A recent conversation with an investment banker from the UK was revealing.  

He compared Israeli and British reactions to the global recession. Yes, both economies have taken a hit and G20 announcements will not change much overnight. However, while the financiers in London walk around with their heads looking down, in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv you find continued verve and dynamism.

So as Obama, Brown and co parade around London, announcing the rebirth of Keynsian economics, I want to share with you some info on just 3 of the many fascinating Israeli companies I have spoken with this winter.

Take Leviathan. Set up by serial entrepreneur Daniel Farb, the company has a patented method to control wind direction around their turbines. This allows their customers to generate about 30% more wind energy than known competitors. As the recession has blown in, Leviathan’s sales have picked up.

Cognisafe lead us into the world of on-line gambling. The company is the first to admit that this is not everybody’s preferred area of activity, it is growing rapidly in popularity and needs protection against cheats.

This is where Cognisafe applies its unique software. It can identify threats, profile them and deliver suggestions for the operation managers. Thus, although hundreds of thousands of players may be present at any one moment, the game remains safe for all. The first customers are in the door, and there are encouraging signs from the British market.

The Optimum Group have taken production manuals to a new level. They convert bulky and often incompressible manuals to focused on-line procedures. The directives of the line managers become readily understood by the training staff, raising output and reducing time flows. They have a Fortune 500 list of Israeli clients, with a heavy focus on the sensitive defense sector. 

For these firms and many others, the recession presents opportunities rather than disasters. You will be advised to watch their continued development over the next few years, as they enter the world stage.