Israel Active

Israel Aerospace Industries has inaugurated its first visitor’s center in the US, in Washington, D.C. IAI says it reflects its strategy to work to deepen business and technological activities with its partners in the U.S. IAI also plans to launch an innovation center in DC at the end of July.

Israel’s OtheReality has developed a virtual reality app that teaches medical staff to show more empathy with patients. The startup launched via a partnership between Bar-Ilan University and Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Innovation Center, and is being piloted at Sheba and other Israeli hospitals.

More on the robotic technology from Israel’s 1MRobotics (see previously). Select your goods and a robot will retrieve your purchased items in under 10 seconds. The first autonomous grocery store will be operated by a supermarket chain with 20 stores in New York.

Israel’s Sowillo Energy (see previously) has developed a system to use energy from the hot water wasted in showering or washing dishes or clothes. Instead of going down the drain, the system redirects the water to a tank where it heats a coil that generates hot water for others in the building.

Israel’s Plastic Back (see previously) has teamed up with Thai petrochemicals company SCG Chemicals on a project to recycle polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste into naphtha fuel for industrial use in Thailand.

Israel’s N2OFF (formerly Nitrousink – see ) has developed bacteria to reduce Nitrous Oxide emissions in agriculture. Its recent study inside greenhouses shows N2O levels reduced by up to 54%. N2O is reportedly 265 times more potent than Carbon dioxide in warming the planet.

The up-to-date info of the progress of the projects of Israeli non-profit Tech Guard (see previously). It now has some 200 volunteers from Israel’s tech community developing solutions to save lives.

The digging of tunnels for the Metro in the Greater Tel Aviv area will involve the removal of 40 million cubic meters of earth. The Ministry of Transport is examining the possibility of using this material to build an artificial island off the coast of Israel.

Israel’s Wanda Fish (see previously) has unveiled toro sashimi made from the cells of bluefin tuna, one of the world’s most expensive fish per pound. Toro sashimi is normally made from the fatty underbelly of the fish, and Wanda says its lab-grown version has the same omega 3-rich nutritional value.

Underneath Kibbutz Shamir in the Upper Galilee is a massive water source – over half as much as in the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Thanks to the JNF-USA and others, the Shamir Drilling Project is reaching down a huge 1.5km to draw water for drought-threatened crops and fish farms.