$160 million to strengthen Negev communities

The Israeli government has approved a $160.8 million plan to strengthen the communities of the Negev. Projects include a new hospital and enhancement of transportation and infrastructure. The development of the South is expected to improve the prosperity of the entire country.

Israeli cybermania

Tel Aviv University Professor Eviatar Matania and Israel Defense magazine founder Amir Rapapor reveal in their book “Cybermania” that 40% of global private cyber investments are in Israeli firms. Cyber accounts for 15% of Israeli hi-tech exports and every third billion-dollar company is Israeli.

Morocco buys Israeli anti-drone defense systems

Morocco has purchased Israel’s Skylock Dome anti-drone defense system to “preserve the country’s national and strategic stability”. Morocco acquired five systems, in a deal signed at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi.

Mastercard opens Israeli innovation lab

Financial services giant Mastercard and Italy’s Enel X officially opened their “FinSec Innovation Lab” in Beersheba. It will work with Israeli cybersecurity startups, focusing on digital identity and authentication, platform security, fraud prevention and countering ransomware.

Investment in Israeli startups (12/12/21)

(November investments under $30 million) raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ; raised ;

Takeovers by Israeli startups

Israel’s has acquired Israel’s for at least ;

Significant exits

Since the beginning of the year, some 86 Israeli tech companies have been bought at a total acquisition value of $9.5 million. This is in addition to the $40 billion invested in Israeli startups, 28 Unicorns and 20 more going public on Wall Street. Latest is Intel’s acquisition of for .

Virtual shops are eco-friendly

Israel’s ByondXR (see previously) is marketing itself as a sustainable alternative to physical stores. It generates no waste, no pollution from customers’ cars, no cleaning. Its pop-up stores now include Armani, L’Oréal, and Proctor & Gamble. It is active in 20 countries, using eight languages.

Smart trolleys heading for the US

Israel’s A2Z Smart Technologies (see previously) is launching a pilot program for its Cust2mate smart shopping carts with Evergreen Kosher Market in New York and New Jersey. A2Z also launched a pilot with Morton Williams supermarkets in October.

Still A+

Fitch Ratings reaffirmed Israel’s A+ rating with a stable outlook. It said the improvement in Israel’s finances in 2021 has been “driven by the strong economic rebound, the gradual withdrawal of pandemic support measures, and particularly buoyant fiscal revenue from high-tech sectors.” It also praised Israel’s new budget.