Israel Active

Israel’s LivinGift has opened applications for zero-interest loans to social impact enterprises from all sectors, including health, education, animal protection, social impact technologies, environment, and support for disadvantaged populations.

Russia's Titanium Investments has unveiled its $50 million fund for investing in Israeli startups. Titanium was originally focused on investments in Russia, but has since expanded its scope, investing mainly in Israeli startups since November 2014.

Boeing has awarded Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) a new contract to build the empennage leading edges for the 777X, which will enter into service in 2020. IAI was also awarded an extension of its existing 777 contract and a strategic agreement worth up to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Israeli incubator Lighthouse Innovations offers startups a benefits package that includes services worth up to a million dollars.  It includes unlimited time, office space, advice, mentoring, marketing plans and investor connections, with no strings attached. For a nominal $75 a month.

Israel’s economy grew by 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 2.5% in the third quarter - stronger than expected.  Overall GDP growth for 2015 was 2.6% compared to its previous estimate of 2.3%.  Consumer and Public spending increased significantly, whilst inflation fell.

Israeli startup BreezoMeter has now expanded its air quality analysis coverage from just the USA and Israel to nine more countries. These are China, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Finland, France, Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan. BreezoMeter currently has over 50 million daily users.

Irish biotech Perrigo said it expected a $100 million boost to annual sales from the new $46 million factory it has just inaugurated in Israel. Perrigo's president, John Hendrickson said, "It allows us to stay on the cutting edge of being a leader of complex products." Perrigo is listed on the TASE.

Israel’s Nano Dimension was Israel's top performing technology stock in 2015. The Israeli startup uses 3D nano-printing to create printed electronic circuit boards (PCBs). Its DragonFly2020 printer is in beta test with several Tier-1 customers.

Israeli-born billionaire Haim Saban has set up a new fund (Saban Ventures) to invest $100 million in Israeli startups. The fund will invest in startups in the mobile, social networks, ecommerce and digital media sectors.

Cisco Systems has acquired two-year-old Israeli Leaba Semiconductor for $350-$400 million. Leaba is so new that it is still operating in “stealth” mode. Its website says that "Leaba is a fabless semiconductor company providing innovative solutions for significant infrastructure challenges.”