The two announcements last week have almost slipped under the radar. And yet their significance for the Israeli economy could be immense.

First, Amazon, which is to strengthen an r&d centre in Herzylia, just north of Tel Aviv. The aim is to recruit dozens of software engineers to work on Kindle. These will join about 20 or so others, who are already employed under the relatively secretive Lab 126.

There is more. Amazon’s “Vision” team in Haifa is also to be bolstered. And Israelis will also be sourced to fill positions overseas. However, for now, little has appeared on the internet.

Second, and at national level, Israel’s Ministry of Economy announced “the selection of 18 technological incubators and one biotechnological incubator……The winners will enjoy an 8-year license during which projects they accompany can receive government funding of 85% of the budget approved for each company“.

What is impressive is the range of the licensees. The names of the partners include IPG/McCann, Boston Scientific, Motorola and the Cleveland Clinic. The big guys need to learn from the Unicorns.

It is interesting that much of the fuss in the social media has concentrated on JVP in Jerusalem, and with good reason. Preqin ranks JVP as one of the top-10 most consistent funds globally.

Clearly these two items are a massive endorsement in the continually developing story of Israel as the ‘start up nation’. What I find significant is how they have been barely reported upon. Yet over the next few years, hundreds will find employment, tens of millions will be invested, and exports will expand accordingly. In classic economic theory, this will create a positive domino effect.

And that is what much of Israeli innovation is all about – getting on with it. These entrepreneurs silently push aside existing boundaries in whatever was thought of as an immovable given.