ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

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.

AISAP, an Israeli medical startup, was named one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies of 2025, securing fourth place globally in the healthcare category for its FDA-approved AI-powered cardiac diagnostic platform, AISAP CARDIO. Developed by Adiel Am-Shalom and top medical experts, the platform enables real-time detection of structural heart diseases and heart failure without requiring new hospital hardware. Validated in leading U.S. hospitals, the technology impacted clinical outcomes by revealing findings in 50% of scans and changing treatment in 30% of cases.

Researchers at the Technion have developed DNAformer, an AI-driven tool that significantly accelerates the speed and accuracy of retrieving data from DNA, increasing retrieval speeds by 3,200 times. This breakthrough could revolutionize data storage by enabling the rapid reading of large amounts of information encoded in DNA. DNAformer successfully decoded a 3.1-megabyte dataset, showcasing its potential for high-capacity storage. The team is working to refine DNAformer for broader applications in data storage across various industries.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a groundbreaking genome-scale genetic modification method that enables controlled and targeted crop improvement by revealing the roles of duplicated genes in plants. This advancement allows for precise identification of genes responsible for specific traits, leading to enhanced yields and increased resistance to drought and pests. The team successfully applied this technique to rice and tomato plants and plans to extend its use to other crops.

"Israeli AI startup Sola Security came out of stealth on Tuesday armed with $30 million in funding and a self-serve software platform to make cyber threat security accessible and affordable to any size of business or startup."

"Israeli entrepreneur and investor Shmulik Bezalel teamed up with serial entrepreneur Boaz Goldman and neuroscientist Dr. Nisim Perets to expand the limited therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders. They founded Itay & Beyond with the vision to generate a simulation of the brain and test the efficacy of drugs. The startup, is now developing a drug discovery and testing platform for psychiatric and neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia."

Israel continues to pioneer inventive approaches to fire prevention – including an herds of thousands of goats, sheep and antelopes that have been strategically deployed to Israel’s forests, fields and army bases.

"Israeli startup Dream Security, which develops software to protect critical national infrastructure sites — like oil, water, and energy facilities — from sophisticated cyber attacks, raised $100 million in its latest funding round, announced Monday, giving the two-year-old company a valuation of $1.1 billion."

"Israel’s high-tech sector has proven its resilience and adaptability in 2024, achieving significant growth despite significant regional challenges, according to the 2024 annual report from Startup Nation Central (SNC). The tech ecosystem not only weathered the storm but emerged stronger, with notable increases in funding, successful exits and continued global leadership in key sectors."

“A new technology developed at Tel Aviv University and implemented at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon has demonstrated a significant increase in the success rates of fertilization, pregnancy, and the birth of a healthy baby through in vitro fertilization (IVF). According to the findings collected thus far, the technology has increased IVF success rates from 34% to 65% — resulting in 20 pregnancies out of 31 embryo transfers compared to only 14 pregnancies out of 41 embryo transfers in the control group.”

"The Energy Ministry on Tuesday launched an interactive website showing the potential for solar energy generation on every roof, park, parking lot, sports ground and cemetery in Israel. The system also calculates the profitability of installing solar panels, and channeling the electricity into the national grid."

Afimilk’s Synergy robotic milking system is transforming dairy farming by introducing advanced automation for medium-sized farms with 500 to 5,000 cows. Leveraging 3D vision, machine learning, and spatial algorithms, the system ensures efficient milking while monitoring cow health and productivity. Building on its legacy of innovation, including the 1979 launch of the first “milk meter,” Afimilk continues to revolutionize the dairy industry, offering a state-of-the-art solution that bridges the technological gap between small robotic farms and large industrial operations.

Three Israeli companies won 2025 BIG Innovation Awards for groundbreaking contributions in their fields. ICL Group of Tel Aviv was honored in agriculture for its sustainable solutions, including advanced ag-tech products and fertilizers from Dead Sea minerals. OncoHost of Binyamina and North Carolina won in healthcare for its AI-powered PROphet platform, improving immunotherapy decisions for metastatic lung cancer. Trax Retail, founded by Israeli entrepreneurs, was recognized in retail for its image-capture technology and merchandising system that helps address inventory and pricing challenges.

