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 Contacts: [email protected] - [email protected] 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.