Israel Active

Israel’s XTRMX develops software tools that allow multiple people to edit and review the same video over the Internet simultaneously. It’s as if you are sitting in the same room with the editor. XTRMX is to be offered by Avid Technology, Inc. through their online store.

Israel’s Rubidium has integrated its voice trigger into the 66 Audio® PRO Voice wireless headphones, to produce the world’s first voice-triggered Bluetooth headphones with built-in Amazon Alexa. Users say “Alexa” to start interacting with Amazon’s cloud-based voice service.

The Hessian Israeli Partnership Accelerator for Cybersecurity (HIPA) brings together top talents in cybersecurity from Israel and Germany to jointly work on cybersecurity projects. The partnership is a joint venture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute.

I reported previously that Multi-national electronics manufacturer Flex had opened its new Haifa design center. Flex has now begun building a new production facility at Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and will take on 200 more staff.

I reported previously that car maker Hyundai was teaming up with Israel’s Technion to research smart car technology. Now Hyundai is to open a development center in Israel. It will focus on energy, smart cities, artificial intelligence, smart transportation and robotics.

Israeli IT giant Mellanox is setting up an accelerator and support program for startups. It will include over 10 startups and focus on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, storage, high-performance computing, and cloud computing.

Researchers at Ben Gurion University have discovered that treating recycled wastewater using biofiltration is more efficient for irrigation in arid, sandy soils that are found in deserts. It increases the rate of absorption into the sandy soil, thus reducing surface evaporation.

Deputy ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, Mauritius and Swaziland Ayellet Black, with two Israeli experts, led a course on drip irrigation and crop management to 19 local trainers in Swaziland. Severe drought almost crippled Swaziland last year.

I reported previously on the perimeter intrusion detection systems of Israel’s Magal Security. Magal has just won a $13 million contract to provide intrusion and cybersecurity systems for an unnamed major international seaport in East Africa.

To increase the level of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) after a series of bad droughts, Mekorot (Israel’s national water company) will pump desalinated water back into the Kinneret from the Eshkol water filtration plant - the fourth largest facility of its kind in the world.