CleanTech Map of the world launched – highlights Israeli technologies

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Israel NewTech is launching an exciting new tool to showcase Israeli companies’ projects in the cleantech arena throughout the world – the CleanTech Map. This Facebook application allows visitors to view Israeli cleantech projects and installations anywhere in the world. Visitors simply go into the map, and search by either category and subcategory (for example – water- desalination) or by browsing the map. Visitors may then read about each project, view photos or clips, and contact the company. “We’re very excited about this new application,” says Adi Yefet-Beeri, who is responsible for the water sector at Israel NewTech. “Our objective is to open doors for Israeli companies around the world, and to inform about Israeli technology innovations, and this is a perfect vehicle for doing so. We believe it will be a strong marketing tool that all Israeli cleantech companies – from water, to alternative energy, agriculture and environment – can benefit from and use to advance themselves internationally.” “Israel is already known as an innovation leader in water and renewable energy,” says Ophir Gore, who is responsible for renewable energy at Israel NewTech. “We are showing that, beyond technology breakthroughs, Israel’s water and alternative energy industries are mature. There are hundreds of installations, functioning projects by both young and mature companies, providing cleantech services around the world.” Oded Distel, head of Israel NewTech, summarizes, “Israel’s cleantech industry is experiencing a tremendous momentum. When the Israel NewTech program began its activity in 2006 Israel’s exports in the water sector totaled $600 Million, in 2011 they already reached $2 Billion. Our program is dedicated to continuing to provide maximum international exposure to Israel’s cleantech companies, and this Cleantech Map is another important tool in our efforts.” You are welcome to visit the Cleantech Map and see Israeli companies’ projects around the world by clicking here. Some of Israel’s largest companies, along with innovative start-ups already have projects on the map, including: Amiad, Tahal, Chromagen, Diffusaire, Emefcy, Solaris Energy, Power Sines, Mapal, and Takadu. The projects span the world from Australia, India, Nepal, Mongolia in the East, to the U.S. Brazil, Mexico, Equador in the Americas, as well as Europe and of course Israel.  

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Israel’s life sciences success stories

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Israel's life sciences industry is a great source of national pride. Although they are not as famous as their high-tech peers, when a life sciences entrepreneur meets a patient whose life he saved or improved thanks to his discovery or invention, the emotion is just as important. Globes recently overviewed the most successful Israeli companies in the life sciences and medical arenas.  Here's the wrap-up: Brainsway - Founded in 2003, on the basis of an idea developed by scientists at the US National Institutes of Health. Its current market cap is  $127 million. It has developed the Deep TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy for the treatment of neurological and mental disorders. Deep TMS has obtained certification from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national health agencies for the treatment of depression, and the company is readying for its first sales. Compugen - Founded in 1993. It's current market cap is $200 Million. The company has developed an in silico discovery platform for oncology and immunotherapy drug candidates. In 2005, the company established a business model based on the development of drug candidates through the preclinical trial stage, at which point it commercializes them to big pharma companies. In 2010, it narrowed its focus to the development of oncology and immunology drugs, and to develop them to the pre-investigational new drug (IND) stage ahead of human clinical trials. Kamada  - Founded in 1991. Its current market cap is $268 Million, and it is planning an offering on Nasdaq. Development of therapeutics derived from human plasma for the treatment of pulmonary and inflammatory diseases. The company already sells Glassia (an Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) protein for the treatment of AAT deficiency) for the treatment of congenital emphysema and is developing an inhalable version of the drug. The company has discovered that the AAT1 protein may also be able to treat cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes, suggesting a very promising future. Prolor Biotech - Founded in 1991, and with a current market cap of $295 Million. The company is developing proprietary versions of already-approved therapeutic proteins to extend their lifespans with no loss of efficacy. It has completed a Phase II clinical trial of its longer-lasting human growth hormone therapy. Dr. Fuad Fares from the Druze village of Hurfeish founded Prolor at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology incubator, on the basis of know-how acquired from the University of Washington. The company's Carboxyl Terminal Peptide technology is attached to existing therapeutic proteins, extending their lifespans. The molecule is produced by pregnant women to protect the pregnancy. In addition to the human growth hormone treatment, Prolor has other products under development and enough cash to complete clinical trials on its leading candidates. Protalix Biotherapeutics - Founded in 1994 and has a current market cap of $482 Million. The company is developing biological therapies based on recombinant therapeutic proteins derived from its ProCellEx plant cell based protein. The company has obtained US FDA approval of Elelyso for the treatment of Gaucher's diseas. Protalix is the first company in the world to produce a human protein from plant cells. It has genetically engineered carrot cells to produce a human protein, which is lacking in patients with Gaucher's disease. Although there is already an animal-cell based treatment on the market, use of plant-cell based proteins is cheaper and safer from contamination. RedHill Biopharma - Founded in 2009 and with a current market cap of $64 Million, the company is developing new, improved, and patented formulations and combinations of existing drugs for the treatment of Crohn's Disease, oncology support, migraines, and heart attacks. It has completed pivotal Phase II/III clinical trials for its generic improved treatments for migraines and for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. It treatment for Crohn's Disease is undergoing a Phase III clinical trial. Aposense - Founded in 1996, the company has a market cap of $33 Million. The company is developing rationally designed small molecules to identify apoptosis (programmed cell death) or target apoptosis in vivo, to create personalized patient care in oncology, cardiology and neurology. Although the possible applications of Aposense's technology are almost limitless, it has initially focused on two: an oncology treatment and a tumor diagnostic and monitoring product to test a treatment's effect. Pluristem Therapeutics  - Founded in 2002 and has a current market cap of $201 Million. The company is developing placenta-based cell therapies using patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells. Pluristem's lead product is a treatment for peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is set for a Phase II/III clinical trial. InsuLine Medical - Founded in 2007 and has a current market cap of $60 Million. The company has developed a device to warm the insulin injection point to improve its absorption by the bloodstream, and is set to begin sales in Germany. Insuline aims to imitate the pancreas to improve the absorption of artificial insulin. The company's device is designed for insulin pumps (the InsuPad) and ordinary syringes (InsuPatch insulin pump). The InsuPad has EU CE Mark certification, and the safety clinical trial, conducted under US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protocols, of the InsuPatch, met its primary endpoints. Keryx Biopharmaceuticals - Founded in 1999, the company has a current market cap of $207 million. It is developing treatment for kidney diseases. The company is conducting a Phase III clinical trial, under FDA protocols, of Zenerex for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia (elevated phosphate levels) in patients with end-stage renal disease, and its Japanese partners are conducting a Phase III trial in Japan. Medgenics - Founded in 2000, it has a current market cap of $87 million. The company is developing a biological biopump for patients to produce, within their bodies and on a long-term basis, their own natural human protein therapy for the treatment of a anemia, hepatitis, and other diseases. Intec Pharma - Founded in 2000, and has a current market cap of $75 million. The company is developing a proprietary accordion pill for the controlled release of existing medications' active pharmaceutical ingredient.The company has completed Phase II clinical trials of Levadopa for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and of Zaleplon for the treatment of insomnia. More products are in the pipeline. For the full Globes article, by Gali Weinreb and Tali Tsipori, click here.  

