Israel Active

Tahal Group – a subsidiary of Israel’s Kardan – is to construct three agricultural centers in Angola worth $145 million. They include farms, irrigation, greenhouses, chicken coops and a training center. Tahal is also to build a $176 million agricultural and water project in Zambia.

I reported previously about Israeli startup Flytrex’s claims to be the world’s first delivery drone that operates over the cloud.  Now Flytrex has launched in Iceland what it says is the world’s first commercial food delivery route based entirely on unmanned aerial vehicles.

I reported previously on Israel’s Karamba Security which protects cars against hacking attempt to alter its factory settings. Karamba’s CarWall was unanimously awarded 2017 Best Auto Cybersecurity Product/Service by TU-Automotive.  

Israeli startup ITsMine has developed technology to protect companies against internal and external data theft. CEO Kfir Kimhi explained his product on ILTV News. Hackers trying to encrypt, copy, change or delete data are immediately blocked.

Israeli-managed Armis has launched its unique security platform that lets enterprises eliminate their IoT (Internet of Things) security blind spots. Armis’s team includes Technion graduates and former members of Israeli Cyber Intelligence Unit 8200.

The Weizmann Institute held its annual “Science on Tap” night where about 60 leading scientists and outstanding PhD students gave informal science talks on the same day, same hour - in bars and cafes around Tel Aviv.

Israeli startup Icebow seeks to revolutionize chunks of frozen water by branding them with company logos and images. The technology provides a cool, new way for brands to engage with customers, embossing ads and designs at the center of the ice cubes, using only water, with no additives.

The Nature Index of Innovation 2017 ranked Israel’s Weizmann Institute sixth in its international ranking of the world’s top 200 research institutions and the only non-US institution in the top ten.  Weizmann also ranks fifth in applications for patents.

Now that the human genome has been mapped, the problem is how to store each terabyte of an analyzed genome. Israeli startup Geneformics has developed technology to reduce the size of the data footprint by 90 per cent, helping those working on customized medicines for patients.

The Middle East is drying up.  But Israel’s Zuckerberg Institute is developing solutions that can help its parched neighbors and in the process, bring together old enemies in common cause. They see water as a bridge, through joint ventures. And one of those ventures is desalination.