Israel Active

The Manufacturers’ Association of Israel has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. Its aim is to foster business and manufacturing ties and boost relations with institutions in industry, trade, and investment.

The Israel Innovation Authority is investing another NIS 40 million to advance “disruptive, future technologies” in the Jewish state. It gave examples of these technologies, including same-day delivery by walking robots, 3D-printed organs for transplants, and state-of-the-art school security.

The Israel Innovation Authority's Tnufa (“Ideation”) program provides grants as much as $54,000 for up to two years. The initiative aims to help entrepreneurs develop technological ideas and then decide whether to start a business and raise private equity.

Israel’s export of carrots and potatoes is breaking records due to drought in Spain, Portugal and Italy, and a wet Israeli winter. Potato exports grew from 140,000 tons to 200,000 tons with prices for farmers up 10%.  Carrots jumped from 15,000 tons to 50,000 tons with prices up by 20%.

The Canadian government is providing funds (estimated at $1 million) to Tel Aviv University, with the goal of improving Canada’s Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) systems. The EEW system developed by TAU and Israel’s SeismicAI (see ) is in use in many countries.

raised ; Medical received a European Innovation Council Accelerator grant; received a European Innovation Council Accelerator grant; raised ;

Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda street market is one of the Capital city’s famous icons. It is currently celebrating its centenary year of business. Here are several articles, plus Jacob Richman’s colorful photos of the market and its wares.

Israel’s Nextferm (see previously) has signed an agreement with India’s Kothari Fermentation and Indian subcontractor Biochem, to produce Nextferm’s flagship product ProteVin - a vegan, yeast-based non-GMO fermented protein powder.

US venture capital fund General Catalyst is to finance 80% of the cost of acquiring new customers for Israeli insurtech company Lemonade – approximately $150 million. In return, the US company will receive 16% of the premiums generated from the policies they helped finance.

HSBC (UK) and Leumi (Israel) are providing $1.1 billion of finance for Tel Aviv’s light railway. The 46 stations, 18-mile-long Purple Line will connect central Tel Aviv to Yehud, Kiryat Ono, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Bar Ilan University, Sheba Medical Center, and Shuk Hacarmel.