Israel Active

Israel’s PM Naftali Bennett has announced that the IDF is building a laser interception system to protect Israel from missiles, rockets, UAVs, and other threats. It could also be supplied to Israel’s regional allies and globally.

Israel’s SpaceIL co-founder Yonatan Winetraub has devised an experiment to grow Israeli chickpeas in space. A miniature greenhouse containing the seeds will arrive at the International Space Station on 19th Feb. Scientists will use special LEDs to test if they can grow the superfood without sunlight or gravity.

Israel’s Elbit is to build a space telescope for Israel’s Weizmann Institute. The highly sensitive wide-view instrument is part of Israel’s Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (“ULTRASAT”) program, to observe and research deep space, from an orbit 36,000km above the Earth.

At the Reichman University (formerly IDC) in Herzliya, Israeli scientists are creating portals between the senses and even reprogramming our senses. It’s where they invented EyeMusic (see previously) to help the blind use sound to “see” shapes.

The virtual conference AI Week Online (Feb 7 – 9) sponsored by the Cyber Research Center at Tel Aviv University, highlighted how Israeli Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is revolutionizing business strategy, government policy, operations and product development in every imaginable field.

The TechBehemoths platform has given 2021 awards for excellence, hard work and positive feedback to 10 Israeli companies. , , , , , , , , , and . A newsletter first for all.

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded more starting grants (see previously) this time to 4 scientists from Israel’s Technion. Dr. Ayala Shiber, Dr. Shay Moran, Dr. Aviv Tamar, and Dr. Ron Rothblum received at least 1.5 million euros each to support their projects.

Israel’s Tosaf develops additives and solutions to give plastic color, plus properties such as anti-static, anti-fog, and flame retardant.  In addition, they make plastic reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable.

At the Ramon Space Conference during Israeli Space Week, private and public groups focused on technology to ensure food security, help protect the environment, and predict the weather, while allowing the commercial sector to flourish. Speakers included Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe from Axiom Space.   (Video in Arabic for Israeli Arabs!)

Following last week’s article on Israel’s Plantish (Oshi - see ), at least four more Israeli startups were founded in the food alternatives fish market over the past year.  Sea2cell (cultured blue tuna), Wanda Fish (cell-based fish fillets), Forsea (cultured eels for Japan), E-Fishient (cultured tilapia).