Scientific Section

RDI in Israel News Issue No. 286- March 201 3

Policy 2

Research Highlights 3

Events 5

Facts & Figures 5

Publications 6

International and Member State 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

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Policy

President Barroso announces creation of a Science and Technology Advisory Council The creation of the Advisory Council follows the President’s appointment of Professor Anne Glover as the European Commission’s first Chief Scientific Adviser in January 2012, aiming at ensuring more evidence-based European Union policy-making, but also at promoting the uptake of science & technology in society, including a better transfer of knowledge from the scientific world to industry. Prof. Ada Yonath, from the Weizmann Institute, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, is one of two non-EU members of the 15 member Council." http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-168_en.htm?locale=en

Is the start-up nation sustainable? Israeli policy talks in terms of growth, not leadership, and that is no longer enough, argues Roy Keidar, CEO of the Reut Institute. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000825383&fid=1724

Startup exits: On-ramp to a bright future, or dead end that only lines foreigners' pockets? Is it better to sell off local startups to multinational corporations, or to grow them into big Israeli companies? That question is at the heart of one of the liveliest debates gripping the country's tech sector. Critics of the "exit approach" say it inhibits local job growth, and that Israeli companies that are sold and turned into development center for global technology players face a constant threat of closure and don’t pay enough taxes in Israel. But according to figures issued recently by the Central Bureau of Statistics, these centers increasingly contribute to the economy. In fact, during the global economic crisis at the end of the last decade these centers boosted their operations just as local R&D firms contracted…One of Israel's main sources of pride is its high rate of R&D expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product. The business sector's internal R&D expenditure in 2009, totalling NIS 30.8 billion, came to 3.9% of GDP, putting Israel in top place worldwide. But without the development centers run by foreign companies Israel would have been fifth overall, with R&D expenditure representing just 1.92% of GDP. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/startup-exits-on-ramp-to-a-bright-future-or-dead- end-that-only-lines-foreigners-pockets.premium-1.514149?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.199%2C http://www1.cbs.gov.il/webpub/pub/text_page_eng.html?publ=56&CYear=2009&CMonth=1

Elbit's outgoing CEO discusses Israeli defence industry's biggest missed opportunity "The biggest missed opportunity was that the Israeli defence industry didn't consolidate" Yossi Ackerman said. "In Israel it is a difficult process with government companies, not just in defence. You need to act now while it is still in good shape. Compensate the employees, ensure their financial safety, undertake a reorganization and see to R&D. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/elbit-s-outgoing-ceo-discusses-israeli-defense- industry-s-biggest-missed-opportunity.premium-1.509486?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.199%2C

High tech incubators to be set up in Beersheba, Ashdod The Beersheba incubator will focus on cyber, and the Ashdod incubator will nurture new media ventures. The Office of the Chief Scientist has approved several new high tech incubators, two of which will be established in the south. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000829919&fid=1725

Experts: Israeli farm tech is field yet to be fully exploited Despite being a world leader in agricultural R&D, Israel is falling short of leveraging its capabilities, expert says http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/experts-israeli-farm-tech-is-field-yet-to-be-fully- exploited.premium-1.513257?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.199%2C

Commercialization deals are the new exit In drug development, commercialization agreements have become the main way for new companies to create value http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000824681&fid=1724

2 Research Highlights

ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

A breakthrough in solar fuels Professor Avner Rothschild and his research team from the Technion University have made a breakthrough in solar fuels. Using the power of the sun and ultrathin films of iron oxide (commonly known as rust), the researchers have found a novel way to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen http://www.focus.technion.ac.il/Feb13/energyStory2.asp

Israeli-Palestinian team studies local water A group of Israeli and Palestinian environmental scholars have started on a joint effort to test the area’s water supply for potentially health-altering endocrine-disrupting chemicals. At their head is Prof. Alon Tal of Ben-Gurion University’s Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at Sde Boker. http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=304677

