Israeli high-tech just keeps breaking the barriers.

This week has seen the world fume again at Israel’s Prime Minister for his policies in the West Bank. In parallel and despite Obama’s entrenched position, the government in Jerusalem is determined to ensure that the nuclear deal with Iran is never ratified. And around all this geopolitical charade, Israel’s entrepreneurial and innovation community  ploughs on ahead.

In terms of money, the biggest news belongs to Teva.  It is laying out a cool US$40 billion for the generics’ drug unit of Allergan. However, the  overseas multinationals are not far behind int heir attempt to catch the local fruits. For example, Merck is investing US$95 million in cCAM, set up 5 years ago by Professor Gal Merkel, who is still only in his mid 30s. The company develops drugs for cancer.

What else? Magic Leap has raised over US$600 million in its efforts to rival Google, and is about to open its key r&d platform in Israel. The giant chip manufacturer, ARM, has purchased Sansa Security, enabling the American giant to open its own r&d operation in the Holy Land. As Inc.Com put it, “some of the hottest startups in Israel are creating some of the fastest-growing companies on the planet.”

This week, I moderated the session of the Jerusalem Business Networking Forum, which was devoted to the biotech sector. Three companies pitched to investors. It was fascinating.

• Precise Bio is edging its way to printing vital organs, such as livers and kidneys, which can then be transplanted into humans!
• LBSIGHT has raised money to develop a technique to show where and how people pick up germs in a hospital environment.
• Sleep ASAP is developing a ‘sleep DNA’, enabling it to create personalized solutions for those suffering form sleep deprivation.

I was left marveling at the skills, determination and passion of the different teams. Interestingly, they were asked to list the challenges and difficulties they had faced to date. And for all the varying responses, nobody is giving up tomorrow morning. The passion is in the blood.

The bloggers at 21c feel that the conglomerates have gone a spending spree in Israel in recent weeks. In its own words, there are many Israeli companies that simply turn the impossible into a reality. Making the desert bloom, protecting innocent citizens from missile attacks, the release of insulin pills and much more – this is why Israeli high-tech walks above and beyond the politically correct ramblings of the politicians.