Israel's Propulsion in the Final Frontier

Famously dubbed the 'Startup Nation', Israel has made remarkable progress in space technology. So, could it be time to consider calling it the 'Space Startup Nation'? Let's delve in and find out.

It was January 2003, and Israeli Air Force Col. Ilan Ramon was about to make history as the first Israeli in space. He would take a ride on NASA’s Columbia space shuttle for a nearly 16-day science mission in orbit, and as he spoke to reporters before his departure, he said, “The route to the target is more important than the target. We are going to go for the target, but we enjoy the route as well.” On Feb. 1, 2003, STS-107 ended in tragedy, and Col. Ramon joined history. Today we remember Col. Ilan Ramon with the Ramon.Space Lab and other space ventures.

Assaf Wise, CTO and Co-founder of Earth and Beyond Ventures asserted in a recent article: "Israel's vibrant startup industry owes much to the nation's unique circumstances, borne out of a necessity to thrive amidst larger military forces in the region… For instance, after ceding the Sinai Desert to Egypt in 1982, Israel lost a strategic safeguard. In response, we launched the Ofek imagery satellite in 1988, underscoring our resolve to advance in space intelligence.”

Prof. Dan Blumberg, the Chairman of the Israel Space Agency, noted the secret behind Israel’s flourishing space ecosystem and the interconnection between academia and industry: “In Israel, academia spearheads most of the long-term, high-risk research, while the bulk of development is handled by the industry. In the ‘Valley of Death,’ the critical gap between academic research and industrial application, additional governmental funding is made accessible through the Israel Innovation Authority, a part of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.”

It is commonly believed that space exploration is a privilege only accessible to major powers such as the USA, China, and the EU. However, Israel stands as a compelling example that refutes this assumption. If a country with a population of 9.7 million can accomplish such incredible feats, it suggests that others can do the same. Here is a look at some of the leading Israeli companies taking space of their own in this frontier:

Nano Dimension: 3D Printing and AI Integration in Electronics Manufacturing Nano Dimension specializes in the development of additively manufactured electronics (AME) using 3D printing technologies. This approach allows for the creation of complex electronic components and devices, supporting miniaturization and rapid prototyping. https://www.nano-di.com/

Tomorrow.io: AI-powered Weather Intelligence Platform

Tomorrow.io is a weather technology company that offers a hyper-local weather forecasting platform for businesses and individuals. The company’s platform uses a combination of proprietary technology, advanced modeling techniques, and machine learning to provide accurate weather information for specific locations in real time. https://tomorrow.io/

ImageSat International: End-to-end Geospatial Intelligence ImageSat International N.V. (ISI) provides geospatial and geo-intelligence solutions for defense and intelligence customers. The company's earth imagery and mission-critical intelligence are based on its Earth Remote Observation Satellites, third-party remote sensing satellites, and additional data sources. https://www.imagesatintl.com/

hiSky SCS: Voice, Data, and IoT Satellite Communication Solutions hiSky provides a satellite communication network system that enables the provision of robust, low-cost satellite services to large numbers of users, all over the globe. Operating on GEO and LEO satellites, the company's network comprises satellite terminals and hub base stations, a mobile application, IoT/M2M interface, and application servers. https://www.hiskysat.com/

Gilat Satellite Networks: Satellite Broadband Communications Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT) is a leading global provider of satellite-based broadband communications. With over 35 years of experience, the company creates and delivers deep technology solutions for satellite, ground, and new space connectivity and provide comprehensive, secure end-to-end solutions and services for mission-critical operations, powered by our innovative technology. https://www.gilat.com/

ASTERRA: Satellite-Based Infrastructure Intelligence ASTERRA is a leading provider of geospatial data-driven platform solutions catering to water utilities, government agencies, and infrastructure sectors including roads, rails, dams, and mines. Leveraging L band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, ASTERRA transforms this information into powerful decision support tools on a large scale. https://asterra.io/

Please reach out to your local Trade and Economic Mission to connect with any of the above entities.

References:

https://spacenews.com/the-startup-nation-in-space-israels-equation-for-the-space-ecosystem/

https://spaceambition.substack.com/p/israel-an-in-depth-look-at-its-thriving

https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/

Author: Jeremy Ungar Israel Trade Sydney