aiccse.org

Israelis Visit Oak Ridge, Tennessee for BioEnergy Challenge

Shelley — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:34:05 +0000

A delegation of Israeli scientists and company executives visited the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee last month as part of the U.S. – Israel BioEnergy Challenge, a collaborative effort between the United States and Israel, and consortia of U.S. and Israeli companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies and research institutions to create U.S.-based partnerships for research, development and commercialization of biofuels. The week-long program that also included stops in Washington, DC and Emeryville, CA was organized by The Israel Energy Partnership and U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Foundation. AICC Vice President Guy Tessler participated to lend the support of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, SE Region.

Participants from Israel included Weizmann Institute, Technion, Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, Evofuel, TransBiodiesel, and UniVerve. In Oak Ridge, they met with 30 scientists from the national laboratory’s Bio-Energy Science Center as well as Georgia Tech, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Arizona, and Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. According to Tessler, the sessions were very productive, and he sees strong potential for AICC to assist the 3 Israeli companies in the delegation. The Knoxville Jewish Alliance hosted a “Southern Hospitality” reception for the delegation at the local JCC.

Economic News from Israel

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:04:01 +0000

Sony Corporation has invested $10 million in Herzliya Pituach-based Rainbow Medical with an interest in expanding its medical devices operations. Rainbow Medical is a medical device accelerator built around the inventions of serial entrepreneur Yossi Gross. Other investors include Medtronic, Abbott Laboratories, and Birmingham, Alabama-based PowerTen Ventures.
Ra’anana-based Celeno Communications was a winner in Red Herring’s Top 100 Europe Award for innovation and technology in its industry. The company’s technology supports the multi-screen revolution by insuring high performance and reliable Wi-Fi throughout the home to multiple devices. Suwanee, Georgia-based Arris is a customer of Celeno.
GE has opened a new R&D center in Herzliya Pituach that will focus on software instead of the company’s main operations in Israel that are involved in the development of medical devices through GE Healthcare.
Ness Ziona-based Prolor Biotech has been acquired by Miami-based Opko Health for $480 million. Prolor’s long-acting version of human growth hormone has successfully completed four clinical trials, including a Phase II trial in adults with growth hormone deficiency, which showed the company’s version can be injected once a week instead of the daily injections needed for the current treatment.
Petach Tikva-based Cellebrite has invested $3 million in Yokneam-based CommuniTake, a developer of remote access to mobile devices solutions. The deal enables Cellebrite to offer multi-channel diagnostics for smartphones that will include CommuniTake’s remote control, diagnostics, and support technology for call center agents. CommuniTake’s US office is in Atlanta.
Tel Aviv-based Tene Investment Funds, which specializes in kibbutz industries, sold 21.3% of its 23% stake in Kibbutz Sdot Yam-based Caesarstone for $170 million. Caesarstone manufactures engineered quartz surfaces, and is in the process of expanding production in the US.
Tognum America has unveiled a $40 million research & development facility, located in Aiken County South Carolina, that can simulate climate, altitude, and working conditions for diesel engines anywhere in the world. The company builds power packs for Israel’s Merkava 4 Main Battle Tank at this facility.
Rehovot-based IDEA Biomedical will explore the adaptation of its Hermes WiScan into the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a component of the National Institutes of Health. The company’s first US sale was with MUSC in Charleston.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has exercised its option to buy the remaining stake of Tefen-based Iscar from the Wertheimer family for $2 billion. In 2006, they acquired the other 80% for $4 billion, the largest acquisition Buffett had ever made outside the US.
Ra’anana-based NICE Systems’ global situation management solution will be deployed at Denver International Airport to enhance security and safety. SAIC, the system integrator for the project, expects the first phase to be completed in late 2013. NICE maintains a regional office in Alpharetta, GA.
Ramat Gan-based ClickTale has secured a $17 million growth round led by Amadeus Capital Partners as well as Goldrock Capital and Viola Credit. The company is a leader in customer experience analytics whose technology allows companies to see their customers’ true-to-life online experience at all levels of detail.
Ninety venture capital funds made first investments in Israel and Israel-related companies in 2012 according to the IVC Research Center. Of them, 19 made 3 or more investments with the most active being Carmel Ventures which made 11 first investments in 2012 compared with only 3 first investments in 2011.
Israel is ranked the second most educated country in the world by the OECD in an index of the highest proportion of college-educated adult residents. Topping the chart is Canada, and the US is fourth.
Since its independence 65 years ago, Israel’s volume of exports has grown 15,000 times from some $6 million in 1948 to some $91 billion in 2012 according to the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute. This is the sixth highest growth rate in the world during that period.
Natural gas is predicted to add 1% to Israel’s GDP in 2012 and even more in the coming years according to a prediction by the CEO of Noble Energy, the Texas-based firm that is operating the offshore explorations. The Israeli government is recommending exports of up to 50% of the natural gas from every field that is being mined along the Israeli coast.

