Israel Active

UK Science Minister George Freeman met key players in the Israeli scientific community. He tweeted: “Thank you to all the brilliant scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers in Israel for a brilliant visit and agreement on a new UK-Israel R&D collaboration.”

Israel’s GenCell Energy has made a scientific breakthrough by producing ammonia with zero emissions, direct from water at very low temperature and pressure compared to traditional ammonia production processes. The project began and Japan’s TDK Corporation will help CenCell to the next milestone.

Israeli food-tech startup Gavan Technologies has created a wide array of natural blue colorings for hot-and cold drinks. Derived from spirulina from blue-green algae, the kosher, vegan colorings are stable under high-heat processing and in low pH, enabling full pasteurization.

Israel’s Connecteam (see previously) allows companies to share computer facilities with low tech workers who don’t have a computer or email. Its software is designed to help manage the more than 2.7 billion workers or 80% of the global workforce that are not tied to a desk.

Scientists at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University have found the mechanism that enables some plants to grow aerial roots, e.g., ivy and fiscus trees. They identified the genes that instruct root cells to grow upwards. It will help grow crops that resist soil disease and make best use of valuable land.

The water level of Israel’s Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) should never again drop to dangerous (red line) levels once Israel implements its next major water project. Excess water produced by Israel’s desalination plants will be pumped into the Kinneret. Two more plants are being built and water may also help replenish the Dead Sea.

Israeli vehicle retailer Colmobil is to import hydrogen-fueled trucks built by Hyundai for Israeli companies Bazan and Sonol. Hyundai has been testing its hydrogen trucks in Israel and has invested in Israel’s H2Pro, which is producing hydrogen at scale using electrolysis (see previously).

Israel’s Maris-Tech develops and markets intelligent communications and monitoring systems for homeland security and the autonomous car industry. Customers include Elbit Systems, Israel's Defense Ministry, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries. It just raised $17.8 million in a Nasdaq IPO.

Israel’s Selectika provides shoppers with their own optimal digital assortment and provides retailers with real-time data and analytics and trends. Originally developed to help people buy clothes using advanced technology, it has grown to a full intelligence system for brands and retailers.

Several joint US-Israel cybersecurity initiatives have been launched recently. They include up to $12 million for ICRDE - a new consortium, to protect critical energy facilities. It will be led by Israel’s Ben Gurion University and Arizona State University. Also, research with US Homeland Security.