ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

Israeli scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed safflower plants that produce beta-casein, a key protein found in dairy milk and essential for making cheese. The breakthrough could provide a more sustainable way to produce dairy proteins without cows, using plants as biological factories. Researchers say the approach could eventually support the production of animal-free milk and cheese ingredients at scale while reducing the land, water and environmental resources associated with traditional dairy farming. The technology represents another step forward in Israel’s growing food-tech sector and could help expand the range of sustainable alternatives to conventional animal-based dairy products.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a simple, low-cost blood test that can detect lung cancer with more than 90% accuracy without relying on expensive DNA sequencing. The test analyzes the chemical “fingerprint” of cancer-related DNA in the blood using light, offering a potentially faster and more accessible alternative to current diagnostic methods. Researchers hope the technology could eventually make lung cancer detection easier and less expensive while also distinguishing between major forms of the disease. The findings are promising, but additional research is needed before the test could be applied for clinical use.

Israeli startup Hemispheric is developing an AI model designed to decode the electrical signals produced by the brain, using data from more than 100,000 people to better understand patterns associated with neurological and psychological conditions. The technology could eventually help doctors identify and diagnose conditions such as depression and PTSD more objectively, while providing new insights into how the brain functions and responds to treatment. By using AI to interpret the brain’s complex signals, researchers hope to create new tools for understanding mental health and developing more personalized approaches to diagnosis and care.

An Israeli study at Clalit Health Services’ Emek Medical Center found that approximately 80% of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder experienced significant symptom reduction following MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, with most no longer meeting PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. The 13-session program combined intensive psychotherapy with three medically supervised MDMA sessions, designed to help participants safely process traumatic memories and difficult emotions. Researchers emphasize that MDMA is a therapeutic tool rather than a standalone treatment and that the approach requires careful medical and psychological supervision. The findings offer promising evidence for new PTSD treatment options as Israel faces rising demand for trauma-related mental health care.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Caltech have developed an ultra-thin optical surface that can steer and reshape beams of light in just 74 femtoseconds, less than one tenth of a trillionth of a second. The technology uses tiny silicon structures that can control light with another beam of light, eliminating the need for moving mirrors or lenses. The breakthrough could lead to faster technologies for optical computing, communications, and sensing, while allowing information to be processed directly with light rather than repeatedly converting optical signals into electricity. Although still in the research stage, technology could open new possibilities for faster and more efficient photonic systems.

Israel has launched a tender to develop a domestically produced quantum computer as part of a broader national effort to strengthen its capabilities in advanced technologies. Alongside the quantum initiative, the government is advancing projects focused on physical AI, including robotics, healthcare, manufacturing and drones, as well as developing policies to support the creation of advanced AI models. The initiatives are intended to strengthen Israel’s technological sovereignty, support its high-tech sector and improve its competitiveness as countries around the world race to develop quantum computing and increasingly advanced AI technologies.

Visa announced it will acquire Israeli fraud detection company BioCatch for $2.4 billion, aiming to strengthen defenses against the surge in AI driven account takeovers and scams, which cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually. BioCatch, founded in 2011 by Avi Turgeman and Uri Rivner, pioneered behavioral biometrics, a technology that analyzes patterns like mouse movement, keystrokes, and touchscreen tapping to distinguish real users from fraudsters in real time. The startup, currently owned by private equity firm Permira, serves more than 350 banks across 21 countries, protecting 1.8 billion devices and 760 million users worldwide.

An Israeli medical team from Save a Child’s Heart is helping Zambia build its first generation of pediatric cardiac surgeons by training local doctors and hospital staff, performing surgeries, and providing specialized equipment. The long-term partnership aims to strengthen Zambia’s own healthcare system so more children with heart conditions can receive lifesaving treatment locally, rather than having to travel abroad for care.

Building on research into how cancer cells spread, scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have found that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to leave tumors and spread throughout the body. The researchers discovered that sildenafil appears to block a molecular pathway involving serotonin and immune cells that can help tumors metastasize, with experiments in mice showing reduced cancer spread. The findings could open a new avenue for developing treatments aimed at preventing metastasis, the process responsible for most cancer-related deaths, although further research is needed to determine whether the approach could benefit cancer patients.

Building on its groundbreaking work engineering bacteria to grow by using carbon dioxide from the atmosphere instead of sugars, the laboratory of Prof. Ron Milo at the Weizmann Institute has developed E. coli with specialized structures that absorb carbon dioxide more efficiently, allowing the bacteria to grow faster. This advancement brings researchers closer to their long-term goal of creating microorganisms that rely entirely on atmospheric carbon dioxide as a sustainable source of nutrition for humans and animals, similar to the way plants convert carbon dioxide into the building blocks needed for growth.