Mediterranean Sea Studies: New TAU-Ruppin Center Tel Aviv University is joining up with the Ruppin Academic Center to establish a new, multidisciplinary, Center for Mediterranean Sea Studies. The surprising discovery of major gas fields off the coast of Israel generated hope for greater energy independence, but it also highlighted the country’s lack of petroleum-related experts that could guide the efficient and environmentally responsible exploitation of this energy wealth http://english.tau.ac.il/news/mediterranean_sea_studies

The powerful new antioxidant made of sun and algae A nutritional and cosmetic supplement produced at Israel’s Kibbutz Ketura is at the heart of a $50 million international deal http://israel21c.org/environment/sun-microalgae-powerful-antioxidant/

Develop technology now to fight future food shortage Erez Vigodman, former head of Strauss and current CEO of a global pesticide company, wants to see countries around the world offering incentives to entrepreneurs of agriculture technology http://www.haaretz.com/business/economy-finance/israeli-ceo-of-global-pesticide-company-develop- technology-now-to-fight-future-food-shortage-1.513101

Israeli products provide natural defence against bugs A new company from Israel called EdenShield has a natural solution for keeping greenhouses pest- free without nasty pesticides that pollute the earth and harm people http://www.ishitech.co.il/0413ar7.htm

ICT

Navigating through mega malls & large buildings made simple Students from the Technion developed a novel mobile indoor navigational system http://www1.technion.ac.il/_local/includes/blocks/news-items/130305-amdocs-qualcomm/news-item- en.htm

Keeping your mobile virus-free A hacker sitting just a table away could be hopping onto your device as you check your email, but Israel’s Skycure has you covered http://israel21c.org/technology/keeping-your-mobile-virus-free/

Surgery without scars or scalpels Israel’s InSightec is transforming the operating room with a new ultrasound technology that enables surgeons to destroy tumours and cysts without incisions http://israel21c.org/health/surgery-without-scalpels-or-scars/

3 Citi opens Israel data intelligence lab The lab manages the most advanced projects in capital markets, combining technological challenges in big data and related fields. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000833520&fid=1725

Futuristic 'microscope' sees through skin Israeli team from the Weizmann Institute of Science invents a simple new imaging tool that brings us one step closer to 'X-ray vision.' http://www.ishitech.co.il/0413ar9.htm

Cyber Stranger Danger To help Facebook users protect themselves, Michael Fire and a team of Ben Gurion University student researchers have developed a Facebook app called the Social Privacy Protector (SPP). http://www.aabgu.org/media-center/bgu-making-a-difference/cyber-stranger-danger.html

"We're providing building blocks for next-generation communications" Compass-EOS has unveiled the world's first silicon photonics router for the most power hungry sections of communications networks. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000830849&fid=1724

SPACE

Israeli space engineers hope to take another giant leap for mankind Israel may not have Apollo, but its space industry is hoping to take a giant leap for mankind in 2015 to become the third country in history to land on the moon, this time in a tiny unmanned spacecraft equipped with high definition technology capable of broadcasting images back to Earth. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/israeli-space-engineers-hope-to-take-another-giant- leap-for-mankind.premium-1.509660?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.221%2C

LIFE SCIENCES

Ben Gurion University researchers generate promising drug candidate for psoriasis treatment Researchers have engineered a natural immune system receptor into a promising drug candidate for the treatment of Psoriasis http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/Pages/news/psoriasis_drug.aspx

Technion scientists develop a new approach for artificial stimulation of blind retinas Method is based on optogenetics – a newly developing area in neuroscience, and is a first step towards non-invasive sight restoration in cases of degenerative retinal diseases http://www1.technion.ac.il/_local/includes/blocks/news-items/130227-shay213/news-item-en.htm

New implant is alternative to spinal fusion Israel’s Premia Spine has a transformative solution for spinal stenosis inspired by the success of total hip and total knee replacement. http://israel21c.org/health/new-implant-is-alternative-to-spinal-fusion/

