RDI in Israel News Issue No. 289 – June-July 2013
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Scientific Section RDI in Israel News Issue No. 289 – June-July 2013 Policy 2 Research Highlights 2 Facts & Figures 6 Publications 7 Events 7 Member State and International News 7 Disclaimer : RDI News is not a formal communication and does not necessarily represent the official position of the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel. RDI News is an internal service and is not intended as a source for further publication. Some of the material appearing in RDI News has been taken from newspapers, journals and other publications. The Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel cannot authorize the reproduction of items taken from other publications. Those wishing to reproduce articles are advised to contact the relevant publication Contacts: [email protected] - [email protected] Policy Reversing the brain drain The Israeli government's National Brain Gain Programme is trying to bring scientists back to Israel. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000853110&fid=1724 Israel the start-up nation with ADD A recent EU reports lauds Israel for its innovations, but what it fails to mention is how little the country benefits from it. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/david-s-harp-israel-the-startup-nation-with- add.premium-1.529275?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.221%2C2.465%2C Bennett defends high-tech exits Minister of the Economy Naftali Bennett told the IATI-Biomed conference that Israel can learn from the involvement of multinationals following exits. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000851598 Stef Wertheimer: High tech marginal for Israel Iscar Ltd. Founder Stef Wertheimer tells "Forward" that high tech has the worrying effect of causing Israelis to leave the country. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000856858&fid=1725 Israel scores UN victory on entrepreneurship Israel shared with 141 countries expertise on entrepreneurship as the best way to deal with poverty and job creation. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000857594&fid=942 Israel, startup nation? not anymore, says Google study Study says main problem is low productivity rate compared with OECD countries http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/israel-startup-nation-not-anymore-says-google- study.premium-1.535967?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.199%2C Research Highlights ENVIRONMENT AND WATER Epilepsy drug helps locate dirty drinking water, Israeli researchers learn Researchers from the Hebrew University have found that an anti-epilepsy drug, carbamazepine, which remains in reclaimed water after purification can be used to detect water pollution http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/epilepsy-drug-helps-locate-dirty-drinking-water-israeli- researchers-learn-1.529091?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.218%2C Sea Squirt solves crystal conundrum By using state-of-the-art high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to examine crystals found in and on the bodies of small marine organisms called sea squirts, an international team of scientists led by the Technion has resolved the nearly 100-year-old mystery about the crystal structure of the mineral called vaterite http://www.focus.technion.ac.il/May13/researchStory3.asp Israelis, Palestinians talk water cooperation Scientists from France, West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Israel to travel to southern town of Sde Boker to discuss common water production issues. 'Water can be an issue for peace or for conflicts,' says French ambassador to Israel http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4391090,00.html 2 First rate nano-rust for producing solar hydrogen Water and some nano-structured iron oxide is all it takes to produce bubbles of solar hydrogen. EPFL and Technion scientists just discovered the champion structure to achieve this. EPFL (Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) and Technion researchers have figured out the "champion" nanostructures able to produce hydrogen in the most environmentally friendly and cheap manner, by simply using daylight http://www1.technion.ac.il/_local/includes/blocks/news-items/130708-avner13/news-item-en.htm ICT Apple to open Hadera school development centre Students at the Amal High School's centre, which will open next week, will develop iOS-based apps for iPads and iPhones http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000849607&fid=1725 New development by Technion students enables visually impaired to use smart phones Students at the Technion have developed software that enables the visually impaired to use smart phones by vocally announcing the key the user is pressing. The application, which can be installed on any (android) smart phone, is designed to enable the user to use the phone's regular functions by informing the user, in a clear voice, which key he or she is pressing. http://www1.technion.ac.il/_local/includes/blocks/news-items/130606-blindapp/news-item-en.htm Cisco to set up innovation centre in Israel Cisco, the giant U.S. based network communications company, said yesterday it would be opening an innovation centre in Israel employing dozens of people in radio, cellular networks and software. The company said the centre would be researching radio network configurations that address the problem of surges in demand for mobile Internet. “Worldwide mobile data consumption is expected to increase 13-fold by 2017; traffic patterns are becoming even more dynamic and unpredictable,” Cisco said. The new centre comes five months after Cisco acquired Intucell, a Raanana-based start-up that provides so-called self-optimizing network technology designed to optimize the functioning of cellular networks. Several weeks ago Cisco also acquired Ubiquisys, a company that specializes small cellular sites for locations such as malls and congested urban areas. The company will test its new technology in Pelephone’s network, which was the first to use Intucell’s service. (Amitai Ziv ) http://www.haaretz.com/business/business-in-brief.premium-1.530452 Israel can't be soft on cyber threat Israel is a rich target for cyber theft, but it has the means to retaliate. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000856761&fid=1724 SPACE MEDUSA call for ideas open MEDUSA is the Euromed GNSS II project, funded by European Commission and coordinated by Telespazio and aimed at exploiting the E-GNSS in the Euromed area. In parallel with the development of the infrastructures necessary for the E-GNSS availability in the Euromed area, MEDUSA prepares the Euromed countries towards the optimal use and adoption of the relevant provided services in civil aviation and other transport and non-transport domains, by implementing a series of actions focused on EGNOS also in the perspective of Galileo. The Euromed GNSS II beneficiary countries are Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia. http://www.euromedtransport.eu/En/working-group-aaognssaau_20_9_54 3 LIFE SCIENCES Israeli scientists reveal brain research projects and innovations at Presidential Conference Israeli brain research took a share of the spotlight at the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, showcasing scientific breakthroughs from researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Haifa University, and Bar-Ilan University. The exhibit also highlighted Israel’s role in the Human Brain Project, a landmark research project being funded by a grant of over one billion Euros from the European Union. (80 participants include a team of Israeli scientists). http://israel21c.org/news/israeli-scientists-reveal-brain-research-projects-and-innovations-at- presidential-conference/ http://www.humanbrainproject.eu/ Novocure offers breakthrough brain tumour treatment Novocure CEO Asaf Danziger says the company will remain independent, despite interest from big pharma. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000848309&fid=1724 Israeli researchers' discovery may help treatment of MS, cerebral palsy Tel Aviv University investigators find connection between cognitive abilities and white matter in the brain that could improve treatment of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and some psychiatric illnesses. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/israeli-researchers-discovery-may-help-treatment-of- ms-cerebral-palsy.premium-1.527488?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.218%2C Israeli-American joint research team find new treatment for itching Scientists from Hebrew University and Harvard make breakthrough in understanding the mechanism behind the urge to scratch, and a cure. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/israeli-researchers-find-new-treatment-for- itching.premium-1.527868?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.218%2C Bone marrow transplantation: A discovery by Hadassah researchers to fight graft-vs.-host disease A foetal peptide can improve the rehabilitation process. http://www.hadassah-med.com/about/news/new-discovery-by-hadassah-researchers-to-fight-graft-vs- host-disease.aspx Bursts of gentle electricity may slow down Alzheimer’s A significant Israeli study shows how it’s possible to restore a balance of key proteins in brains affected by the disease. http://israel21c.org/health/bursts-of-gentle-electricity-may-slow-down-alzheimers/ A novel method for diagnosing retinal micro-aneurysms to prevent diabetic retinopathy The novel method will enable early diagnosis and treatment of the condition, potentially minimizing damage and saving vision. The technology was patented by Yissum,