From the Leadership

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:13:23 +0000

Long ago, we realized the need for partners to achieve our important mission. They have included Jewish federations, governments, chambers of commerce, economic development and technology associations, and non-profits whose work for Israel is complementary to AICC’s.

Thus, one of the four awards at each year’s Eagle Star Gala recognizes a valued Community Partner. This year, we honor the

South Carolina Research Authority, clearly deserving of the award. SCRA has been a key partner in our work together with the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration. They have sponsored our programs in that state, participated in our missions to Israel, and are investing in Israeli companies through landing party support.

Please join us at the May 30^th event as we recognize SCRA along with our Israeli Company of the Year, Deal of the Year, and Chamber Founders awardee. For details and to register, click here.

Sponsor Message

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:49:24 +0000

Emory University’s Executive MBA offers seasoned professionals the opportunity to combine their experience with a world-class education, expanding their business acumen and network. It empowers students with the ability to continue leading professional lives while earning an MBA from a top program. The two EMBA formats, Weekend and Modular, are now enrolling. Learn more at http://bit.ly/15aTjiN or contact Larisa Epshteyn at larisa.epshteyn@emory.edu.

Heart Monitor

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:30:34 +0000

Or Yehuda-based developer of a state of the art hemodynamic application that allows physicians to better diagnose, monitor and treat Congestive Heart Failure patients in a non-invasive way. Enables any medical personnel such as a technician, nurse, or even the patient at home to obtain various hemodynamic parameters, noninvasively, yielding a substantial reduction in the risks involved when carrying invasive procedures such as right heart catheterization. Seeking strategic collaboration with ultrasound companies, CRM for CRT & Implanted sensors, and investment.

Parking Payments

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:28:38 +0000

Tzoran-Kadima based developer of applications for the parking industry offers a solution where users scan, pay and go with no waiting in lines or looking for payment kiosks. Parking lot owners benefit from people getting in and out faster, and revenues
are expected to increase by approximately 8% with no cash transactions involved. Company launched a beta site in Israel, and soon launching a pilot program in Chicago with a major parking management company. Seeking introductions to parking lot owners, parking operators, and investors.

Infant Health

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:26:47 +0000

Petach Tikva-based developer of a range of tiny sensors that are attached to the outer side of the baby’s diaper using simple velcro, and are built for repeated use. The sensors perform various checks continuously, and provide real-time information on the infant’s
behavior and condition on a wide range of indicators such as urine amount accumulated, breathing pattern and more. Uses innovative acoustical communication protocol to interact with smart phones and tablets, thus providing indications and alerts to external devices while avoiding potentially harmful radio wave transmission in close proximity to the baby’s body. Seeking introduction to potential strategic partners and investors.

Sinus Treatment

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:16:47 +0000

Herzliya-based developer of a revolutionary clinical approach to Chronic Rhinosinusitis management by enabling painless access, observation and treatment of the sinuses of an awake sinusitis patient during a standard visit to the ENT’s office. Patent-pending, easy-to-use architecture combines disposable treatment tools atop a universal access handle, allows maneuvering through the
sinus cavity, visualization, collection of accurate cultures or biopsy, irrigation and evacuation of the sinuses, dilation, and delivery of targeted therapeutics. Seeking introduction to large ENT practices and investment.

HP’s Yishai Amir to Keynote Eagle Star Awards Gala

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:03:29 +0000

Barbara Babbit Kaufman to Emcee AICC’s May 30^thFlagship Event
The Hewlett Packard – Israel success story and its important connection to the Southeast will a key component of the 12^th annual Eagle Star Awards Gala on May 30^th as it will be hosted at HP’s Graphic Arts Experience Center in Alpharetta, Georgia in Metro Atlanta. Yishai Amir, the company’s VP and GM, Indigo and Inkjet Businesses – Americas, will give the host keynote on his company that is the second largest investor in Israeli information technology. Israel is one of the few countries where HP has a massive presence with almost 6,000 employees, and Alpharetta is the Americas headquarters for their products developed in Israel under the Indigo and Scitex Vision brands.