"Technion researcher Dr. Assaf Zinger says his team’s work shows that the proteins cover and protect nanoparticles as they pass through intestinal layers, conveying therapeutics. After two years of research, Zinger said he believes that his team of 16 scientists is the first in the world to show that breast milk proteins can be used to protect and deliver nanoparticles so that people will be able to receive their medication — not by injecting it but by drinking it."

Weizmann Institute researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to analyze all proteins in a stool sample, revealing insights into the microbiome, diet, and human health. By combining DNA sequencing and mass spectrometry, the approach creates personalized protein maps, uncovering how gut bacteria interact with the human body. This method, called IPHOMED, identifies proteins from food, the microbiome, and human tissue, enabling researchers to decode gut activity with unprecedented precision.

In a new study, Prof. Yifat Merbl’s lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science reports uncovering a surprising immune mechanism involving the proteasome (or cellular waste disposal system). The team discovered that some of the peptides released in the proteasome during protein breakdown are capable of killing bacteria. These findings expand our understanding of the body’s innate defenses and offer new hope for tackling the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

Israeli startup qbiq raised $16 million to expand its AI-driven platform for fast, accessible architectural planning. Founded in 2019, qbiq's tool generates complete interior layouts in minutes, allowing users to customize spaces while optimizing costs and timelines. Headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in New York and Miami, qbiq serves major clients like Brookfield Properties and JLL, aiming to revolutionize commercial real estate planning globally.

Nvidia is investing over $500 million to establish a state-of-the-art AI research center in northern Israel, set to open in 2025. The 10,000-square-meter facility will feature advanced infrastructure, including Nvidia’s latest AI chips and technologies, supporting R&D in networking, software, and CPU design. This expansion underscores Nvidia’s commitment to innovation in Israel, where it already employs over 4,500 people across seven R&D centers.

Ari Teman, founder of Jovari, is developing the world’s first four-door convertible electric hypercar in Israel, blending luxury, customization, and advanced technology. Retailing at $2.7 million, the Jovari S1 will feature AI-driven customization, real engine-like vibrations, and unique design elements tailored to buyers, with 10% of sales donated to charity.

Blockchain analytics company Chainalysis has acquired Israeli fraud prevention startup Alterya, known for its real-time detection of social engineering scams in crypto and instant payments. Founded in 2022, Alterya uses AI and cyber tools to combat fraud, detecting over $10 billion in crypto scams in 2024 and protecting $100 million in assets for clients like Coinbase and Binance. With this acquisition, Alterya will operate independently as an R&D center, enhancing Chainalysis’s fraud prevention capabilities and global reach.

FireDome, an Israeli startup inspired by Iron Dome, has developed an AI-powered system to combat wildfires. It deploys eco-friendly fire-retardant capsules to create protective barriers and uses AI to detect and extinguish spot fires. Initially designed to protect 100 acres, it aims to expand coverage to a mile, with testing in Israel set for 2025 and U.S. pilots in 2026. Backed by $3 million in funding and a $1.5 million grant, FireDome seeks to enhance wildfire response and mitigate the billions in annual wildfire damages.

Kaneka Corp. has acquired Israeli startup Endostream Medical for $100 million, making it its first Israeli R&D hub. Endostream developed the Nautilus device, a safer, blood-thinner-free implant for treating brain aneurysms, already approved in Europe and set to launch in the US and Japan by 2027.

Weizmann Institute researchers have developed a method to improve the safety and lifespan of lithium metal batteries. By studying dendrites, which can cause fire risks, they discovered that a 40% ceramic composition in solid electrolytes blocks dendrite growth and enhances performance. Their research also highlighted the importance of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer in controlling dendrite behavior, leading to safer, more efficient batteries.

Save a Child’s Heart (SACH), an Israeli humanitarian organization, recently conducted a life-saving mission in Zambia, performing 25 open-heart surgeries and catheterizations on children with congenital heart defects. The mission, held in Lusaka, involved an international team of medical professionals from Israel, Tanzania, and Zambia, including former trainees of Israel’s Wolfson Medical Center.

A study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, published in Food Chemistry, reveals that the size of milk fat globules influences bacterial interactions, promoting beneficial bacteria like Bacillus subtilis while impacting biofilm formation. Led by Professor Nurit Argov-Argaman, the research highlights that structural properties, rather than just chemical composition, play a key role in microbial dynamics.