Israel Active

Israel has awarded a total of NIS 18.5 million to 11 Israeli space tech startups - Ayecka, Paxis, Terra Space Lab, , GorillaLink, GreenOnyx, , , Space Plasmatics, , and . The program aims to help grow space tech startups and bolster the Israeli space tech market.

The TauSat-3 nano satellite, built by Tel Aviv University scientists, has arrived at the International Space Station. It contains the “COTS-Capsule” experiment that Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe will perform in March, to analyze mechanisms to protect electronics from cosmic radiation.

Professor Avishay Gal-Yam and colleagues at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have just published their findings of their 2019 discovery of a supernova that had never been observed before. A Wolf-Rayet Star exploded nearly 1 billion light years from Earth, emitting cosmic radiation and heavy elements.

Researchers from Israel’s Technion Institute have developed a method of harvesting an electrical current directly from seaweed. The Ulva algae (sea lettuce) is already being researched as a Covid treatment (see previously) and it now appears to be able to generate currents on a par with solar panels.

Israel’s SavorEat has revealed its flagship product at the BBB burger restaurant chain in Herzliya. The plant-based 3D-printed burgers were ordered by members of the press via their mobile phones, printed by Robot Chef and presented alongside fries, onion rings, and fried cauliflower.

Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have produced eco-friendly self-healing nanocrystal semiconductors. They have shown how these materials, known as double perovskites, exhibit self-healing capabilities after being injured by electron beam radiation.

Israel’s Paradox has developed Olivia - a virtual personal assistant, who joins human recruitment teams and helps them automate all recruitment processes.  Paradox has just raised $200 million of funds to give it a market valuation of $1.5 billion and make it Israel’s first “unicorn” of 2022.

The fashion industry is notoriously wasteful of resources.  Now Israel’s Browzwear (see previously) has set-up “Digi-hub” centers in China and Bangladesh to help garment manufacturers go digital, reduce pollution, and become more sustainable.

Israel’s Zoog (see previously) has advanced significantly with its virtual storybooks for children. Zoog has just partnered with Snap (previously Snapchat) and its Camera Kit to make Zoog’s Alternate Reality masks, machine learning, and animation-creation technologies even more exciting.

A panel of Israeli experts have selected the five most promising Israeli startups in the smart city and mobility sectors. , , and featured previously in VeryGoodNewsIsrael.  Urbanleap and Click-ins are new to this newsletter.   (see also )