The Eagle Star Awards Gala is AICC’s community flagship event honoring the people and companies who have contributed most to the Southeast-Israel economic and business relationship. Three companies, Arkal Automotive, ClickDimensions, and Delek will compete for the Israeli Company of the Year award. Three transactions, EndoChoice / Peer Medical, NCR / Retalix, and SintecMedia / Argo Systems will compete for the Deal of the Year award. Winners in each category will be selected by an expert panel of judges: Richard Kopelman, Managing Partner & CEO of Habif, Arogeti and Wynne, LLP; Melanie Bialko Leeth, Vice President of Imlay Investments; and Garrett Van de Grift, CEO of Red Wizard Group.

In addition to the company and deal awards, long-time AICC President Tom Glaser will be recognized with the Chamber Founders award. Glaser recently announced plans to retire following his 21 years of service to the organization. The South Carolina Research Authority will be presented with the Community Partner Award in recognition of its extraordinary role in the success of the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration.

Noted author, speaker, and entrepreneur Barbara Babbit Kaufman will be the event’s emcee. The co-founder and CFO of Turtle’s Music, Kaufman started or co-founded businesses including: Turtle’s Music, Bubble Gum Inc., Therapy, Inc.,; and Chapter 11* The Discount Bookstore. She also was a professor of retailing at Georgia State University, and currently is a columnist for the Atlanta Business Chronicle and in-demand motivational speaker who serves on numerous boards.

Sponsors-to-date include Deutsche Bank Alex.Brown, The InterTech Group, The Coca-Cola Company, Smith Gambrell & Russell, BDO, Verint, Given Imaging, Jones Day, Habif Arogeti & Wynne GlobalAtlanta, AM1690 / Newstalk1160, Atlanta Jewish Times, Smith Gambrell & Russell, Consulate General of Israel, Israel Economic Office, Cresa,

Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter, Nelson Mullins, Arris, AXA Advisors, Pull-A-Part, and Berman Fink Van Horn. Sponsorships are still available. For further information on sponsorships, contact Barry Swartz barry@aiccse.org, or call 404-843-9426. The event website, http://2013.eaglestargala.com , features the entire event details including information, company tables, and online ticket purchase.

SC-Israel R&D Funding Agreement Announced at Neurotech Business Exchange

Shelley — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:51:06 +0000

In addition to generating potential business and research relationships for participating Israeli companies, the US-Israel Neurotechnology Business Exchange, held in Charleston, May 6-7, was the scene for an historic announcement of a bilateral agreement to further collaboration in the field of industrial research & development. This agreement between the Government of South Carolina and the Government of Israel will be executed by SCRA and MATIMOP, the Israeli Industry Center for R&D, on behalf of the Office of the Chief Scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Economy, and will create a funding mechanism for joint industrial research and development projects between Israeli and South Carolina companies and universities.

“Israel is a hub of innovation, and, as a state, invests the highest amount in research and development per capita, but we’re lacking in the ability to scale, and that is where this partnership is critical,” said Nili Shalev, Israel’s Economic Minister to North America. SC Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said the agreement is the first of its kind in the Southeast. “When we get enough smart people together, we can make the right things happen. Innovation and incubation are important to Commerce and South Carolina, so hopefully some important business relationships and outcomes will develop from this collaboration.” According to SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney, the applied research and development corporation was glad to be facilitating the collaboration, and expected there to be more positive economic development news to come from the partnership. “I highly expect that we will have a pipeline of talent, Israeli companies that will put their operations in South Carolina,” he said

The 7 participating Israeli nuerotechnology companies participating in the business exchange included Alpha Omega, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, Insightec, Neurotech Solutions, NeuroQuest, TechTransfer Israel, and Vaya Pharma. The conference and matchmaker event was designed to further business and research relationships with US stakeholders and to attract innovative companies to South Carolina. Hosted by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the event offered a focused opportunity for Israeli companies to present their technologies and meet with leading companies, healthcare institutions and investors in North America with the goal of fostering joint venture R&D, investment, clinical and marketing alliances.

Jonathan Zucker, President of The InterTech Group and Chairman of the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration, said many potential company pairings have been fostered through the Collaboration’s delegations to Israel in 2011 and 2012 and last week’s business exchange at MUSC. “The new agreement is the next step. Now these people have more incentive to get the ball rolling,” he said.

The two-day event was organized by the South Carolina-Israel Collaboration and Medical Committee of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce-Southeast Region, Israel Economic Mission N.Y. and the BIRD Foundation with cooperation of Israel Brain Technologies, IATI, SEMDA, and SCBIO. In addition to MUSC, other sponsors included SCRA, Dixon Hughes Goodman, Womble Carlyle, CRDA, The InterTech Group, South Carolina Department of Commerce, and Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast.