The Education Of A Value Investor Summary

The Education Of A Value Investor

Favorite quote from the author:

Guy Spier isn’t your average guy (haha) – or would you have paid $650,100 for lunch? To be fair, it wasn’t just any lunch. It was lunch with Warren Buffett, and the proceeds of the event went to charity. Believe it or not, Guy gladly paid this price to talk to his idol. At the time, he might’ve needed that lunch more than you or I do.

He’d been working at an investment bank, and slowly come to grips with the fact that his environment was entirely toxic and slowly poisoning him. He hated the work environment, the shady practices, and found himself to be inauthentic, having traded some of his own ethics for profits.

The lunch was the cherry on top of his education as a true value investor – an approach that would finally move him away from all the negativity and let him go on to turn around his career and life.

Here are 3 of the lessons in The Education Of A Value Investor that Guy learned from Warren Buffett about what really makes a great investor:

1. If a business forces you to throw your morals out the window, leave it.
2. Investing doesn’t stop at money, so invest in people too.
3. Financial crises are great opportunities for value investors.

Ready to be an ethical investor? Let’s go for it!

Lesson 1: If your work challenges your morals, it’s not worth it.

Investment banks are known for their ruthless salesmanship and dubious strategies to make money. They’re playing with other peoples’ money and assume zero risk in case of losing it, so they know they can be aggressive.

The company Guy worked at would always make their deals seem more profitable than they actually were to get investors on board. What would you do if you found out? Would you start asking questions? Or would you keep your head down?

Especially when you’re new, it’s easy to say you wouldn’t play along, but when actually faced with the dilemma, the decision gets a lot tougher.

Managers expect all of their employees to go with it, and if you’re the only one that hasn’t closed a deal, because all of your colleagues resort to sneaky tactics, would you just quit? Chances are, you’d feel immense pressure to perform and to prove to yourself that you can do it.

It’s very hard to even spot moral fraud when it’s happening, and even harder to point your finger and say: “No! To hell with this. Not under my watch!” But even if you’ve already fallen into this trap, don’t do it again. Come back out. Be honest. You know it’s the only way to do what’s right. No job in the world is worth sacrificing your morals, so if you’re in such a dilemma right now, take the leap. The world will be there to take care of you.

Lesson 2: Don’t stop at investing your money, invest your time too – in people!

Investing your money is one thing, but if you think of the people in your rolodex like a vampire thinks of his victims, there’ll soon be no money left to suck out, because people will ignore you.

A great investor doesn’t just invest her money, she also invests her time in the people that helped her get to where she is.

When Guy started becoming a value investor, he decided to write “Thank you!” cards to all the people that had helped him professionally in the past. A simple “Thank you!” goes a long way and over time, people started to respond and to invite him to events.

If you treat people well, if you show them gratitude, if you’re a good friend, if you care, give them respect, and are authentic, honest and helpful, they will remember your name and they’ll be there for you when you need help too.

Over time, this not only helps you in business, it also changes you personally. You’ll build up what Guy calls personal goodwill, a state of mind where you’ll care less about money and more about people.

Lesson 3: A true value investor loves a good financial crisis, because there’s always money to be made.

Value investing is, financially speaking, about buying great, valuable businesses at a discount and then keeping them forever and watching them grow. That means to a value investor, financial crises are awesome!

For one, because when they hit, he won’t take major losses, because he didn’t invest in risky stocks prior to the crisis, like Guy did in 2007-2008, when his portfolio lost only a little, compared to his colleagues.

Secondly, a crisis always causes a panic. People rush to their brokers and sell everything they’ve got, which means a lot of great businesses are on sale. Even great companies suffer from the financial fallout, which means you can swoop in and pick up their shares at a massive discount.

For example, when Volkswagen was caught cheating on the diesel emission tests in September 2015, their stock price dropped from over $160 per share to just over $100. That’s over 30%! But this crisis doesn’t make VW a bad company. Nor will it make them go bankrupt. So I got myself a bunch of shares at a huge discount. One year later they’re up 20%.

Don’t panic when everyone else does. Stay calm and there’s money waiting to be made.

The Education Of A Value Investor Review

Any example of someone in finance with a strong set of morals, ethics and honest values, is a good example. We need more of them. Seriously. If you’ve tried a lot of investment tactics or are working in finance, I highly recommend you read The Education Of A Value Investor.

Who would I recommend The Education Of A Value Investor summary to?

