Yet another slew of new products and services to humanity from Israel

Still saving children from Chernobyl. 25 years after the nuclear accident, Chabad is still bringing children suffering from the effects of radiation to begin new lives in Israel. 93 flights have rescued over 2700 children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX7BTpbshMA
http://www.ccoc.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98&Itemid=30

“Whoever saves a life, saves an entire world”. Interview with Bernard Bar-Natan, the Israeli inventor of the amazing new bandage that is now standard NATO issue and has already saved countless lives.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=218376

Four new anti-cancer proteins. Using “predictive biology” Israeli biotech Compugen has discovered protein several variants that generate antibodies to stimulate the immune system into targeting cancer cells.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000640967&fid=1725

New drug can treat incurable disease. Sufferers of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) die within 6-15 months, but latest trials of Israeli biotech Can-Fite’s drug CF-102 show it is effective on the virus.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000640868&fid=1725

Triple good news for diabetics. First, Israel’s D Medical unit received Canadian certification for its Spring universal infusion sets for insulin pumps. Canada has the 6th highest incidence of Type 1 child diabetes.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000640873&fid=1725

USA FDA approves infusion sets. The Food & Drugs Administration has also approved the Israeli device.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000641701&fid=1725

Israeli cell-based therapy to go global. MacroCure’s breakthrough product treats skin ulcers in the legs of diabetics. The treatment is only available in Israel currently but international trials will commence soon.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000640923&fid=1725

Israel solves “insoluble” problem. Some vital drugs do not dissolve and have to be administered intravenously, often with severe side effects. Now Hebrew Uni head scientist Simon Benita has invented “nano-capsules” which allow such treatments (e.g. anti-cancer drugs) to be taken orally.
http://www.fiercedrugdelivery.com/story/nano-capsules-may-solve-solubility-problem-anti-cancer-drug/2011-04-12

Israeli medical robots set out for Europe. International healthcare & electronics giant Philips is to use remote precision robotic-assisted control solutions from Israel’s Corindus to treat obstructed coronary arteries.
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000640910&fid=1725

Israeli shirts are good for you. A joint Israel-Portugal team has developed the Niturit – a T-shirt that monitors your heart and transmits data to a medical centre in real-time. It has been chosen by Europe’s Space Agency.
http://nocamels.com/2011/04/new-t-shirt-can-transmit-heart-activity-straight-to-your-doctor/

Indian governor praises Israel. The North Indian state of Haryana will adopt Israeli technology to process brackish water for agriculture. Haryana is one of India’s most important farming and industrial states.
http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-198595.html

Israel – the largest R&D country in Europe. Of the 40 members of the European inter-state body for Research and Development (EUREKA), Israel has the most approved projects (14 out of 89).
http://israel-lightontonations.blogspot.com/2011/04/eureka-will-invest-in-14-projects.html

Cleaning up in Peru & soon the UK. Mapal’s sewage treatment was Good News in January. Now it has even more orders, thanks to Israeli funding and a unique oxygenation device that reduces maintenance costs by 80%.
http://nocamels.com/2011/04/israeli-purification-techonolgy-chosen-by-peru-to-clean-its-sewages/

Thought-controlled computers. Ben Gurion Uni students have developed innovative technology that could enable people (e.g. disabled) to operate a computer without using a keyboard or mouse – only their brainwaves.
http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/Pages/news/thought_controlled.aspx

Knowing your bees. Researchers at the Hebrew Uni have established a system for matching bees to their favourite flowers. The knowledge will improve crop fertilisation and expand food production.
http://nocamels.com/2011/04/the-truth-about-bees-and-their-love-for-sweets/


Engineering a path to success. The Israeli charity Ort has launched a new program to allow outstanding, highly motivated yet underprivileged students to train as engineers at schools including here in Netanya.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4010840,00.html

Arab and Jewish Israelis unite in Rap group. A unique item – good news from a BBC website.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/12685078

Co-existence in Maternity Ward. Gaza woman and Israeli neighbour recover together with baby daughters.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4051995,00.html

Save a Child’s Heart pilgrimage. Following heart surgery, Muslim and Christian children are taken on a visit to their holy sites in Jerusalem.
http://www.saveachildsheart.org/265-2310-en/News.aspx?pos=1

More Arabs join Israeli Defence Forces. There was a 200% increase in non-Jews joining the IDF. Muslim and Christian Arabs volunteer increasingly in order to improve their career prospects in the Start-up Nation.
http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/2011/04/2603.htm

Haifa's Future Prosperity

With all the talk of gloom and doom in economic circles, it is good to read that the pundits are forecasting that following on from Israel’s Hightec boom, the next boom is going to be in the Biotech field. In this regard Haifa is well placed to take advantage with the new park be specifically established for this purpose. The park will compliment the Hightec MATAM park which contains such famous names as Intel, Google, Microsoft, GEC, Elbit, Phillips and IBM.

Among the newest arrivals at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange are a group of small biotech firms which launched their IPOs beginning in late 2005.

Israel's famous information technology (IT) and electronics industry originally got its head start from a project called "Yozma," where the Israeli government, in the early 1990s, guaranteed venture capital investment in hi-tech to the tune of some $100 million. The investment more than paid off, with the sector now generating some $10 billion a year.

With no major project financing in this new industry, the sector turned to "technology incubators," small companies supported by the Chief Scientist's Office whose goal was originally to nurture the start-up ideas of Russian immigrant computer scientists. As those began to mature and find independent means of financing, the incubators looked for another resource to develop - and the life sciences fit the bill.

In the plans for an economic package to stimulate the economy and to maintain research and development activity of start-ups, the Treasury is expected to double the budget of the Chief Scientist's Office from NIS 1.3 billion in 2009 to about NIS 3b. This can only be good news for this young industry in general and Haifa in particular.