentors (Uni and/or external), and student interns or employees.
https://nocamels.com/2023/01/university-raises-30m-for-student-startups/
Business opportunities to USA from Israel
The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce has released “Business Opportunities from Israel”. The database contains hundreds of up-to-date offers across all industries from Israeli importers, exporters, service providers, etc., seeking business partners around the world.
https://www.chamber.org.il/37679/40433/
Israeli head of Texas Instruments
Israel’s Haviv Ilan is to be the new CEO of chip manufacturer Texas Instruments. Ilan joined the US company in 1999 when TI acquired Ilan’s Israeli startup, Butterfly.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-appointed-ceo-of-chip-manufacturer-texas-instruments/
Bringing biofriendly resilin to market
Israel’s Smart Resilin (see here previously) is partnering European biotech Acies Bio to commercialize resilin as an environmentally beneficial material for many industries. The non-toxic, bio-degradable protein can replace synthetic plastics in applications from footwear to aerospace.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-resilin-and-acies-bio-join-forces-to-commercialize-resilin-301716447.html
Seahorse wine
The boutique Seahorse Winery at Bar Giora in the Judean Hills makes some 50,000 bottles of wine a year. The winery has 2,200 vines per acre, compared to 880 vines per acre elsewhere in Israel. This means the grapes grow under stress, remain small at harvest time, and produce extremely flavorsome wines.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-little-winery-where-every-bottle-is-a-labor-of-love/
FAA approval for drone delivery
The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved the partner of Israel’s Flytrex (see here previously) to use its drones to deliver across the USA. Currently, Flytrex operates in five cities in Texas and North Carolina, delivering everything from burgers to sushi.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90841917/flytrex-partner-causey-aviation-unmanned-gets-faa-approval-for-drone-deliveries-across-u-s
A Wisor solution to freight forwarding
Israel’s Wisor AI has developed a software solution tailored to the needs of the 300,000 freight forwarders. It automates both the manual process of aggregating pricing data as well as the optimization of shipping routes across airlines, ocean liners, trucking, and rail companies.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkquctjaj
Saving a fortune for businesses
Israel’s Anodot (see here previously) analyzes a company’s data to highlight potential revenue issues to management. Since acquiring US-based Pileus, Anodot also helps management control and reduce its cloud computing costs.
https://thesiliconreview.com/magazine/profile/optimize-business-cloud-anodot-solutions/
Ad company gets Google certification
Israel’s Adnimation has been granted Google Certified Publishing Partner (GCPP) status, shared by just 57 other companies around the globe. Adnimation works with publishers to monetize their content with innovative advertising.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-startup-nets-prestigious-google-status/
Investment in Israeli startups to 12/2/23:
Mediwound raised $27.5 million; One Zero Bank (previously First Digital Bank) raised $62 million; Wisor AI raised $8 million; Meala FoodTech raised $1.9 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Inside the Knesset Museum
Israel’s Knesset Museum stores many of the 1,200 gifts the Jewish State has received from other countries and important figures. Here is a glimpse. It will be revealed in full to the public to celebrate Israel’s 74th birthday.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-what-secrets-does-the-knessets-chamber-of-treasures-hold/
1600-year-old gold bead found in Jerusalem
A rare gold bead from the end of the Roman era has been discovered in Jerusalem’s City of David during excavation of the Pilgrimage Road. It was made using unique delicate workmanship to affix tens of tiny balls together in the shape of a ring to create one small bead.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-730923
Sun & rain in Jerusalem
Jerusalem’s streets last week were a contrast of clouds, downpours, and sunshine. So were some of Jerusalem’s events. And notice the elderly Arab man leaving Mount Scopus’ Hadassah hospital in a Yad Sarah wheelchair. Mazel Tov to Sharon on her new grandson.
http://rjstreets.com/2023/02/05/in-jerusalem-february-got-off-to-a-busy-start/
Hugh Laurie in Tehran
Veteran English actor Hugh Laurie (famous as Dr Gregory House) is joining the cast of Israeli spy thriller Tehran for its third season. It marks another high-profile casting after movie icon Glenn Close featured in Season Two. Laurie is expected to play a nuclear inspector.
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/rjn1ciwps
Jerusalem Marathon
Mar 17 is the date for the Jerusalem Marathon. Israel’s Emergency EMT NGO United Hatzalah has formed a team that will be running to save lives. Israelis can also join the team to help raise funds. Register at www.israelrescue.org/jlmmarathon23
Judoka gold
Israeli judoka Gili Sharir won the gold medal in the women’s under 63kg category at the 2023 Paris Grand Slam judo competition. Israel’s Gefen Primo won the women’s under 52kg bronze medal. Israel’s Peter Paltchik also took home the bronze medal in the men’s under 100kg category.
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/hk0011f63i
THE JEWISH STATE
120 more Ethiopians make Aliyah
The first 2023 flight of “Operation Zur Yisrael” has just brought 120 new immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel. They had spent a long time in Addis Ababa and Gondar but following Ethiopia agreeing to issue exit visas, they can now reunite with their Israeli families.
90 more Ukrainian Jews come home
Ninety Ukrainian Jewish refugees have just arrived in Israel on a chartered flight made possible by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). The refugees originally chose to stay behind in Ukraine but have since been forced out of their former homes by the fighting.
https://www.jns.org/90-ukrainian-jewish-refugees-come-home-to-israel/
JNF Global Conference for Israel
I know it’s a long way off, but you might wish to plan for the JNF-USA’s Global Conference for Israel Nov 30 – Dec 3 in Denver Colorado. See Israeli innovation up close and take part in one of the largest Shabbat dinners ever.
https://jnf-usa.force.com/s/lt-event?id=aBH6T000001UJDGWA4
Those who bless Israel
For Christian readers living in the UK.
Lone soldiers are not alone
120+ soldiers from 27 countries participated in the Givati Brigade Association’s Lone Soldiers Day at Metzudat Yoav near Kibbutz Sde Yoav. Personal meetings addressed individual needs. Group workshops explored housing subsidies, living expenses, Shabbat meals and family environments.
https://www.jns.org/gathering-of-elite-idf-soldiers-shows-theyre-far-from-lone/
https://www.enjoyingisrael.com/attractions/6548/metzudat-yoav-givati-brigade-center
Holy work
While waiting for the order to move into the crisis zone, members of the IDF delegation stopped to pray. Then Israel’s Chief Rabbi instructed Israeli Jewish rescue workers to continue operations through the Jewish Sabbath, as Jewish law states that saving life overrides Torah commandments.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-idf-soldiers-pray-immediately-after-landing-in-turkey-to-save-lives/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/02/09/israeli-chief-rabbi-grants-special-dispensation-to-earthquake-rescue-teams-in-turkey-and-syria-to-work-through-jewish-sabbath/