The 25 year old, freshly minted finance graduate, about to start his first job at a big investment bank, the 53 year old who’s been burnt after putting his money into a hedge fund, and anyone who wants to invest the honest way.

WHO and its funding

WHO and its funding 

• WHO, founded in 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a broad mandate to act as a coordinating authority on international health issues.
• The main decision-making body at WHO is the annual World Health Assembly (WHA), attended by all member-states. 
• There is also the Executive Board (EB) comprising technically qualified persons from 34 countries, elected based on geographic representation from across the globe. 

Reasons given by US President for stopping the funds to WHO- 

• WHO was being too lenient with China in the earliest days of the pandemic 
• WHO’s delay in declaring COVID-19 as Public Health Emergency of International Concern(PHEIC) and as a result failed to impose a travel ban on China 
• WHO must be held accountable for its inefficient working.

Do You Know?

• USA is the biggest overall donor to WHO, contributing more than $400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget.
• China’s contribution to WHO for 2018-2019 was almost $76 million in assessed contributions and some $10 million in voluntary funding
• The WHO has been appealing for more than $1 billion to fund operations against the COVID-19 pandemic

How is the WHO funded?

1. Assessed Contributions
   • These are the dues countries pay in order to be a member of the Organization. 
   • The amount each Member State must pay is calculated relative to the country’s wealth and population.
   • These contributions have declined, and now account for less than one-fourth of its funding.
2. Voluntary Contributions
   • These come from Member States (in addition to their assessed contribution) or from other partners (organisations & individuals) 
   • They can range from flexible to highly earmarked.
   • Top funders include Bill and Melinda Gates (USD 367.7 million), GAVI Vaccine Alliance, World Bank, Rotary International and the European Commission

Consequences of the US decision

• Politicization of the Pandemic
• Reduces WHO’s ability to coordinate the fight against pandemic in coming months
• WHO’s significance will decline in long run if the shortfall in funding is not addressed

• Impacts the Public Health prospects of Africa: Half of all spending of WHO was in Africa.
• Impacts Health programs of WHO: A quarter of WHO budget went to polio eradication, 12% on access to healthcare, 5% on outbreak prevention and control
• It provides further scope for China to increase its funding and influence in WHO
• Signals US intention of retreating from Global affairs thus creating vacuum in Global Leadership role

Trend of US retreating from Global leadership role

Since Trump Presidency (2016 onwards), US has

• Quit the U.N. Human Rights Council and U.N. cultural agency UNESCO
• Pulled out of Paris accord and Iran nuclear deal 
• Cut funding for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) 
• Opposed a U.N. migration pact

Way Ahead

• US should hold WHO accountable not by suspending its funding but by setting up actionable committee to look into lapses in WHO’s response during pandemic
• Institutional Reforms in WHO
• Increase the flexible funding
• Reduction in bureaucratic complexity to ease the process
• Reduce reliance on voluntary contributions and instead increase assessed contributions
• Empowering the Executive board for quick decision making backed by scientific data
• More Democratic functioning of the body – needs to insulate from global power politics

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INDIA and COVID19

INDIA IS SURPRISING THE WORLD - ALL INDIANS PLEASE TAKE A BOW !

I have been tracking various social media groups and Internet forums which have millions of users from all over the world. As expected, the only topic of discussion everywhere these days is: Corona.

While most of the discussions are mostly about precautions and updates, a significant number of users have also now started noticing the maturity with which India is handling this issue. What was till recently considered a third world nation, is now quickly gaining respect & recognition at the world stage. 

Following are a few examples which illustrate how India is impressing the foreigners:-

1) Firstly,  and most importantly,  many are impressed with Indian Govt's quick measures & proactive initiatives even at such initial stages- Janta Curfew, Complete 21 days Lockdown, etc... The reason for this appreciation is that in all other countries in Europe and even USA, despite the rapid rise in cases, their respective govts had been ignoring the issue, and some were even taking it casually. Whereas India is one of the very few nations where Govt has jumped into action to tackle at root level itself.  This has impressed many foreigners, especially Americans. 

2) The strong measures like strict lockdown & police bandobast in India is being specially appreciated by Europeans. The reason here is that Europe is usually a highly democratic continent where emphasis is more on giving flexibility to people. So, they find it a bit strange when they see news visuals of Indian police forcefully  chasing out violators from the streets during the curfew. In fact, Italians have been highly impressed with scenes where Indian policemen have lathi charged violators, because the Italians know the severity of this issue, and hence they feel such ruthless strictness by Indian police is fully justified, and is in the best interest of larger public.

