Israel Active

Weizmann Institute Prof. Moni Naor recently won the Rothschild Prize for his research in the field of computer science. He is responsible for the theoretical foundation of Bitcoin mining.

The Israeli Innovation Authority has named 20 Israeli climatech companies to be featured at November’s COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. Each company will showcase its solutions at the Israeli pavilion in the BLUE ZONE, the event’s main hub.

Haifa’s Hecht Museum has repaired the 3,500-year-old ceramic jug accidentally shattered by a four-year-old visitor (see previously) and put it back on display. Cracks and damage were still visible, and a small piece was deliberately left out, to show that the restored artifact was visibly incomplete.

Israel’s Cognyte helps hundreds of customers in over 100 countries detect incidents of terror and crime. Its AI-based analytics present a clear, logical and cohesive picture of people, places, organizations, events, etc. A national security agency recently placed a $4 million follow-on order.

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded Starting Grants for 2024 to eleven researchers from Tel Aviv University. The grant enables promising early-career scientists achieve their research goals, promote cooperation and begin commercialization of the technology.

Deep learning, using artificial neural networks has advanced so quickly that scientists do not know how AI made a particular decision. IT engineers at Ben Gurion University developed DISCOVER and with startup AIVF (see ) reverse-engineered how AI decides if an IVF embryo is viable.

Hydrogen was a key session at the Greentech 2024 New Horizon Conference and exhibition in Jerusalem. Israeli startups represented included , , Maygia, , , plus from the Israeli Ministries of Energy and Finance.   

Israel’s Energy Ministry is providing NIS 30 million to local authorities in 2024 to install solar roofing, efficient lighting, air conditioning, and renewable energy storage systems. Also to launch initiatives for residents. Lower socioeconomic areas will get priority.

The Haifa program IN-VENTech has launched 67 Israeli startups to date. They include Level Hydrofoils which has developed a unique e-foil that “flies” you up to 35km/hour one meter above the water for 30-40 km on a single charge. It uses a gyroscope that can keep even a dog stable (see video).

Israel’s Better Pulse is the first company to use the cowpea (black-eyed pea) as an entirely new dairy milk alternative. Technically, the cowpea is a bean that contains almost all of the essential amino acids. The resilient crop requires little water and fertilizer, is tolerant to heat and has a very low carbon footprint.