Israel Active

The world's second-largest mobility supplier, Denso, has selected the technology of Israel’s Foretellix (reported previously) for its next-generation automated driving and ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems) solutions. Denso’s components are in nearly every vehicle on the road.

Israel’s Ride Vision (reported previously) has partnered German automotive giant Continental AG and raised $7 million from investors including Israel’s OurCrowd. Ride Vision said that in 2021 its products will be available in Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Greece, Israel, and the UK.

Israel’s Dynamic Infrastructure (reported previously) has extended its pilot project in Suffolk County, New York.  It will now assess the structured integrity of 74 bridges in the county. Dynamic monitors over 900 bridges in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Greece and Israel.

This article has a nice photo of an Israeli display at Dubai’s Ras Al Khor fresh market. Shlomi Fogel, Chairman of Carmel Agrexco, one of Israel’s largest exporters of agricultural produce said, “we are beginning to see the ‘fruits of peace’ today”.

Israeli online data ownership startup Mine (reported previously) has completed a $9.5 million funding round led by Gradient Ventures – the first time Google’s AI-focused venture fund has invested in an Israeli company. Mine has just launched its data privacy product in the United States.

Chinese venture capital fund RunYoung Technology Transfer Center has launched a $50 million fund dedicated to investing in Israeli early-stage life sciences companies that are interested in entering the Chinese market. It will invest up to $5 million in each Israeli startup.

Etihad Airways, the second largest airline in the UAE after Emirates, has announced that it will begin operating flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on March 28, 2021. In the announcement, Etihad said it would fly to Tel Aviv "the economic and technological center of Israel."

Several compliments in the latest report from the International Monetary Fund. Timely and decisive measures helped preserve market and financial stability and access to credit. Support to the health system, households and businesses helped soften the economic impact.

As predicted previously, financial ratings agency Standard & Poor’s affirmed their high AA- credit rating for the Jewish State with a stable outlook. S&P cited Israel’s robust financial system and access to capital markets. They also noted Israel’s recent agreements with Arab states.

According to the latest World Economic Forum and World Bank report, Israel spent 4.95% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP on research and technology in 2018 – the highest in the world. Most went into computer systems, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and medical research. (Great chart - select Israel to highlight)