3) Many, specially the Americans,  are impressed with the calmness of Indians, who are not resorting to crazy hoarding of essential items despite a nationwide lockdown. For example, even now, most of the American stores are almost empty, and Americans are fighting against each other in stores over these issues & are on a Gun buying spree ! However, in India, everything seems to be running smoothly without any hoarding or shortages. 

4) Almost the whole World is impressed with the innovative methods used by Indians to follow social distancing.  For example, the circles & boxes drawn using rangoli powder to ensure decent distance between people in queues at groceries, ATMs etc.... . 

5) The world is clearly noticing how Indians are utilising their skills of jugaad to solve these tough problems.  For instance, PM Modi's idea of turning train coaches into ICU wards , creating 10,000 bed mobile hospital and sending them to all parts of India over railway, has taken many by surprise, because it is so simple yet so practical.

6) Low cost kits are developed by Indian Companies, Low cost ventilators developed by Mahindra company's mechanical engineers. All these show Indian engineers are also rising to the occasion to help the health sector, with these innovative & affordable solutions. Everyone from across the world have been highly appreciative of these, and are now encouraging their own engineers to follow suit. Many startup’s have sprung up to invent low cost solutions.

7) Public participation in India is something which has taken everyone by surprise. Probably because the usual perception about India in the west is that Indians are illiterate, careless, selfish, lazy etc. So, when they find Indians heeding to the leader's call for participation through different means like Janata curfew, cheering for health workers etc, so enthusiastically, it gives an impression that Indians really care for their nation, are serious about fighting this issue, etc.

8) The Indian PM floated a "PM Care Fund" and both Corporates like Tata & Reliance donating Crores and Individuals also donating Crores. No other World Leader has created such a fund or companies in those countries have donated on their own.

9) Last, but not the least. Finally, India is emerging as a new powerhouse, thanks to a strong & trustworthy leadership. The clarity and focus with which Indian PM is tackling this issue seriously, has already started receiving accolades from all over the World. During this global crisis, when China is acting like a cheat, Europe is down to its knees, and America is running like a headless chicken, the words from Indian PM, in all the recent summits have been heartwarming and inspiring confidence. In some ways, PM Modi is now taking the role of a global leader and bringing accolades to India, filling the vacuum, taking charge & guiding the world, just like how leaders like Abraham Lincoln had long ago filled leadership vacuum and inspired the world. This is something which rest of the world is also beginning to notice, and acknowledging the same. 

Proud to be an Indian. 

 

The Brain That Changes Itself Summary

The Brain That Changes Itself 

Favorite quote from the author:

Your brain is amazing. At first sight, that grey, wrinkly blob might not look like much, but it’s responsible for everything you know and love about being human. It contains your memories, brings emotions and sensations, controls movements, and allows you to think and make decisions. 

We are now learning more about neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change. Previously, scientists thought of the brain as fixed when fully formed, then deteriorated as we age. But with the rise of neuroplasticity, we now know our brains can heal themselves from injury, change from experience, and regenerate even into old age. 

Here are the 3 most amazing lessons from the book: 

1. Your brain has an incredible talent of changing itself as needed through processes like unmasking. 
2. Using your imagination can change your brain.
3. You can change your libido and sexual desires. 

Are you ready to be astounded at how incredible the human brain is? Let’s dive in!

Lesson 1: The brain can change itself through things like unmasking.

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to reform itself by making new neural connections throughout life. A catchy phrase used by Psychology teachers to describe this is “neurons that fire together wire together.” When two events happen at the same time, those neurons involved in the experience fire together. Thus they associate themselves with each other. As this connection becomes stronger, these neurons wire together.

Scientists thought for a long time that each area of the brain had a distinct function, and if that area got damaged, there was no getting that part back. Though some areas are responsible for specific roles, many often overlap and help one another. If one pathway becomes blocked, a secondary one is exposed and used instead. This new pathway grows stronger with repeated use in a process called unmasking. 

A story of a woman named Cheryl Schiltz demonstrates this phenomenon. For years, she struggled with her balance because of a loss of the part of her brain responsible for balance. A neuroplasticity pioneer, Paul Bach-y-Rita, created a device called an accelerometer that sent balance signals through an electrode on her tongue. This stimulated the area of Schiltz’s brain responsible for balance. After using the device consistently, it “unmasked” a new pathway for balance. Schiltz could miraculously balance on her own.

