Israel Active

Israel’s agriculture minister Uri Ariel opened India Water Week in Delhi.  It will feature eleven Israeli companies in the water industry who will demonstrate, through simulations, innovations in irrigation, desalination, water purification, measurement and management for municipalities and farms.

As part of the EU project Fresh Food Corridors (FFC), the first ever “reefer” (temperature-controlled containers) block train loaded with Israeli fruit and veg travelled from the Slovenian port of Koper to Rotterdam. It arrived 6 days earlier than ships direct from Israel.

In the second round of Grand Challenge Israel, ten Israeli companies won government grants of up to half a million shekels for creating technological solutions to health and food security challenges in developing countries.

A team from the Jusidman Science Center for Youth won the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) - a global robotics competition for young people, held for the first time in Israel.  The Jusidman Team includes religious and secular Jews and Arab Bedouins.

Israel raised the threshold for the six most carcinogenic or toxic substances listed in the Clean Air Law and set values for two other substances.  The values are more stringent than European standards, and don't exist in the U.S., making Israel one of the most advanced countries in terms of environmental regulation.

Israeli and US researchers have made the world’s smallest diode – just one molecule small.  Diodes are electronic elements that allow current to flow in one direction but prevent its flow in the other direction.  They are essential for all electronic devices including smartphones and computers.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service has launched a first-of-its-kind smartphone video distress platform, based on an app developed by Israeli startup Reporty.  The service shows emergency operators an outside caller's exact location and provides vital real-time information.

The 4th EcoMotion Conference on 19th May in Tel Aviv will showcase the innovation and entrepreneurship of over 150 Israel startups in the field of Smart Transportation. Featuring presentations, workshops and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, industry leaders and researchers.

Israel’s Cellebrite has (reportedly) successfully accessed the iPhone used by the terrorists who perpetrated the San Bernardino massacre in December.

Israeli start-up Phresh has unveiled an organic solution which enhances the shelf life of fruit and vegetables by 3 times for consumers. Phresh is based on an organic, non-toxic powder, which dissolves into the atmosphere and based on 12 years of research. Phresh just raised 150% of its $30,000 funding goal on Kickstarter.