Four of the new companies are in the field of medical devices and one is in the field of internal security * In addition, two companies will start operating at Hamma Ha'Emek
The Technology Incubator Committee, chaired by the Chief Scientist, Dr. Eli Ofer, approved at its last meeting the establishment of five new incubator companies, four of which are in the field of medical devices and one in the field of internal security.
Below are the approved projects:
Medical equipment
• A mobile robotic system for driving marking tools, cutting and welding of steel pipes.
o HaEmek Initiatives Incubator, Migdal HaEmek.
In the market for the construction of piping systems in general, and especially in the field of construction of petrochemical piping systems, there is a problem of performing welding works in medium and large diameters quickly, efficiently and with the required high level of precision.
The proposed system is intended to speed up and significantly optimize the process while utilizing its robotic capabilities to perform measurements, marking, cutting, preparing phases and internal and external welding with a high level of precision, efficiency and low costs.
• Endoscope docking system and surgical tools.
o Red Biomed Greenhouse, Tel Aviv.
As part of the project, an innovative and unique attachment unit is being developed that will allow for the first time the anchoring of endoscopes and other surgical tools to the wall of the digestive system, without causing damage to the tissue. The project company's innovative approach in developing an anchoring system can be applied to a wide variety of surgical tools designed for the digestive system and will allow for the first time the performance of various surgical procedures in the digestive system in a minimally invasive manner instead of in an operating room. The first product that the company will develop will be a unit for anchoring an endoscope and a biopsy tool to the inner wall of the esophagus.
• Removable pump to improve blood flow in the arteries.
o MITB Greenhouse, Kiryat Shmona.
As part of the project, a miniaturized and temporary removable pump is developed to improve the flow in blood vessels.
The pump is foldable, and is intended for implantation in the blood vessels for a period of days to weeks. The entire pump is removed at the end of the treatment.
The initial patient population is patients suffering from lack of blood flow in the heart arteries after successful catheterization.
The potential markets are for any organ or tissue that needs a temporary change in blood flow, for example: kidneys, organs after transplantation, poor blood flow in the legs and more.
• Device for umbilical hernia repair under local anesthesia.
o MITB Greenhouse, Kiryat Shmona.
The project deals with the development of an innovative device to repair hernias in the abdominal wall with a minimally invasive approach. The device will allow the placement of an implant (mesh) in a posterior approach - behind the muscles, (an approach that is only possible today in laparoscopic surgeries), and this is through a minimal incision, with local anesthesia and a simple technique for the surgeon.
The global hernia surgery market is a growing market that includes over 4 million surgeries per year. The costs of the insurers in the western world for this disease are approximately 5 billion dollars per year.
Internal Security
• Intrusive technology for the detection of explosives.
o The Technion Incubator, Haifa.
As part of the project, an inspection unit will be developed to identify explosives in the passenger's luggage (both in the stomach and hand luggage), all without the need to open the suitcases and/or handbags of the passengers. The system is designed to solve the serious problem of a high percentage of false alarms present in the existing systems.
Dr. Eli Ofer, the Chief Scientist, noted that in addition to the new projects, TIF Ventures group was given permission in principle to privatize the Meshgav Greenhouses (operating in Gush Segev) and Mofat Bihuda (operating in Kiryat Arba), this following the trend and direction of the Office of the Chief Scientist to privatize all the technological incubators. Ofer noted that out of 24 incubators, the privatization of 19 incubators has been completed and approval in principle has been given to three more incubators (including Mashgav, Mofat Bihuda and Hamma Yozamot).
Renee Fridor, director of the incubator program, stated that TIF Ventures brings together investors with significant financial and strategic capabilities, including foreign investors such as the Cornell Capital Fund, the Miralis Fund, the Trendlines Fund, partners of the Crestview Capital Fund and other private investors.
The fact that the two greenhouses, located in peripheral areas, are privatized at the same time by a strong group such as TIF Ventures, will create synergy between them and help them create a strong financial body with high added value that will welcome and raise significant capital for both the greenhouses and the projects operating in them.
Two new incubator companies began operating in the "Yozmat Ha'emek" incubator
The technological incubator "Yozmot Ha'emek" reports on the entry into the incubator, and the start of activity, of the company AgroSif (Bisod) Ltd., which is engaged in the development of a new, software-controlled shaking system for fruit picking. It was also reported on the entry and start of the development activity of the company Vibrant (Bisod) Ltd., which is developing a tiny mechanical device to treat the phenomenon of constipation.
Agrosif received a total investment of 370,000 USD and the first application that the company will develop is intended for application in the field of olive harvesting. The innovative equipment that will be developed during the period of activity in the greenhouse will combine technologies in the field of computing, robotics, hydraulics and mechanics and will be a breakthrough in the field of fruit picking. The system will enable a significant reduction in picking costs and in a second phase will be adapted to handling the picking of additional fruits such as almonds and walnuts. It should be noted that the mechanical equipment available today for harvesting olives allows the picking of only 65% - 70% of the fruit. The rest must be helicoptered with the assistance of a high-cost CAA. The CEO of the company, Noam Shohat, stated that with the help of the equipment that will be developed, it will be possible to achieve mechanical picking of olives at a rate of approximately 95%. It was also reported that the potential of the global market reaches about 3 billion dollars. The initiator of the project is Elhanan Shohat, a veteran farmer from the Jezreel Valley, a mechanical engineer by training, who has worked for many years guiding farmers on growing and picking fruits.
The innovative technological development of the Vibrant company is in the field of medical equipment and comes to answer a widespread and well-known problem of chronic constipation (ie: going out only twice a week, or less). This is a potential market with a total volume of about 6 billion dollars, notes Yaniv Ben-Rubi, CEO of the project company. The company raised a total investment of 400,000 USD and a first prototype, demonstrating the technology and its programming, was developed even before the start of activity in the greenhouse. The innovative medical device in question does not contain any side effects or chemicals and its activity within the body's gastroenterological system will be limited in time and simple to apply. The initiator of the project is Dr. Yaron Lev-Ari and the medical consultant is Dr. Uri Segol, director of the gastroenterology department at "Carmel" Hospital in Haifa