Lesson 2: We can change our brains just with our imagination.

Just imagining what we want can make physical changes in the brain and body. An example of this is patients who experience phantom pain. This is the phenomenon where people who lose a limb experience pain that seems to come from the limb that doesn’t exist anymore. Once considered a psychological problem, phantom pain is now known to be a nervous system problem. 

The theory for why the pain still happens is that the brain map for that missing limb is eager for input and sends growth factors to nearby neurons. With this theory, neuroplasticity researcher V. S. Ramachandran created a mirror box that showed the mirror image of the working limb so the brain would think the missing limb was moving and responding to input. This way, they could unlearn the phantom pain. It worked wonders for a patient experiencing severe phantom pain after losing his arm in a motorcycle accident. After using it for ten minutes a day for four weeks, the pain had disappeared. 

Another way imagination can change our brain is through visualization. An experiment had two groups of beginning pianists. One group sat in front of the piano and visualized playing a sequence while the other practiced it for the same amount of time. When they mapped the subjects’ brains, scientists discovered that just doing mental practice resulted in the same physical changes in their motor systems as the ones who actually practiced. In other words, they had approximately the same skills. Imagining doing something and actually doing it aren’t very different to the brain. 

You can also use imagination to strengthen your muscles. Another study had one group exercise by doing finger contractions over four weeks, while another just imagined doing the muscle contractions. At the end of the four weeks, the ones who actually did the exercise increased muscle strength by 30 percent, but get this–the ones who just visualized it increased their strength by 22 percent! And they didn’t even have to do anything.

Lesson 3: Your libido and sexual preferences are plastic and can change with experience.

Brain plasticity doesn’t just help us improve and recover lost skills; it also changes our sex drive. The hypothalamus, which controls instinctive behaviors like sex is plastic, meaning that our sexual inclinations can change.

The sexual and romantic inclinations we learn in our critical age become wired and continue to impact us for our whole lives, but we can continue to learn and change sexual preferences later in life. 

We see this in those who view pornography, where latent sexual preferences from childhood are sometimes unmasked then subsequently strengthened as this inherent desire is fulfilled. This can lead to new patterns or even a new kind of sexuality over time.

People also tend to develop a tolerance for pornography and seek out more aggressive imagery. Combining that aggressive imagery with sexual release connects the associated neurons. Those networks strengthen with repetition. This explains why the industry has seen increasing popularity in sadomasochistic themes.

The Brain That Changes Itself Review

I feel like I was only able to skim the surface on this fascinating book. The author sets out to teach us about the wonders of neuroplasticity in a way that we non-neuroscientists can understand it. The Brain that Changes Itself will empower you by helping you realize you can change and improve your brain even in adulthood.

Who would I recommend The Brain That Changes Itself summary to?

The 19-year-old fascinated with psychology that is thinking about studying neuroscience, the 48-year-old who wants to help her mother that suffered a debilitating stroke, and anyone with a brain!

Israel with Industry 4.0 Revolution

Israeli startups are greasing the wheels of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

How did a tiny country without a significant manufacturing sector become so important to the Fourth Industrial Revolution – and how will that help us all?

Close to 1,000 people are converging on Tel Aviv for Israel Industry 4.0 Week starting February 24. And exactly why should you care?

Because even if you never set foot in a factory or power plant, what happens there affects you.

Call it the Fourth Industrial Revolution or simply I4, Industry 4.0 is greasing the wheels of a shift from “far and cheap” to “local and smart” manufacturing anywhere.

While the Third Industrial Revolution introduced technologies such as robotics, 4.0 innovations digitize, simplify, connect, safeguard and generally improve every step of production.

The benefits of I4 technology are many: more jobs, higher productivity, better oversight and quality, less pollution and faster delivery — without costing you more.

Incredibly, Israel earns a big piece of the $90 billion I4 market pie. This tiny country in the Middle East ranks third in I4 venture investments (after the US and China) and second in early-stage investments.

“Israel, as an innovative ecosystem well connected to global tech challenges and needs, has become a strong player in Industry 4.0, with increased attention from global players,” according to a report from Start-Up Nation Central, which is sponsoring Industry 4.0 Week with Grove Ventures and Deloitte.