Israeli researchers discover gene that causes liver disease The expression of the gene in an immune-system cell prevents the combating of liver scarring, heightening the risk of cirrhosis in drinkers and others http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/israeli-researchers-discover-gene-that-causes-liver- disease.premium-1.508948?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.218%2C

New Treatment for New Genetic Mutation Researchers at Hadassah Medical Centre identified a rare genetic disease that causes paralysis and a drug that prevents the progression of the disease. http://www.hadassah-med.com/about/news/new-treatment-for-new-genetic-mutation.aspx

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Cell on a chip reveals protein behaviour In the future, artificial cells may produce complex protein structures on demand. A research team in the Weizmann Institute’s Materials and Interfaces Department recently took a significant step in this direction when they created a two-dimensional, cell-like system on a glass chip. http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/cell-on-a-chip-reveals-protein-behavior#.UUbTYRegJ8E

Programmed destruction: Results showing the same signalling enzymes can trigger two different processes in the cell sound a warning to biomedical researchers A new Weizmann Institute study may help develop targeted therapies for controlling the tissue destruction resulting from inflammation and necrosis. http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/programmed-destruction?press-room-rb

Experts discover gene causing ‘mirror-image’ organs Researchers at Hadassah University Medical Center have discovered the gene that causes primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a rare inherited condition that affects functioning of the minute hairs (cilia) in the respiratory system and causes “transposition” of organs http://www.jpost.com/Health-and-Science/Experts-discover-gene-causing-mirror-image-organs- 308498

Copaxone competitor on way to European approval The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today recommended the approval of Biogene Iden Inc multiple sclerosis treatment Tecfidera for marketing in Europe. The approval of Biogene's oral treatment is likely to hit sales of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. flagship branded drug Copaxone, which is an injectable treatment for multiple sclerosis. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000832112

Copaxone's inventors hope for improved treatment Prof. Michael Sela and Prof. Ruth Arnon say it will not be easy to make a generic version of the multiple sclerosis drug. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000832876&fid=1724

PHYSICS

Causing collapse Weizmann Institute researchers suggest one can affect an atom’s spin by adjusting the way it is measured http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/print/causing-collapse?press-room-rb

Events

Italy-Israel workshop on space technologies - March 12-13, 2013 http://www.matimop.org.il/italy_space_workshop2013.html

Israel national workshop on Euromed GNSS II/MEDUSA project Global Navigation by Satellite Systems EGNOS / GALILEO Tel Aviv, 6th of May 2013

Facts & Figures

Industrial high-tech exports frozen For first time in a decade, the volume of high-tech exports falls 1% in 2012. 'If this trend continues it will have serious implications on the Israeli economy,' says Export Institute chairman. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4348464,00.html

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The IDF is still Israelis' main path to high-tech A survey conducted by Ethosia and The Marker found that an Israeli high-tech entrepreneur is most likely to be a post-graduate man who served in an IDF combat or technology unit. http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/the-idf-is-still-israelis-main-path-to-high-tech.premium- 1.508871?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.199%2C

Intel Israel more than doubles exports Multinational electronics corporation seeking to bring manufacturing of its next generation of chips to Jewish state. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4346233,00.html Carmel most active VC fund in 2012 Venture capital fund managed by Shlomo Dovrat and Avi Zeevi makes 11 first investments throughout year, compared to just three in 2011 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4345240,00.html

Israeli Nobel laureates get new appointment Prof. Avraham Hershko and Prof. Aharon Ciechanover, the two Technion-Israel Institute of Technology researchers who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2004, have been chosen to join the Academy of the American Association for Cancer Research, the world’s most important group in biology and medicine http://www.jpost.com/Health-and-Science/Israeli-Nobel-laureates-get-new-appointment-308615

Publications

Stories of Success: International R&D Cooperation A sample of success stories from hundreds of projects by companies who made use of the various programs for international collaboration that are implemented by MATIMOP http://www.matimop.org.il/uploads/attachments/1683/MATIMOP_Success_Stories___ENGLISH.pdf http://www.matimop.org.il/uploads/attachments/1683/success_stories_booklet_2_english_2013.pdf

