For the third consecutive year, the Commercial Office partnered with the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute to create the Israel Pavilion at IBC to showcase the advances coming out of Israel in the new media sphere.

With approximately thirty companies presenting their solutions in their respective sectors, the Israel Pavilion at IBC served as a hub of innovation. In preparation for the event, the Commercial Office met with leaders in the UK media industry to understand the direction and focus of the UK market and tailored introductions between UK and Israeli representatives at the Israel Pavilion.

Senior individuals from all of the major players in the UK ensured they spent significant time at the Israel Pavilion at IBC. With over 1,300 companies exhibiting at IBC, visitors always feel the pressure when scouting technologies, but the Israel Pavilion became an oasis of expertise. With approximately 170 meetings taking place between Israel and UK companies, it was a record year for success at the Israel Pavilion.

The Israel Pavilion hosted representatives from the BBC, BSkyB, ITV, Channel 4, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, BT, Disney, Fox, STV, Samsung, Apple, Sony, Facebook, RIM, Bauer Media, to name but a few.

Feedback during the show was incredibly positive with quotes such as “the best hour I have spent at IBC” and “the most coordinated and productive meetings I have had this week”.

The ongoing efforts by the Israeli Government to encourage a technology hub for global financial services companies continues to pay dividends, with the recent announcement by Citigroup to expand their technology Research & Development to Israel.

Citigroup are now the second major bank to expand operations in Israel, after Barclays made the decision earlier in the year. While major brands such as Microsoft, Intel and Motorola have long established R&D facilities in high-tech and mobile communications, R&D within the financial services sector has yet to realise its full potential.

In a joint statement with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour and the Ministry of Finance, Don Callahan, Citigroups's Chief Operations and Technology Officer explained how Citigroup “will add Israel to its portfolio of a centre of strategic innovation that will focus on the development of advanced products and applications for the capital market”.

Israel will be presenting at the following exhibitions and events around Europe and Israel.  For more information, please contact the mentioned contact within the Commercial Office:

Anuga, Cologne
The world’s largest food fair for retail food and food service is now upon us and the Israeli Pavilion is looking to make an impact. Goods showcased will be of the very highest quality with many made from only natural ingredients across bakery, ambient and confectionary food.
Simon Spier: simon.spier@israeltrade.gov.il

Milipol, Paris
Paris is now getting ready to host one of Europe’s major internal State security events.  32 companies make up the Israeli Pavilion covering a huge range of protection equipment ranging from surveillance, counter-terror and law enforcement solutions.
Peter Wynch: peter.wynch@israeltrade.gov.il

Watec, Tel Aviv
The Commercial Office, in conjunction with UK Israel Business, continues to work very hard to organise a delegation from the UK to Watec in Tel Aviv this November.  Using world leading technology and methods, Israel’s reputation across the water industry has grown rapidly and is seeking to consult on growing water challenges that face us all.
Simon Spier: simon.spier@israeltrade.gov.il

Medica, Düsseldorf
Europe’s largest event for Life Sciences and Healthcare, Israel continues to build on its distinction as the number one producer of medical device patents per capita with new companies joining a very diverse Pavilion this year.
Peter Wynch: peter.wynch@israeltrade.gov.il

High-Tech

The purchasing of Israeli Company The Gifts Project by eBay, has the potential to dramatically change the manner by which goods are bought and sold electronically. The company’s software allows multiple users to buy and sell products, with the further intention that social shopping platforms are developed, facilitating far greater interactive online communication between users in real time.. 
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Backed financially by the 11th richest man in the world Li Ka-shing, free online video-editing programme Magisto is set to be launched. Complete with a mobile application, Magisto comes with image analysis technology, enabling users to transform video clips with film and music and provides the opportunity to shares these films online.
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Israeli firm Shaker won the ‘Disrupt Cup’ at online start-up magazine TechCrunch’s annual Start-Up Awards in San Francisco. Utilizing the massive reach of Facebook, Shaker takes one’s Facebook profile data and connections and transforms them into a form of interactive Social Gaming, allowing users to interact with other Facebook users through Avatars and other graphics.
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The signing of an agreement between NanoPass Technologies and UK company Circassia Ltd is an example of how Israel and the UK are forging significant agreements in the field of life science. The Microjet, belonging to Nanopass, is a microneedle-based device, used for intradermal delivery and will supply Circassia with many of their allergic vaccine treatments going forward.

Getting closer to the end of the calendar year, analysts at the International Monetary Fund now believe the Israeli economy has grown around 4.8%, far higher than what was predicted in the spring. Israel’s continued development in now partly predicated on the strength of her export market and the hope that any political tensions remain contained.
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