Israeli I4-related startups number about 260. That’s nearly 70% more than in 2014, report author Yuval Engelstein tells ISRAEL21c. And the number of investors in this sector has more than doubled to 104 in five years.

“We’ve hosted dozens of multinationals from diverse industries including chemicals, materials science, fashion, food and beverages, retail, and energy that expressed interest in Israeli Industry 4.0 solutions,” said Engelstein, Start-Up Nation Central’s Industry 4.0 and smart mobility lead analyst.

People, machines, logistics

I4 is not about replacing people with machines. It’s about enhancing how both do their jobs.

“Manufacturing is physical — a combination of people and machines and logistics,” says Natan Linder, the Israeli CEO of Boston-based Tulip.

“Until now, new technology has been focused on automation. But it was not taking humans along for the ride.”

Employees in sectors such as sales and finance have many apps and software tools to assist them (think Monday or SalesForce). Tulip brings that ability to factory managers with a no-coding system they can use on the spot to build apps for improving production-line workflow.

“You have to get to the point where software is driving manufacturing,” says Linder. “In an age of customization and immediacy, it’s a complex problem to build things on time and well.”

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) recently welcomed Israel as a partner in shaping the trajectory of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“As the ‘Start-Up Nation,’ Israel has already proven itself as a global leader in technology innovation. Now, as part of the C4IR network, it will extend this leadership to the global governance of key emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and precision medicine,” said Murat Sönmez, head of C4IR.

9 Industry 4.0 subsectors

The Start-Up Nation Central report divides the Israeli I4 landscape into nine categories: operations optimization, cybersecurity, sensing and imaging, inspection and testing, IoT platforms and connectivity, additive (3D printing) manufacturing, supply chain, robotics and maintenance.

Operations optimization is the largest I4 subsector in Israel. About 60 companies are innovating technologies to increase yield, decrease the consumption of raw materials or energy, and enable a faster time to market.

One example is Grid4C, whose plug-and-play AI software analyzes billions of meter readings at the grid edge to deliver millions of daily predictions for energy providers, their customers and the utility grid.

Seebo created an AI software solution to analyze production-line sensor data and offer suggestions for process optimization.

It originally developed advanced sensors for video-game controllers. Pivoting to I4 was a wise move: Among Seebo’s clients are P&G, ChemChina and Nestlé.

Preventing cyberattacks and machinery malfunctions

The second largest subsector is industrial cybersecurity.

Some 34 startups in this area “frequently serve as an entry point into Industry 4.0 for manufacturers as they try to protect their data and connected systems from hackers,” according to the report.

Industrial cybersecurity firms that raised the most funding between 2014 and 2018 are Claroty, Armis, ThetaRay, CyberX and Radiflow.

Tel Aviv-based Radiflow and the Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation in Germany are developing machine-learning and artificial-intelligence techniques to determine whether abnormal behavior on industrial automation networks indicates a cyberattack.

Start-Up Nation Central counts 16 Israeli companies that forecast or find machinery glitches that could damage the machines, the products — and ultimately, sales.

Examples include: 3DSignals, which monitors industrial machines using acoustics; Augury, which uses the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence to predict machinery faults for clients including Hershey and Heineken; and Iguazio, which uses sensors, data analysis and AI to detect signals of impending equipment malfunctions in real time.

VocalZoom recently launched groundbreaking “Autonomous Sensors” that use contactless, vibration-based sensor technology with built-in data processing to monitor the health of any industrial equipment — whether hot, wet, small, moving or rotating.

Rising investment in Israeli I4 R&D

Because I4 doesn’t lend itself to one-size-fit-all solutions, Engelstein doesn’t predict lucrative exits in the I4 sector like we’ve seen in auto-tech — such as Intel’s $15.3 billion buyout of Jerusalem-based Mobileye.

As Tulip’s Linder puts it, “There is no Microsoft or Google in this space, and I don’t think there ever will be because manufacturing is so big and varied.”

Nevertheless, investment in Israeli I4 startups jumped from $413 million in 2018 to $650 million in 2019.

That figure includes two “mega rounds” — $110 million for Fabric and $109 million for Vayyar.

Fabric (formerly CommonSense Robotics) tailors technologies that allow automated micro-fulfillment centers to be embedded in cities, closer to customers.

Vayyar’s 4D radar imaging sensors see through walls and objects to track and map everything happening in an environment in real time, without cameras or privacy concerns.

