ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

Researchers at the Technion have created an innovative AI "matchmaker" that identifies cancer drug pairs for nanomedicine. This AI technology identifies effective drug combinations and singles out pairs that can chemically assemble into nanoparticles, enhancing drug delivery. Administering medicines as nanoparticles offers advantages like lower doses, targeted cell treatment, and fewer side effects. The AI tool has suggested 1,985 potential nanomedicine drug combinations for 70 cancer types. This approach, termed "meta-synergy," enhances cancer treatment efficacy while reducing side effects.

Israeli company, Teralight, has unveiled the largest floating solar energy field in Israel, situated on the Kibbutz Ma’ayan Zvi reservoir. The photovoltaic (PV) field covering approximately 145 acres, has the capacity to power 6,500 homes and includes solar tracking systems produced by Israeli startup Xfloat. The initiative was part of the Hof HaCarmel Regional Council's efforts to promote renewable energy. Asif Isaac, head of the Council, emphasized that with this new project, all electricity for Hof HaCarmel residents now comes from green sources.

Israeli food tech startup SavorEat is targeting the growing demographic of flexitarians and vegans by utilizing additive manufacturing technology and a unique plant-based cellulose fiber to create meat-like products. SavorEat is debuting its personalized plant-based burgers made by robot “chefs” at the University of Denver in the US, in partnership with Sodexo. The robot chef is like a 3D printer that enables consumers to customize their burger by specifying protein, fat, cellulose, water, and flavors, and produces kosher, vegan, and gluten-free burger patties made of pea and plant-based proteins, all in just three minutes. This technology is projected to save approximately 33,000 kg of CO2 emissions and over 21 million liters of water.

Scientists at the Weizmann Institute have developed an embryo model resembling a 14-day-old human embryo using stem cells, without the need for sperm, eggs, or a womb. This model accurately mimics early embryo structures and even releases pregnancy-test-positive hormones. The aim is to ethically study the critical early stages of human development, which are poorly understood and linked to miscarriages and birth defects. While this research is a significant milestone, it also raises ethical questions regarding regulation, particularly as the model approaches the characteristics of real embryos.

Israeli startup EyeCan is developing a groundbreaking smart headband for visually impaired swimmers. This innovative device uses real-time data from a pool-scanning camera to alert swimmers to lane deviations and potential obstacles through vibrating alerts from chips on either side of their head. With over 2.2 billion people globally experiencing vision complications, this technology offers a unique solution, allowing visually impaired individuals to swim independently and safely, filling a significant gap in accessibility.

Israeli biotech startup MadeRight has secured $2 million in seed funding for producing green packaging through their innovative technology that uses fungi cultivated from industrial organic waste to make sustainable, high-performance materials. These materials are mixed with bio-plastics to make pellets that can be integrated into existing packaging machinery and supply chain processes, offering a recyclable plastic alternative for packaging. The global food packaging market, valued at $350 billion with a 5-6% annual growth rate, relies heavily on single-use plastics and contributes to millions of tons of plastic waste annually.

In a groundbreaking achievement, doctors at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, led by Dr. Cezar J. Mizrahi, successfully utilized augmented reality (AR) and robotic technology in a complex spinal surgery. They employed an AR-assisted surgical spine robot, which helped enhance surgical screw placement accuracy while minimizing invasiveness. The AR headset displayed critical patient information, facilitating precise surgery. The patient, who had a severe spinal injury, was able to walk without assistance soon after the procedure, which marks a significant advancement in healthcare.

Israeli scientists have created a tiny human heart model, the size of a grain of rice, which replicates human heart structure and functions, providing real-time measurements of crucial parameters and offering a promising alternative to animal testing in cardiovascular research and drug testing. The team was led by Yaakov Nahmias, a bioengineering professor from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and included scientists from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, and Rehovot-based Tissue Dynamics Ltd., which is devoted to animal-free drug development.

Honeybees, who play a vital role in pollinating around 1,200 essential crops worldwide, are facing numerous threats, and this is posing a significant risk to global food supplies. BeeHero, an Israeli startup, is combating this crisis with hive sensors that track temperature, humidity, and sounds to determine colony health, productivity, and even bee stress levels. This real-time data helps beekeepers, farmers, and researchers better understand colony collapse disorder and supports the USDA in combating invasive pests. BeeHero's mission is to establish bee-friendly agricultural standards and ensure the sustainability of bee populations.

In response to the growing demand for food and a shortage of agricultural labor, Israeli technology is leading innovations to address these challenges. BloomX, an Israeli firm, uses algorithms to optimize pollination timing, overcoming issues like insect scarcity and global warming threats. Labor shortages are being tackled with farming robots and fruit-picking drones, such as Tevel's autonomous drones, which assess fruit ripeness and diseases through AI and machine vision, revolutionizing agriculture, increasing productivity, and offering promising solutions.