Very Good News Israel

It’s down to the wire.  (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Trans-Catheter Aortic-Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures are saving thousands of lives but are extremely difficult to perform.  The Acwire from Israel’s MediValve allows cardiologists to implant these heart valves at exactly the right position. Acwire has just received European CE mark approval.

No more bedsores.  Complications from pressure ulcers (bedsores) are a big problem for hospital patients, and leads to 60,000 deaths in the US each year.  Hospitals are installing the MAP (Monitor Alert Protect) system from Israel’s Wellsense. A pressure-sensing mat alerts nurses to reposition patients regularly.

Why innocent bacteria become deadly.  Group A Streptococcus (GAS) begins as a mild bacteria infection but can develop into the deadly flesh-eating disease necrotizing fasciitis. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered how this bacterium metamorphoses, opening the door to future possible treatments.

Positive trials for pancreatic cancer treatment.  Israeli biotech Novocure’s clinical study of its NovoTTF therapy for pancreatic cancer demonstrated a significant decrease in cell count and reduced tumor volume. Its effectiveness was enhanced when combined with chemotherapy.

Airtight hospital safety.  Administering medication is a hazardous task.  Standard syringes risk exposing hospital staff to dangerous chemicals.  The Israeli-manufactured Equashield provides the safe, simple and sterile transfer of meds, preventing contamination and spillage.

Treating sick migrants.  In a queue for a plane I met an Israeli doctor who volunteers at the Tel Aviv Central Bus station’s clinic for illegal migrants MigrantHealth:IL. The clinic also recruits nurses from within the migrant community, who then reduce the burden on the clinic by passing on health advice to sick migrants.

Dogs for People.  (Thanks to Israel21c) “Dogs for People” uses dog-handling courses to build self-esteem in humans. 60 therapy dogs – all rescued from the streets – rehabilitate people at risk and with special needs, in a unique therapeutic program. Some 6,000 Israeli children and youth have so far participated.

Ariel University gets Czech approval.  Czech ambassador to Israel Tomas Pojar paid a visit to Ariel University in Samaria.  He took a special interest in research done by the University in cooperation with Palestinian villages in the area, as well as in the “hundreds of Arab students studying on the campus.”

Israel starts up developing nations.  For the second year running, 70 young leaders in social change and startups are meeting in Caesarea, Israel, to brainstorm ideas to change the world. ID2 (Israeli Designed International Development) runs from Feb 18-20 and brings young entrepreneurs into contact with expert help.

Global water competition finalist.  Israeli agri-tech Tal-Ya has reached the last 12 of the Imagine H2O Global Competition.  Tal-Ya’s trays create a “personal greenhouse” for each plant or tree, enabling farmers to prevent weeds, reduce water use by 50% and fertilizer use by 30%, while accelerating plant growth dramatically.

More about “Digital Israel”.  Israel’s super fast 1 gigabit Internet being developed could change society.  The combination of IEC’s fiber optic cables, Cisco’s data transport and the digitization of Government records will create new opportunities for huge numbers of new enterprises and businesses to open up.

Is your dog healthy?  (Thanks to Israel21c) A new Israeli pet chip monitor company called Oggii has developed a $30 chip and patented algorithms to correlate pet movements with possible problems such as ticks, skin allergies, seizures, arthritis, poor joints, brain damage and even ear infections.

A fertilizer app for crops.  (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israel’s Haifa Group is a global leading supplier of potassium nitrate for agriculture and industry, specialty plant nutrients and food phosphates. It has just launched a free mobile app (iOS or Android) that helps the grower determine the precise amount of fertilizers needed.

Draw a sketch, and we produce a photo.  (Thanks to Uri) It’s a pity that the UK Daily Telegraph didn’t acknowledge that one of the developers of this clever application, Ariel Shamir, is Israeli and not Chinese.

Israel’s flying car takes off.  The Air Mule from Israel’s Tactical Robotics has just completed its first fully automatic test flights.  The unmanned Vertical Takeoff and Landing craft can be used as an air ambulance.

Get the best connection.  (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Israeli start-up Glove has an app that analyses which network provider gives you the best reception for your mobile phone.  You run the app for three days and then it puts you in touch with the ideal carrier.  It’s useful for anyone buying a new phone or moving to a new area.

Visit NanoIsrael 2014.  Tel Aviv hosts NanoIsrael 2014, the fourth bi-annual conference & exhibition, on 24-25 March 2014.  It features 40 presentations given by Israeli Nano companies.  Over 1,200 nano-technology industry players, engineers and scientists are attending from over 36 countries. Follow the event on facebook.