One of many Vayyar use cases is helping robots detect where people are in the factory, to avoid safety incidents and reduce machine down-time.

Industry 4.0 incubators opening across Israel

Israel’s first Industry 4.0 incubator, Let-Lab, opened in 2018 in Nazareth Illit under license of the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA). It’s run by the Ham-Let Group, a Tel Aviv-based global manufacturer of valves, fittings and hoses.

Less than two years later, Israel now has eight Industry 4.0 accelerators and incubators, plus three I4 entrepreneurship programs.

Some are run in cooperation with foreign companies. InfraLab in Haifa is operated by Italian energy company Enel and Israeli infrastructure giant Shikun & Binui. PMatX in Yavneh is a collaboration between Germany-based Merck pharmaceutical company and US-based semiconductor maker Flex.

The IIA is soon opening the I4 Valley incubator in Carmiel with local corporate partners Wipro Givon, Kusto (Tambour), Keter Plastic, Trellidoor, Flying Cargo and Klil.

The IIA’s parent body, the Ministry of Economy, is setting up an Institute for Advanced Manufacturing to focus on robotics, digitization and IoT; and a Center for Resource Efficiency focused on optimizing production of energy, raw materials and water.

Israeli startups also benefit from the R&D centers, corporate venture arms and open innovation platforms established in Israel by about 50 global companies in the Industry 4.0 sector.

Updating kibbutz industries

Israeli I4 technologies are meant primarily for foreign businesses because Israel has only 22,000 registered factories.

However, Engelstein says local I4 startups and factories really need each other.

“Israeli manufacturers can benefit from the most advanced Industry 4.0 technologies, tailor-made to their specific needs, cost-effective, faster and more agile. On the other hand, Israeli Industry 4.0 startups can benefit from simpler testing for their products, the experience of working in a real factory, easier access to external funding at an early stage and the chance to start earning.”

A case in point is a collaboration announced earlier this month between Seebo (see above) and the dairy division of Israeli food group Tnuva.

Another place this is happening is on the kibbutz.

In the old days, kibbutzim were agricultural communes. Today, 250 of Israel’s 270 kibbutzim earn income from manufacturing.

“These are mostly traditional industries producing plastic, rubber, metal, fertilizer or food,” says Rafi Nevo, head of innovation and entrepreneurship for the Kibbutz Industries Association.

Sales from kibbutz factories in the past year reached a record high of $13.6 billion. To continue that growth, they need smart technologies to keep production onshore, modernize processes and increase output.

“We are helping them get to know and implement Industry 4.0 advancements,” Nevo tells ISRAEL21c.

Sensors, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, business intelligence, computer vision, data collection and analysis, and even collaborative robots (“cobots”) are starting to help kibbutz industries reach greater overall productivity.

A countrywide phenomenon

Engelstein says Start-Up Nation Central will soon host a roundtable event in Jerusalem for Israeli manufacturers and representatives from the Ministry of Economy and IIA. “We’ll try to learn how to connect better between Israeli industry and startups.”

Start-Up Nation Central established an Israel Industry 4.0 Community in 2018. II4 facilitates online and offline business opportunities and strategic alliances among local innovators and global financers and industry leaders.

Unlike some high-tech ecosystems clustered in the Tel Aviv area, I4 startups are spread across Israel. It’s therefore a sector that drives employment for diverse populations.

In the southern city of Beersheva, Siraj Technologies specializes in Industrial Internet of Things connectivity solutions and is headed by Arab co-CEOs.

Other examples are Hoopo on Kibbutz Glil Yam near Herzliya (supply chain); Cybord on the religious moshav Bnei Re’em in south-central Israel (inspection and testing); Ayyeka in Jerusalem (operation optimization); EZMems in Netanya (sensing and imaging); and XJet in Rehovot (additive manufacturing).

The Start-Up Nation Central report points out that many of the entrepreneurs starting these companies gained experience in sensors, image and video processing, big data, algorithms and real-time analytics technologies during their military service.

“This knowledge is utilized later to either start or seek employment in companies which utilize non-military applications of the technologies. Industry 4.0 is one of the more attractive sectors to exploit this experience,” says Engelstein.

Israel Industry 4.0 Week will give them a platform to create greater awareness among Israeli and overseas investors and multinationals “that Israel is a powerhouse in 4.0 and if they’re searching for technology to improve manufacturing they need to come to Israel,” he concludes.

By Abigail Klein Leichman