Israel Active

At the first-ever International Brain Technology Conference in Tel Aviv, President Shimon Peres will present a check for $1 million to the winner of the Global B.R.A.I.N. (Breakthrough Research And Innovation in Neurotechnology) contest. The finalists have developed applications that interface with the brain.

The yield from this year’s date crop in the Arava desert region is expected to reach 7,500 tons - an increase of 20% over last year’s harvest. The high yields have been accompanied by a 20% reduction in water consumption. Israel’s total annual date crop is expected to reach around 34,000 tons.

(Thanks to Size Doesn’t Matter and GreenProphet) A group of friends from Tel Aviv got so tired of lugging enormous locks to foil would-be bicycle thieves that they got together to design what may be the world’s only fashionable solution: the Foldylock. The video resembles a Clint Eastwood movie.

Israeli startup Inno-Bev’s all-natural WakeUp won “Best Functional Drink” at the Drinktec Beverage Innovation Awards. Instead of a high caffeine energy drink, enjoy guarana, ginkgo biloba, elderberry and a unique apple sugar with a low glycaemic index that reduces sugar fluctuation.

Israel’s Technion has received its largest ever donation. The Li Ka Shing Foundation donated $130 million to establish the Technion Guangdong Institute of Technology, a joint venture with Shantou University in Guangdong Province in southern China.

(Thanks to Yair) An Israeli company has made a watch to keep your loved ones safe. The Foxiwatch has GPS, a mobile phone and an emergency contact button. For children or at-risk adults.

(Thanks to Jacob) A long but very positive article on Israel’s technical prowess. Covers cyber-security, UAVs (unmanned drones), computer processor chips, the Start-up nation, Be’er Sheva’s Advanced Technology Park, Negev agriculture and Ben Gurion University.

A site for a new technology and engineering campus has been allocated in southeast Tel Aviv. The 6.75-acre site will accommodate 5,000 students, dormitories, the Afeka Academic College of Engineering, plus education institutions already in the area, such as the ORT Singalovksi School.

Half of Israel’s electricity now comes from natural gas – mainly from the new Tamar offshore gas field. Israel Electric Corporation announced that this is its cleanest year ever for environmental quality and the production of clean, green electricity.

Israel Corporation subsidiary IC Green Energy has inaugurated a facility in New Jersey to produce gasoline from natural gas. The plant can produce up to 100,000 gallons (440,000 liters) of gasoline a year. Automobiles will be able to use the lower cost, less emissions fuel without any modifications.