What’s new at WATEC
Israel’s international water conference and exhibition kicked off by focusing on new technologies from Israeli startups. These included Emefcy’s unique SABRE (Spiral Aerobic Biofilm Reactor) solution for wastewater treatment and the leak detection innovations from both Aqua-Rimat and Triple+.
New center for agriculture research
The Israeli Agriculture Ministry’s Volcani Institute has inaugurated the Center for Arid Area Agriculture for the study of desert agriculture and the impact of desertification. The NIS 13 million center will host 14 teams, researching crop protection, plant pests, irrigation and fertilization.
Israeli lunar team secures launch
Israel’s SpaceIL is a stage nearer its goal of becoming the first privately funded mission to the Moon and winning the $20 million Google Lunar XPRIZE. SpaceIL has booked a place on a SpaceX rocket due for launch in the second half of 2017. 16 teams remain from the original 34.
Turning polluted water into beer
Israeli-founded water purification company Desalitech has teamed up with Boston-based Harpoon Brewery to channel the once-famously polluted Charles River into a new beer. Desalitech is using its patented technology to provide water for Harpoon’s Charles River Pale Ale.
A bigger force in the cloud
Israel’s Silicom has bought US-based ADI Engineering for $10 million. ADI’s high-performance Intel equipment will allow Silicom to expand its products for providers of cloud (over the Internet) and network services.
Rapid Internet performance
Israel’s Teridion makes Internet access up to 20 times faster, for users of its advanced Global Cloud Network. Teridion has just raised $20 million to expand in the US and internationally.
Avoid the queue
Israeli startup Tapingo has launched a free app that allows students to order food from their favorite places via their smartphones, so that when they arrive they can just pick it up from the counter without having to wait in line.
An app to help you dress right
The Israeli app “Take A Look” allows you to send a “selfie” for the attention of top Israeli fashion designers Liat Ashuri, Doreen Attias, and Gadi Elimelech. For a $25 fee, one of the three will critique your outfit. They say that they can even give real-time advice whilst still in the store!
Ford hackathon for Israeli developers
US car manufacturer Ford is holding its own hackathon, the Ford AppLink Challenge, for Israel’s tech community to develop new technologies for Ford Sync Systems in the company’s new models. Winners get cash or a new Ford Fiesta. Toyota and Hyundai ran similar recent events. Ford is also to install Israel’s HearMeOut in its vehicles. HearMeOut posts audio clips on social networks.
Why Israel leads financial tech innovation
Good analysis of why Israeli financial technology is growing so impressively. Chief reasons include quality technology, previous successes, international knowhow, multinational R&D, global investment and encouragement for start-ups.