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U.S. Water Industry Heads Network with Start-ups in Tel Aviv

Panel: McIntire, Jones, Tunnicliffe

Panel: McIntire, Jones, Tunnicliffe

“Israel has some of the largest and most innovative water projects in the world,” said Peter Tunnicliffe, Executive VP Global Market Development at CDM Smith. Tunnicliffe spoke as part of a delegation of over 40 heads of water solution companies, investors and government representatives who are in Israel this week, meeting with Israeli start-up companies and seeking out the next breakthrough technology and company in the water arena. Yesterday’s event was a networking session organized by CleanIsrael and sponsored by Autodesk and featuring speakers from multi-billion dollar revenue companies from the U.S. One of the themes that rose from the panel and from discussions that followed it, was the need to create an ecosystem to support innovation, and this is why a number of government representative from Massachusetts came on the delegation. Massachusetts, like Israel, has strong academic, industrial, and investment community resources in the water arena, but the challenge is to have this entire ecosystem work efficiently together to enable innovative technologies to be implemented.
Panel: McIntire, Jones, Tunnicliffe
We spoke with Karen Golmer, a water professional with 30 years of experience (having worked for GE, and today serving as Global Executive Director Water & Energy Solutions at Diversey). “I came here to learn how things are done in Israel, how the ecosystem here works effectively,” said Golmer. When asked what it is about Israel’s water industry that makes it stand out she said, “I think there is no fear of failure in Israel,” and this openness to risk-taking is a key success factor. Chris McIntire, SVP & President, Analytics at Xylem, told of how he founded a company which in time was bought by the ITT Corporation and became Xylem, and of what he looks for when scouting out the next technology breakthrough. Regular engineering services are being commoditized, and this, according to Pete Tunnicliffe, is why water companies like CDM Smith and Xylem are always looking for the next innovative idea. When asked about the barriers that technology companies face from municipalities on the way to implementation, Tunnicliffe noted that he thinks municipalities are loosening limitations a little. “Innovations are necessary to increase efficiency. At the end of the day this saves money, and that’s the main driver in the market today.” Also on the panel was Earl Jones, Member of Liberation Capital, which recently invested over $6 million in Desalitech, invested in a second Israeli company (which Jones did not name) and is about to close a third such investment. “The work ethic and team effort here is like nothing else on the planet,” said Jones. His recommendation to start-ups? Connect to solution providers like CDM Smith and Xylem, who can provide the valuable connection to clients.

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