Israel’s economic indicator soars upwards; Israeli website builder Wix.com, Google and the nonprofit Atidim are helping 10,000 businesses to set up websites; Israeli 3D printing company Stratasys is now the official supplier to the McLaren-Honda Formula 1 racing team, and much more.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Economic indicator soars upwards

I often report the monthly increase in Israel’s Composite State of the Economy (CSE) indicator.  It usually rises by 0.2 – 0.3% but in December it shot up by 0.45%. Factors include higher consumer spending, increased industrial production and more revenue from trade and services.
http://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/22-1-17CompositeIndex.aspx

Internet support for peripheral firms

Israeli website builder Wix.com, Google and the nonprofit Atidim are helping 10,000 businesses far from Israel’s financial center to set up websites, and use social media platforms.  The Digital Starter project is supported by the Israeli government and some 250 trained volunteers.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/google-wix-push-to-equip-small-israeli-firms-with-internet-tools/

Formula 1 team adopts Israeli 3D printing

Israeli 3D printing company Stratasys is now the official supplier to the McLaren-Honda Formula 1 racing team. Stratasys will supply McLaren Racing with its latest 3D printing solutions and cutting-edge materials for visual and functional prototyping, and production tooling. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-stratasys-teams-with-mclaren-racing-1001173473

Learn to innovate in Israel

Israel has the greatest number of startups per capita in the world, prompting entrepreneurship courses at universities and colleges throughout the country. Ben Gurion University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Technion, the IDC and ORT all aim to combine theory with practical help.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-nod-to-startup-nation-ivory-towers-foster-entrepreneurs/

Buy for Good

Israeli startup Buy for Good only sells products produced in vocational training centers that offer rehabilitation and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and from underprivileged communities. Soaps, tea, dolls, Judaica items etc. are sold via the website and shipped locally and overseas.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-online-store-makes-feel-good-buying-easier/  http://buyforgood.biz/

Israeli crime-busting software sells big in USA

Israel’s Cellebrite has sold its phone and computer forensic software to police agencies in at least 20 US states.  Revenue from the sales exceeds $4 million including $2 million from the FBI alone.
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/us-state-police-have-spent-millions-on-israeli-phone-cracking-tech-cellebrite

New flights from Israel

Low-cost airline Ryanair is to commence flights out of Tel Aviv.  Its first route is to Paphos, beginning in March.  More European destinations are expected soon. Cypriot airline TUS is adding Athens, Rhodes and Kos to its Haifa route. And Iceland’s WOW Air is to go daily from Tel Aviv to Reykjavik.
https://www.touristisrael.com/ryanair-flights-to-tel-aviv-from-paphos/19851/
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-tus-to-launch-haifa-athens-flights-1001173932
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-wow-air-to-launch-daily-israel-iceland-flights-1001173863

TaxiBot pulls Airbus 320

I reported previously (three times) about TaxiBot from Israel Aerospace Industries, which has been towing Lufthansa Boeing 737 jets at Frankfurt airport since 2014.  It has just completed tests on towing Airbus 320neo jets at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France and is now in the final stages of certification.  http://www.iai.co.il/2013/32981-48158-en/MediaRoom.aspx

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