TRANSPORT
Project Runway: TaxiBot
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) (www.iai.co.il) and Lufthansa have successfully conducted operational testing of the TaxiBot Dispatch Towing system. The semi-robotic system, a joint venture between IAI and Airbus (www.airbus.com), tows an airplane from the gate to the runway and back under pilot control without the need to start jet engines. The system is designed to conserve jet fuel but may have other operational advantages, such as ability for better and safer taxiing on icy surfaces.
Volvo Helps Israeli Public Transport Go Hybrid
After winning the tender for public transportation in the Sharon region of Israel, Metropoline Public Transport (www.metropoline.com) will be testing Volvo 7700 hybrid buses on its Sharon lines. The new buses have the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 50% and effect as much as 35% savings in fuel costs.
THINK Thinks Finland
Norwegian electric vehicle manufacturer, THINK (www.thinkev.com) rolled out its first batch of Finnish-manufactured Think City electric cars. Following a partnership with Finnish contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive (www.valmet-automotive.com), the first Finnish Think Cities were delivered to C02-neutral logistics company, A2B Finland (www.a2b.fi). The car is capable of traveling up to 160 km between charges at speeds of up to 110 km per hour and is recharged using an ordinary electric socket.
Bringing Escalators to a New Level
Israeli start-up, HeliXator (info@helixator.com), has developed technology that promises to breathe new life into an old idea – a spiral escalator capable of continually transporting people up and down several stories in a relatively limited space. The “Helixator’s” helix-shaped design can move 14-15 times the amount of people between floors than an elevator and takes only a fraction of the space needed by vertical escalators. Armed with sensors, it can be monitored and controlled wirelessly, necessitating less hands-on maintenance and it has the capacity to go higher than today’s escalators.
SECURITY
Strongest Fabric Ever
Israeli armour company Plasan Sasa and Cambridge University spin-out company, Q-Flo, have entered a partnership to manufacture and market carbon nanotube fibre for the enhancement of body armour and vehicle protection systems.
The new material is lightweight and flexible. According to the agreement, Plasan will have exclusive marketing rights to defence-related applications of the new material, while Q-Flo will retain rights for other all other applications.
Robots with a Human Eye
TACO (Three-dimensional Adaptive Camera with Object Detection and (www.taco-project.eu) a European R&D project headed by Jens Thielemann from the Norwegian Research Institute SINTEF (www.sintef.org) is developing a robot with human-like vision and depth perception.
The robot’s improved spatial perception will enable it to engage in complex remote operations, including those too inaccessible or dangerous for humans to perform.
MISCELLANEOUS
Israel's OECD Membership Signed and Sealed
In November 2010, Israel’s membership to the OECD was ratified by the Israeli cabinet and the membership agreement was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, at the cabinet meeting. Gurria praised Bank of Israel Governor, Prof. Stanley Fischer, remarking that Israel has one of the most sophisticated central banks in the world.
Swedish Sustainable Diapers Expands U.S. market
Ten years ago, Swedish start-up Nature Babycare launched its first line of eco-friendly disposable diapers. The outer layer of the diaper is made out of compostable, biodegradable corn rather than plastic. The inner tissue is composed of natural chlorine-free tree pulp and the ink used to decorate the diaper is free of heavy metals.
Made in Israel and marketed around the globe, the diaper and the company’s other baby care products has recently partnered with New York drugstore chain, Duane Read for the distribution of its disposable diaper and baby wipe lines.
United Holocaust Research Project
A €7 m. project connecting 20 Holocaust research organizations across Europe and Israel was launched last November under the patronage of European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy and in the presence of Israel’s Minister of Education, Gidon Saar and Yad Vashem Chairman, Avner Shalev. An EU 7th Framework Programme, the project will facilitate Holocaust research by creating a common data base from archives dispersed around Europe and Israel and by making Holocaust materials universally accessible online. The National Archives of Finland and Norway’s HL-senteret Centre for Studies of the Holocaust and Religious Minorities are among the European partners in the project.
MISCELLANEOUS
Swedish Economy Strong as Pippi Longstocking
At a recent press conference upon the release of a new report, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria compared the strength of Swedish economic growth to that of Pippi Longstocking. Following a 5.2% growth rate in 2010, forecasts see an additional GDP increase of 3.9 % in 2011 and 3.4% in 2012. Nordea Bank concurs with this optimistic assessment, forecasting 4.5% for 2011 and 2.8% for 2012. For her part, Pippi is indeed quite the heavy-weight contender. Astrid Lindgren’s classic was named one of the 100 top books of all time in an international survey of 100 eminent writers released by the Norwegian Book Clubs.
Israeli School Days for Finnish Educators
On a recent trip to Israel, Director General of Finland’s Ministry of Education, Sakari Karjalainen, and high school principal, Olli Määttä, visited one Israel’s most unique schools. The Bialik-Rogosin School is a K-12 school with a student body of 750 Israelis and children of foreign workers and refugees from 48 countries around the globe. Located in one of Tel Aviv’s poorest neighborhoods, the school was on the brink of closure, until, against all odds, its principal Keren Tal, with the assistance of leading members of Israel’s business community turned it around. The school has attracted international attention as a model of both school integration and public/private partnership in education. Karjalainen. The school was the subject of a short-subject documentary, which has been nominated for an Oscar.
Swedish Visit to Israel on Innovation and Growth
A delegation of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (www.iva.se) visited Israel in January to gain insights on Israel’s success in providing an environment conducive to innovation and growth. The delegation met with high-level government officials as well as select enterprises including electric car infrastructure provider, Better Place, Rad Biomed technology accelerator, the Weizmann Institute and the High Tech Industry Association. This visit follows an earlier Swedish delegation headed by Charlotte Brogren, Director General for Innovation (VINNOVA) of representatives from the life science industries.
