ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

Israeli cybersecurity startup Pillar Security has secured $9 million in seed funding to develop a platform that safeguards AI-integrated software systems. Founded in October 2023 by Dor Sarig and Ziv Karliner, the Tel Aviv-based company aims to address the unique security challenges posed by AI technologies, which traditional cybersecurity tools often fail to manage. The funding round was led by Shield Capital, with participation from Golden Ventures, Ground Up Ventures, and strategic angel investors. Pillar plans to use the investment to expand its research and development operations and triple its workforce by the end of the year.

A study by Tel Aviv University, conducted at Cedars-Sinai Connect in Los Angeles, found that AI-generated diagnoses and treatment recommendations were more accurate than those of physicians in virtual urgent care settings. Analyzing 461 online visits for common ailments, the research revealed that AI suggestions were rated as optimal in 77% of cases, compared to 67% for physicians. The study highlights the potential of AI to enhance clinical decision-making, especially for routine conditions, while emphasizing the importance of integrating human expertise.

Hebrew University President Prof. Asher Cohen, in an interview marking the institution's 100th anniversary, highlighted its transformation into a world-renowned research and teaching university. He emphasized its deep commitment to democratic values, innovation, and societal impact, including support for communities affected by recent regional conflicts. The university is fostering partnerships with industry through initiatives like the Gav Yam Hi-Tech Park and research centers on computational medicine and sustainable food. Ranked 81st globally in the 2024 Shanghai Ranking, Hebrew University continues to play a key role in Israel’s development and global academic leadership.

Israel Tech Week 2025 took place from March 27 to April 3, 2025, in Miami, Florida, connecting Israel's vibrant tech ecosystem with Miami's growing tech community. The week-long event featured over 15 curated sessions, including industry-focused panels on AI, FinTech, HealthTech, and ClimateTech, as well as networking opportunities and showcases of groundbreaking technologies. Aligned with the eMerge Americas conference and Miami Tech Week, it attracted more than 2,500 participants and 50 thought leaders, fostering collaboration and innovation across various sectors.

Israel's high-tech sector continues to thrive despite challenges such as political instability and war, exemplified by initiatives like schoolchildren from Daburiyya developing an AI-integrated school entry system. Industry leaders attribute this resilience to the nation's culture of grit and democratic freedoms that foster innovation.

Forty-one Israelis have been included in Forbes' latest list of billionaires, an increase of four from the previous year. Notably, the founders of cloud security firm Wiz—Assaf Rappaport, Yinon Costica, Ami Luttwak, and Roy Reznik—each doubled their net worth to approximately $2.1 billion following the company's historic $32 billion acquisition by Google.

An international research team led by Dr. Tomer Itkin from Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center has developed a method to activate dormant adult stem cells in bone marrow, potentially enhancing transplant success rates. This technique addresses challenges where even matched donors may have insufficient stem cells for transplantation. The study, co-led by Sean Houghton of Weill Cornell Medical College, involved researchers from multiple institutions, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Toronto Medical Center. Their findings have been published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Immunology.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) recently held ceremonies to honor Israel's fallen soldiers by awarding scholarships to outstanding reservists, each valued at $2,000 and funded by the Rothberg Foundation. For the first time, scholarship recipients met the families of the soldiers they are commemorating, including Captain Shlomit Yair, Major Bar Falah, and Sergeant Guy Bazak.

Professor Yinon Ben-Neriah, a distinguished physician and immunologist at Hebrew University's Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, has been awarded the Israel Prize for his groundbreaking work in cancer research. His pioneering studies have elucidated mechanisms by which chronic inflammation contributes to cancer development, leading to the creation of novel therapeutic strategies, including a widely used drug for blood cancer patients.

Israel's first national solar observatory, Solaris, has opened in the Druze town of Isfiya on Mount Carmel, situated 550 meters above sea level. The facility aims to advance space research within the Arab Israeli community and offers students the opportunity to explore solar phenomena. Isfiya, a town of approximately 13,000 residents, predominantly from the Druze community, views the observatory as a gateway for students to engage with new scientific realms.