Israel Active

Israel’s Innovation Authority and Michigan’s PlanetM are to co-finance testing future autonomous technologies in Michigan. Israeli companies will receive support for conducting field tests and piloting of the technologies developed by pilot sites in Michigan.

Ben-Gurion University has launched Cactus Capital, a student-run VC (venture capital) fund. It will serve as an academic-educational tool to encourage innovative ideas in the high-tech, biotech and social fields. The $1 million fund will invest in dozens of groups of students each year.

Due to recession, construction on London’s 288-meter Pinnacle Tower was halted in 2008. Now the same design is to be used for the 350-meter high Spiral Tower at the Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv. Scheduled to be completed by 2025, it will be Israel’s second-tallest building.

Israeli high-tech “exits” declined by 33% in 2018 amid a maturing of the local tech ecosystem, according to PwC’s Israel 2018 Exits report. Also, less Israeli start-ups close each year; the IVC Research Center reported a steady decline from 710 failures in 2014 to 352 failures in 2017.

4 million tourists from all over the world visited Israel in 2018, the highest number ever. Great weather, diverse culinary, the cultural scene and some of the most beautiful places in the world - make Israel a great travel destination.

Israel’s Mellanox has successfully deployed its RDMA over Ethernet (RoCE) 25Gbps ConnectX network adapters in Alibaba’s production network. Mellanox adaptors are now accelerating the performance of a wide range of Alibaba’s applications, including its key online services

Israeli solar-cell printing start-up Utilight is to construct two manufacturing plants in Gaza border communities to boost their economy. Utilight’s innovative laser printing technology produces superior, cheaper and lighter solar cells, with improved energy harvesting.

J P Morgan Chase, the largest US lender, is increasing its technology presence in Israel, joining other global financial firms seeking to benefit from the country’s large pool of fintech experts. It plans to employ as many as 200 engineers at its Herzliya office in the next two years.

Israeli-founded BetterTrader.co identifies significant stock market events in real time. It then uses historical data and artificial intelligence to calculate the magnitude of these events and predict market reaction.

Only in Israel would an advert for a car rental company (Eldan) be a PR promotion for the whole country.  Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Eilat, the Galilee,