Israel at World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum has just announced its annual list of Technology Pioneers for 2008. Out of 273 nominees, 39 visionary companies were selected, including three Israeli companies!

The judging panel included some of the world’s leading technology experts, academics, and venture capitalists.

To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of life-changing technology innovation and have potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show the signs of being a long-standing market leader – and its technology must be proven.

The 2008 Technology Pioneers are invited to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting taking place in Davos, Switzerland from January 23-27, 2008.

Congratulations to the three Israeli companies that made the list:

InSightec Ltd. Israel
Jackob Vortman, President and Chief Executive Officer
www.insightec.com
InSightec was founded in 1999 when GE Healthcare (then GE Medical Systems) and Elbit Medical Imaging transferred their proprietary technology to the company to enable it to concentrate on developing the promising MR guided focused ultrasound surgery both companies had investigated. Since then, InSightec has invested over $100 million in research and development. The company holds over 30 patents with additional intellectual property pending.

SpeedBit Ltd. Israel
Ariel Yarnitsky, Chief Executive Officer
www.speedbit.com / www.videoaccelerator.com / www.fileratings.com / www.fileflyer.com
SpeedBit Ltd. was founded in 1999 in Haifa in the north of Israel. First launching Download Accelerator Plus with patented acceleration technology (now with 138 million registered users), SpeedBit continued by creating SpeedBit Video Accelerator for YouTube & iTunes, FileRatings.com and FileFlyer.com, with over over 60,000 new users joining the SpeedBit network every day. SpeedBit Ltd. is backed by Pitango venture capital and Yossi Vardi, the founding investor of ICQ the pioneering instant messenger that was sold to AOL in 1998, and managed by Ariel Yarnitsky, the former general manager of ICQ.

NuLens Ltd. Israel
Ori Gal , Chief Executive Officer
www.nu-lens.com
NuLens researches, develops and markets technologies for the ophthalmic markets. The company is currently developing a new Accommodative Intraocular Lens (IOL) technology with the potential to provide over 10 diopters of accommodative power. This exciting innovation, based on the patents of Dr. Joshua Ben Nun, will prove to be the first intraocular lens to provide real, comfortable, and lasting accommodation for near, intermediate and far distances -the way nature intended. Not only does it restore eyesight, it provides better eyesight than ever before.

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