CLEANTECH
Renewable Energy Conference
Israel has assumed the chair of EUREKA (www.eurekanetwork.org), the largest EU R&D funding facility for 2010/2011.
The Israeli chairmanship has undertaken to focus on the promotion of clean tech this year and has launched its Clean Tech Action Plan, a campaign aimed at encouraging the generation and funding of cooperative industrial R&D projects in the clean-tech sector.
EUREKA has teamed up with the organizers of the Annual Eilat/Eilot Renewable Energy Conference (www.eilatenergy.org) which is being held February 22-24, and is offering EUREKA partner participants special registration rates as well as a package of services at the conference. A EUREKA meeting will coincide with the conference.
Jerusalem Teens win Stockholm Water Prize
Two students at the Jerusalem College of Technology were awarded the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize for the development of a device which detects water leaks in apartment buildings, factories and neighbourhoods and can shut down the water flow.
The "Aquastop" analyzes the average water used by a consumer and identifies deviations from the average. It then alerts the consumer over by text message and eventually turns off the water. The device can be embedded in existing water meters.
Minesto Makes Power without Making Waves
Swedish start-up and Saab Group spinoff, Minesto (www.minesto.com) has a new spin on tidal energy. Its "Deep Green" underwater kite tide mill takes advantage of the tide and the density of sea water to generate electricity without the need for huge infrastructure investment and installation.
The kinetic energy in water flowing at 5 knots is more than that which is generated by a 260 km/hr wind. Each kite has a wing span of only twelve metres and when anchored to the floor can generate enough electricity for 250-300 households.
Deep Green was selected as one of Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2010.
FOOD
Coming-Out Party for Drip-free Tomato
At a party at the Tel Aviv Hilton which would rival that thrown for any debutante, Israeli RT-Fresh (www.rt-fresh.com) introduced its new “drip-free” tomato variety.
The Admonia a.k.a. “Intense” in Europe, keeps the juice inside the tomato even after cutting, thus putting an end to the soggy sandwich and the drenched salad. RT-Fresh claims that the tomato’s shelf life is 40% longer than for regular tomatoes and that they can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
The first 500 tons of these “hot tomatoes” are scheduled to be shipped in spring to several European countries via Holland. The new tomato’s debut follows another development by Israeli company, Hazera Genetics (www.hazera.com). Its Antonella tomato retains firmness, flavor and aroma without refrigeration.
Chocolate with a Conscience
Danish Anthon Berg’s Chocolate Group (www.anthonberg.com) has adopted a four-pronged corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy in line with the UN Global Compact. The company’s CSR strategy complements its commitment to quality products, while ensuring best fair trade practices with cocoa bean producers, transparency towards consumers, promotion of relaxed, healthy life styles for employees and the adoption of environmentally sound energy-efficient operations.
Danisco Targeted for DuPont Takeover
US-based chemical producer DuPont is interested in acquiring food ingredients and enzyme maker Danisco for a total value of $6.3 b. The two companies currently collaborate on the construction of bio-ethanol plants, and with the acquisition, DuPont plans to take advantage of Danisco’s position in the food ingredient market. In 2010, the European Investment Bank (EIB) extended funding of €120m. to Danisco (www.danisco.com) for R&D conducted at its innovation centres in Denmark, France and the UK in the coming four years. The R&D complements the EU‘s “food for life” programme and is aimed at developing sustainable production and distribution chains.
IT
IT Israel's OCS: Incentives for Financial R&D Centres
Within the framework of Israel's "Comparative Advantage" economic strategy, the Ministry of Trade and Industry's Chief Scientist's Office launched a new incentive program to attract international financial institutions to set up IT R&D centres specializing in the development of software and system solutions for the financial services industry.
Government participation in the qualifying centres' total budget lies at the core of the new program. Participation rates vary over the course of the five-year period with the geographic region in which the financial R&D centre is established.
More information is through Gil Shaki (www.gil.shaki@moital.gov.il) at the OCS.
Swedish CEO Entrepreneur of the Year
Ernst & Young have selected Lars Björk, CEO of Swedish business intelligence vendor, QlikTech (www.qlikview.com) as Entrepreneur of the Year.
Björk is credited with cultivating the company from a small Swedish consultancy project to a major player in the global enterprise software market. QlikTech is a portfolio company of Jerusalem Venture Partners (www.jvpvc.co.il), which recently sold some of its holdings for US $112 m.
Qlik Tech listed on NASDAQ last July at a value of US $770 m. and currently has a market value approaching $2 billion. Jasper Design Automation Opens Israeli R&D Centre U.S. verification technology developer, Jasper Design Automation (www.jasper-da.com) has opened an R&D centre in Haifa's Matam Scientific Industries Centre.
The Israeli centre becomes Jasper's fourth, joining its Göteborg R&D Centre which was opened following the company's acquisition of Swedish verification software company, SafeLogic, in 2004.
