Israel Active

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s new, digitized Albert Einstein Archives website is proving massively popular. It contains a catalogue of more than 80,000 Einstein-related documents, and a visual display of 2,000 documents up to the year 1921, with more to follow.

Israel’s CollPlant was awarded the Product of the Year prize at last week’s NanoIsrael 2012 show for its work in developing artificial collagen from tobacco using nanotechnology. Collagen plays a major role in connective tissue and is used by the body to repair broken bones and joints.

Petah Tikvah-based Meteor’s anti-virus “spider nets” feature a web of tiny micro-fibres that insects cannot penetrate. By keeping the bugs out, the nets are able to prevent the spread of diseases that until recently have caused major financial losses for farmers. Customers include several Arab countries.

Microsoft has chosen Israel’s CloudOn as their supplier of popular applications WORD, Excel and PowerPoint to iPad users. CloudOn 2.0 can be downloaded at App Stores in the US, Canada and UK. The Israeli connection is interesting, as Microsoft and Apple don’t normally talk with each other.

Israel’s RotaryView has been shortlisted to participate in Microsoft’s first-ever incubator program for early-stage start-ups. RotaryView allows even the smallest businesses to present a 360-degree view of their product, by simply photographing the subject from all angles and uploading.

Teams from the World ORT-affiliated Misgav High School in Northern Israel won first and third place at the Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest at Trinity College in Connecticut, USA. 29 teams from China, the USA and other countries took part.

Amiad Filtration Systems (from my cousin’s Kibbutz) has won a 10 year contract with Calgon Carbon Corporation for cleaning ships' ballast water. Amiad’s Arkal automatic self-cleaning disc filtration technology also protects the marine environment from invasive species transported by ballast water.

Israel’s Oplon has developed packaging can keep food germ-free for weeks without refrigeration or preservatives. An open container of milk will stay fresh for 30 days. Its coating uses a special set of molecules that creates an electrical charge, zapping bacteria.

The Jade application from Israel’s Cellrox allows employees to use the same mobile smart-phone for work and personal use. The app allows the phone’s android operating system to run in separate environments, with a different contact list, different applications and different email accounts.