A Computational Analysis of R&D Support Programs Published by the Samuel Neaman Institute Government R&D support programs are examined within a dynamic equilibrium model of imperfectly competitive industries in order to study the effectiveness of such programs and the extent to which their design matters. The Institute compared two common support schemes, R&D tax credit and direct R&D grants http://www.neaman.org.il/Neaman2011/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=581&LNGID=1&FI D=646&IID=10282

International & Member State News

Member States

British-Israeli medical research upgraded British Ambassador: "Potential for cooperation is huge – both our countries are scientific superpowers." http://www.jpost.com/Health-and-Science/British-Israeli-medical-research-upgraded-307533

UK seeks cooperation with pharmaceutical industry British delegations of senior pharmaceutical industry scientists are in Israel to establish ties with Israeli scientists http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=304810

UK invites Israeli innovators to water summit British Embassy will be bringing 14 water technology companies to an upcoming UK water summit. http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=305353

6 Bennett meets with Bavarian high tech delegation Economics and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett is meeting this week with a delegation that arrived in Israel Tuesday representing Bavarian high-tech companies and venture capital firms, including Siemens, Fujitsu, Munich Venture Partners, and the Fraunhofer research institute. The delegation is being led by Bavaria’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil, who will also be meeting with Science and Technology Minister Jacob Perry and Energy and Water Resources Minister Silvan Shalom. This will mark Bennett’s first meeting with a foreign dignitary as minister. Germany was Israel’s third largest export target in the European Union in 2012 with $1.6 billion in goods, not including diamonds. In 2011 the British daily, The Guardian, dubbed Bavaria “Europe’s Silicon Valley.” http://technation.themarker.com/1.1982569

Weizmann Institute Women in Science Program Wins Award in Barcelona A program to help outstanding young women go abroad for postdoctoral studies is gaining international recognition. In honour of International Women’s Day, the city of Barcelona presented in March Maria Aurelia Capmany award to the Weizmann Institute of Science for its commitment to advancing young women in science. http://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/weizmann-institute-women-in-science-program-wins-award-in- barcelona

Joint calls for proposals :

- Italy-Israel Call for Proposals Deadline for Submission: May 2, 2013 Open to all technological fields Italy and Israel are announcing a new Call for Proposals for joint R&D projects in all technological fields. The Call is jointly administered by MATIMOP/ ISERD on behalf of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor in Israel, and Ministero degli Affari Esteri in Italy http://www.matimop.org.il/article.aspx?id=23530

- Germany-Israel Call for Proposals Deadline for Submission: June 17, 2013 Open to all technological fields Germany and Israel are announcing a new Call for Proposals for joint R&D projects in all technological fields. The Call is jointly administered by MATIMOP/ ISERD on behalf of the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Ministry of Industry Trade and Labor in Israel, and BMWi in Germany. http://www.matimop.org.il/article.aspx?id=23879

International

Ben Gurion University partners with University of Michigan on renewable energy Ben Gurion University and the University of Michigan (U-M) will forge a research partnership to collaborate on developing renewable technologies. A memorandum of understanding to establish the partnership was signed in March. http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/Pages/news/UM_partnership.aspx

China Everbright set to invest in Israeli tech companies The investment arm of the Chinese state-owned China Everbright Group says it is close to signing deals with local firms and will put at least $100 million into the tech sector http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/china-everbright-set-to-invest-in-israeli-tech- companies-1.510292?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.199%2C2.201%2C

Ben Gurion University to partner with the University of Chicago to tackle Global Water Problems The University of Chicago and Ben Gurion University have signed an agreement to begin exploring a research partnership that would create new water production and purification technologies for deployment in regions of the globe where fresh water resources are scarce http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/Pages/news/uchicago-bgu.aspx ********

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