Israel Active

The Skolkovo Foundation has selected two Israeli start-ups to establish bi-national ventures in Russia. Jointech Med is developing a device to reduce intra-articular pressure in the knee and Argus Computer Vision is developing an intelligent traffic rules enforcement system.

Having received initial orders of $3 million previously, The Israeli defence electronics giant has now $38 million worth of follow-up orders for its Wide Angle Conventional Head-Up Display (WAC HUD).

A new service by the company “Face-Them” seeks to bridge the gap between investor and Israeli entrepreneurs. “Face-Them” offers a free “Live Stream” website service available exclusively for the investment community to meet with those businesses seeking early investment capital.

Swiss private bank Julius Baer Group will open an office in Tel Aviv in early 2012. Baer has been in business since the 1890s, and currently operates in 40 financial centres in 20 countries. Board members recognised “the value of the Israeli market, and confidence in its ability to grow and thrive.”

The joint venture is building a factory near Shanghai that will have an initial capacity to produce 150,000 cars per year, for marketing in China and Western Europe.

The year 2011 will be a record year in Israel's fruit yield with a total of 690,000 tons of fruit produced, according to the Fruit Growers' Organization. “The land shall yield her fruit, …. and you shall dwell therein in safety.”

I featured this innovative Israeli software in April. Superfish allows you to compare prices of items by searching Internet images to find similar items for sale elsewhere. Superfish has just raised $4 million of funds for marketing and development including a possible mobile phone version.

The SXSW Interactive conference in Austin, Texas is a B2B conference for the interactive, film, and music industries. Israel is considered a technology and creative powerhouse, and conference organisers have encouraged many Israeli companies to participate.

The New York Stock Exchange celebrated its fifth annual Israel Day by hosting a conference on Israeli business innovators and start-up industries. Organiser Tamar Guy said, “One of the best places to create jobs in the US is through innovation, and the best source for innovation is, naturally, Israel.”

Blue & White week followed Black Friday. Thousands of Israeli-produced bargains were on offer throughout the United States.