Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. This week, we’re heading to Israel…

Israel Innovation Profile

Global Innovation Index ranking: 16^th

Climate targets: Cut greenhouse gas emissions 27 per cent by 2030 (compared to 2015), and 85 per cent by 2050

Sustainability issues

Solid waste – Annually, Israel produces 5.3 million tonnes of municipal and commercial waste, with this figure projected to grow an additional 1.8 per cent every year. Despite some initiatives, Israel has one of the lowest recycling rates of developed nations, with a huge amount of plastic pollution ending up in the Dead Sea.

Biodiversity – It is estimated that around 89 per cent of ecosystems in Israel have declined with regards to biodiversity. Population growth and mass urban development are putting strain on natural habitats, and inadequate border checks of incoming cargo mean that foreign animal species are introduced to the country, to the detriment of native species.

The Dead Sea – Historically, the perfect equilibrium of the Dead Sea kept it at a salinity level of 33 per cent. Because of global warming and human behaviour, the Sea has been rapidly shrinking – from being around 398 metres below sea level in 1976 to around 430 metres below sea level in 2015. And, this deterioration is only accelerating.

Sector specialisms

• – Hardware & IoT
• – Software & Data
• – Fintech

Source: StartupBlink

Three Exciting Innovations From Israel

‘QUANTUM HYDROGEN’ PRODUCED USING SUNLIGHT

Hydrogen is potentially a very useful clean energy source. It is already seeing use in a number of applications, including as an aviation fuel. However, while hydrogen can be produced from a variety of energy sources, most hydrogen in use now is derived from fossil fuels – making it less than green. One Israeli startup, however, is working to change this, with technology that produces green hydrogen using solar energy. Read more

TREATING INCURABLE DISEASES WITH BACTERIA-GENERATED MOLECULES

Most conventional drugs work by targeting proteins. However, it turns out that around 80 per cent of all proteins lack easy-to-find areas where therapeutics, such as small molecules, can bind. In pharmacology, these proteins are considered ‘undruggable’. This makes it extremely difficult to produce drugs to fight diseases caused by imbalances in these proteins. A wave of biotech companies, armed with new technology, is beginning to tackle this problem. One of these is Terrapeutics. Read more

A MODULAR HYDROPONIC SYSTEM FOR GROWING SHADE PLANTS

As anyone who lives in an urban area knows, cities are hotter than the surrounding area. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the annual air temperature of a city with 1 million people can be 1.8–5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1–3 degrees Celsius) warmer than its surroundings. In addition, NASA’s Landsat satellite data has been used to demonstrate a correlation between dense vegetation and cool temperatures, and between sparse vegetation and high temperatures. Read more

Curated By: Matilda Cox

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