Israel Active

The Chinese Academy of Sciences is to establish its first center of excellence outside China. The lab, based at Israel's Bar-Ilan University, will specialize in nanotechnology research – particularly nano-medicine and printing two-dimensional materials.

The European Union has awarded European Research Council Starting Grants to four young scientists from Ben-Gurion University. They are Dr. Deborah Toiber (Life Sciences) and three chemists – Prof Manny Shalom, Dr Benjamin Palmer and Dr Joshua Baraban.

Bloomberg Philanthropies has launched a new network of innovation hubs, called Hazira. Bloomberg’s existing innovation teams in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva, will expand to 12 additional cities in Israel. Each will work on a project selected by that city’s mayor.

Non-profit Zimin Foundation has set up, in Tel Aviv University, the Zimin Institute for Engineering Solutions Advancing Better Lives. It aims to help ease the path of good ideas to market. More institutes will be set up in Israel and overseas, each receiving up to $5 million in funding.

Intel’s Haifa lab has developed a microprocessor for computers to gain knowledge by inference – i.e. to reach conclusions that are drawn from evidence and reasoning. The Nervana NNP-I or Spring Hill chip is designed for large computer processing centers.

Israel’s Optibus is used in over 300 cities worldwide to manage some of the most complex and large-scale transportation operations. It helps streamline operations while reducing congestion, emissions and costs. Optibus has just released a major multi-route planning enhancement.  

Israeli startup Videocites is an AI-based video tracking and analytics company. It uses proprietary video fingerprinting technology to track the use of a video either to protect it from piracy or to help analyze and boost its exposure.

Another innovation to reduce food waste is the Israeli SpareEat app. Consumers buy discounted fresh leftover dishes or produce from restaurants, hotels, cafes, and supermarkets. Meanwhile, businesses make extra cash on food they could not otherwise sell.

I’ve reported previously on many Israeli food packaging innovations to reduce some of the 40% food wasted in shops and at home. Now Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture is to award a NIS 9.5 million grant, as part of a pilot program to promote pre-packaging of produce by retailers.

I’ve reported previously on Israel’s Nano Dimension and its 3D printing of electronic circuits. Nano Dimension’s new DragonFly Lights Out technology allows 24-hour continuous digital manufacturing (LDM) with minimal human involvement.