Israel’s trade deficit reduced.  Israel’s trade deficit fell to NIS 51.7 billion in 2013 from NIS 70.4 billion in 2012.  Imports of goods fell 8 percent and imports of fuel fell 15 percent mainly due to the start of Israel’s natural gas production from the Tamar field.

Top notch security testing.  (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israel’s Checkmarx was the 2nd fastest growing security company in the 2013 Deloitte EMEA Tech Fast 500, with over 2,200% revenue growth in 5 years.  It is used by four of the world’s ten largest software companies and three of the world’s four largest IT consulting firms.

Israel is 4th largest buyer of US commercial property.  Israeli companies purchased $1 billion worth of commercial retail property in the US over the last 3 years.  Israel is tied with Switzerland as the fourth largest foreign investor with 6% of the market.  Only Canada and Germany bought more.

Don’t miss an opportunity.  (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israeli start-up Implisit has raised $3.3 million to expand the marketing of its unique business intelligence system.  Implisit boosts sales by identifying neglected and inaccurate areas of the pipeline. It identifies potential business, directly from employees’ emails and meetings.

TeXchange opens UK to Israeli start-ups.  The UK Israel Tech Hub is running its second annual TeXchange competition to connect up Israeli start-ups with British businesses.  15 winning start-ups will get trips to London’s Tech City, where they can open up the UK market in terms of both customers and partnerships.

Mobile Internet in a Flash.  (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Two Israeli mobile Internet companies Flash Networks and Mobixell are joining forces to meet the growing demand for mobile data and services. The new company will support hundreds of deployments, serving over one billion subscribers worldwide.

Filipino caregiver wins Israel’s X-Factor. Rose Fostanes, a 47-year-old Filipina caregiver who arrived in Israel six years ago, became the first winner of the Israeli version of popular singing competition X-Factor.  Now recognized on every street corner and cafe, Fostanes has become a household name in Israel.

Lev shel Zahav.  Rock legend Neil Young (of Crosby Stills Nash and Young fame) is booked to perform at Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park on July 17.  His most successful album “Harvest” includes his classic “Heart of Gold” (Lev shel Zahav in Hebrew).

How does it feel?  Vania Heymann of Israel’s Interlude has made an interactive video masterpiece. Designed like a TV screen, you can switch channels to watch 16 different scenes of celebrities lip-synching to Bob Dylan singing “Like a Rolling Stone”.  The realistic staged scenes make a statement on US TV society.  It has gone viral and was featured on the Wall St Journal, Rolling Stone magazine, The UK’s Daily Telegraph, etc. etc.

Record Taglit-Birthright arrival.  On 30th Dec, a record-breaking 1,600 Taglit-Birthright participants arrived in Israel in a single day.  The 39 groups included from the US, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Germany and Russia.  The free 10-day tour included a mega event in Jerusalem for the 2,500 participants currently in Israel.

Israel to promote Jewish education in Diaspora.  UK Jewry has been pleasantly surprised by Israel’s announcement that it will fund programs to encourage links between the Jewish Diaspora and Israel.  Ideas include summer camps and Birthright-style programs to younger age groups.

King David’s castle to be revealed.  Excavations of an underground cave in southern Jerusalem are uncovering a complete castle and possibly an entire neighborhood from the Judean kings’ period. It may be a breakthrough in the perception of the period of King David, his son Solomon and of the entire Judean kingdom

Israeli government celebrates New Year for Trees.  For the first time in the 65 years of Knesset history, 40 members of Israel’s parliament, plus many guests, held an official Tu Bishvat ceremony on the afternoon of Jan 15.  They recited blessings over the seven biblical species of fruit, drank wine, and read Talmudic literature.

A Nobel tradition.  In 1923, Professor Albert Einstein started a Technion-Nobel tradition when he planted a palm tree at the Israel Technion’s original campus. Since 2007, all visiting Nobel laureates are invited to plant a tree in Technion’s Lokey Park.  For Tu Bishvat here is a video of several Nobel Prize winners doing just that.

Basia comes home.  Basia Wieczorek’s grandmother escaped the Warsaw Ghetto and was adopted by Polish family.  When Basia was 5, she told her she was Jewish.  Basia embraced her Jewish identity, culminating in her Masters thesis “Jewish Identity of the Third Generation.”  Basia immigrated to Israel on 13 Jan 2014.