Monthly Archives: November 2016

2017 natural gas sales worth $1.5 billion

The Bank of Israel is to purchase $1.5 billion of foreign currency in 2017 to offset projected sales of Israel’s natural gas windfall.  The purchases are intended to stop the Israeli Shekel from appreciating too much. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-boi-to-buy-15b-foreign-currency-in-2017-1001160993

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Israel gets an all-round A Plus

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Israel’s Long-Term Foreign-and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to “A+” from “A”. It reflects the fact that Israel’s external balance sheet has continued to strengthen. All three ratings agencies now give Israel an A+ (Fitch, Moody’s … Continue reading

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Intel inaugurates chip production line

Intel has inaugurated its $6 billion next-generation chip production line at its Kiryat Gat facility in Israel.  At the event, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of Intel, “You are producing a new future. Using technology, you amplify Israel’s power. … Continue reading

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CES award for sleep inducer

I reported previously (Jun 13) on the sensor and smartphone app from Israel’s 2breath that helps users fall asleep and tracks their sleeping patterns. 2breath has just won the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation award in Las Vegas, in the … Continue reading

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Printing parts for Airbus

Israel’s Stratasys announced that Airbus has standardized on its ULTEM 9085 3D printing material for the production of flight parts for its A350 XWB aircraft. http://blog.stratasys.com/2016/10/20/airbus-additive-manufacturing-ultem-9085/

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IDCBeyond is launched

I reported previously (here) about the new 1-year program IDCBeyond from the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya. The program has begun, with 36 students enrolled. They will discuss global challenges and then move onto venture creation, culminating in the setting … Continue reading

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Promoting nanotech development with Germany

Israel and Germany have set up a new three-year, 30 million Euros plan to promote joint nanotechnology initiatives and are calling on companies and entities in both countries to submit proposals for funding for projects in this field. http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-germany-join-forces-in-nanotechnology-boost/

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Supermoon over Israel

The full moon came to its closest point (221,524 miles) to the Earth since 1948 (Israel’s Independence), creating what NASA described as ‘an extra-supermoon.’  Visibility in Israel varied depending on location .  The next extra-supermoon will be in 2035. http://rjstreets.com/2016/11/15/chasing-supermoon-in-jerusalem/ … Continue reading

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Generating renewable energy technology

The 7th Eilat-Eilot Renewable and Clean Energy Conference (Nov 27 – 29) brings together industry, government and investors to review new technologies that will advance the global transition to renewable energy. The video highlights the last conference in 2014. http://www.eilateilot.org/conference/ … Continue reading

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See what you hear

I reported previously (Sep 2015) about Israel’s Augury that uses vibration and ultrasound to detect faults in critical machinery. Now another Israeli startup 3DSignals has developed an ultrasonic acoustic sensor which predicts electro-mechanical failure long before it causes production downtime. … Continue reading

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