Israel Active

Spiral is an Israel-founded socially-responsible “neobank” (on-line bank) for US customers. Up to $250,000 of each customer’s savings are protected by FDIC Insurance. Its app facilitates easy donations to any charity with a 501c3 designation, which Spiral matches up to $150.

The International Astronautical Federation has awarded Ben Gurion University an excellence award for its educational project entitled "She Space". The project encourages girls to be involved in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) studies.

For the first time, a woman was appointed as a squadron leader in the Israel Air Force’s flight school. Major ‘Yud’ will command the IDF school’s combat navigators’ squadron and train the next generation of navigators. (see for previous female IAF leaders)

Israeli-founded Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM – see previously) has just held its latest virtual TOM Global Innovation Challenge to provide tailored solutions to people with disabilities, the elderly or poor. The winner was a 3D-printed hand support, enabling 5-year-old Shani to draw, play and eat.

Colombia’s President Ivan Duque opened the Jerusalem office of Innpulsa, Bogota’s entrepreneurship and innovation agency. Colombia’s first overseas trade and innovation office is seen as deepening the already close ties between Israel and its South American ally.

Israel’s Weizmann Institute has joined the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO) to help it complete the largest and most powerful Gregorian optical-infrared telescope ever engineered. Weizmann previously helped develop the telescope’s exo-planet-seeking spectrograph.

Israel’s Economy Minister Orna Barbivai and her Jordanian counterpart Yousef Alshamali met in Jordan to discuss strengthening economic ties, the first such meeting in a decade. They proposed renewing the countries’ trade agreement, improving tourism and more.

The two Israeli members of the AMADEE-20 Mars Simulation mission (see previously) met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “You are making history,” Herzog said. “If there is something that unites humanity, it’s the future life of the universe and the life of the human species.”

The Israeli Embassy in Ghana help promising local agricultural startups bring their ideas to the next level with the help of Israeli tech experts. Ghana is Africa’s largest cocoa producer and Israel can help with irrigation, electricity and treatment against viruses and pests.

World Biz Magazine has chosen Israel’s Hamutal Yitzhak, CEO of Else Nutrition (see previously) as No. 1 (of 40,000+ entries) on their list of “Top 100 Innovation CEO” awards for 2021. Shahar Fogel, CEO of Israel’s Rookout (see previously), was also included in the top 100.