As the world races to “beat” the global climate crisis, a major hurdle stands in the way of the world’s swift transition to clean power: the vast majority of renewable energy projects fail – and location is one of the most prominent causes.  Today’s energy companies must first scout and secure a location for their solar, wind or agrivoltaic (farming and solar) projects, navigating a maze of negotiations, bureaucracy and local interests.  Only once this has been completed can they embark on the lengthy procedure of officially verifying the location’s suitability – a slightly ret ..read more

The Neurosurgery Department at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center (also known as Ichilov Hospital) has partnered with Jerusalem-based AI company NeuroBrave in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI).  BCI creates a direct link between the electrical activity in the brain and an external device, such as a prosthetic or a computer.  The department’s Functional Neurosurgery Unit, a world leader specializing in the treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system disorders, intends to use the new partnership to advance developments in BCI and propel research and implementation of ..read more

An Israeli startup whose AI threat detection system is trained to recognize guns, explosives and other dangerous items said its platform will be used in Pafos Airport in Cyprus  following its successful introduction at the country’s Larnaka Airport.  The SeeTrue platform was introduced across all passenger terminal checkpoints at both sites by Hermes Airports, the company that operates the two locations, in order to enhance the security protocols already in place.  “We are excited about our partnership with Hermes Airports,” said SeeTrue CEO Assaf Frenkel.  “This expansion ..read more

Israel’s high-tech sector continues to grow despite regional conflict and 2023’s global economic downturn, according to a new report by the Startup Nation Central nonprofit organization.  The report says that there was “modest growth” in the sector in the first quarter of 2024, when compared to the last quarter of the year before.   This includes a 9-percent rise in private investment in the sector, for a total of $1.8 billion in Q1. Among the investments were six “mega-rounds” of fundraising, totaling $716 million, four of which centered on cybersecurity.   In fact, t ..read more

A delegation of 10 Israeli foodtech companies this week visited London on a mission organized by the Israeli Export Institute, the Israeli Embassy in London; the British Embassy in Israel; and the Good Food Institute – an international nonprofit promoting plant-based alternatives to meet. The companies’ representatives met with leading British retailers in London, presenting their technologies and providing a tasting of their products. The group of Israelis also met with British investors in the foodtech field as well as chefs, bloggers and industry stakeholders. The 10 Israeli companies invol ..read more

Israeli precision pollination startup Edete has quadrupled the range of its activities with pistachio trees in California to more than 3,000 acres, meeting the demand of old customers and new.  The startup’s technology includes a bank that can store pollen for over five years and an autonomous pollen dispenser that ensures controlled and accurate pollination.  The pollinator disperses pure, viable and high quality pollen at a time when agriculturalists are struggling to cope with the impact of climate change on the seasons.  The company, which was founded in 2016, is headquarter ..read more

A new Israeli study has found a link between heart disease and an increased risk of developing cancer.  The research, which was jointly carried out by Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center, found that small extracellular bubbles (sEVs) secreted into the bloodstream by a sick heart to help heal itself actually promote the growth of cancer cells around the body.  The scientists who carried out the study believe that their findings will help clinicians treating heart disease to take into account the elevated cancer risk.  The study was funded by the Israel Cancer Association ..read more

How do companies ensure that the drivers of their fleet of expensive vehicles keep their eyes on the road and off their phones?  An Israeli insurtech startup believes it has the answer with a new AI platform that monitors driving fleet drivers’ performance and smartphone activity behind the wheel, and uses them to set insurance prices.  Tel Aviv-based Fairmatic was founded in 2017 by its CEO Jonathan Matus, a former Google employee who worked on the development of the operating system for the tech giant’s Android phones.   Creating a way to reduce drivers’ smartphone usage ..read more

An Israeli company that uses waves to create energy has signed an agreement to bring its technology to Los Angeles Port, marking its first foray into the US market.  Eco Wave Power and Shell International Exploration and Production (part of Shell oil company) will work together to launch the Israeli technology at the port.  The two companies also carried out a joint, three-month feasibility study to examine other locations both in the United States and worldwide that are compatible with clean energy production, and have identified at least 77 potential sites in the US.  The comp ..read more

The Israeli-developed instant messaging and calls app Rakuten Viber has introduced an AI-driven summary feature for unread messages in group chats. The new feature can condense up to 100 unread messages from a group chat in one summary. It presents the most salient details in bullet form in a way that the company says is “not only saving time and energy but also enhancing decision-making and productivity.”  The feature will have an initial gradual roll out in Bulgaria, Japan, the Philippines, Poland, Ukraine and the US, and more countries will follow. It will be available on devices using ..read more