Israel is fast closing in on Silicon Valley as the preferred place for European outposts, especially in automotive, engineering and biotech R&D.

Merger and acquisition deals in the first half of 2016 indicate that Israeli startups still fetch top-dollar price tags and remain in hot demand.

The first-ever direct flight between San Francisco and Tel Aviv will take off Wednesday evening, forging a stronger link between the US’s and Israel’s startup hubs.

The “500 Startups” Venture Capital Fund is investing in Israeli startup RapidAPI, which developed a platform to allow people with ideas for new applications to turn their initiative into reality quickly and easily.

An Israeli inventor is rewarded with the highest honor the American Government can bestow upon an innovator.