The Startup Nation is not only known for its strength in high tech, but also its world-renowned academic institutions. From the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University to the Technion and the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel’s educational institutions are developing Israel’s human capital and employing some of the globe’s top academic minds– particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) – to produce world-class research.
There is one area in particular where the two worlds of high tech and academia converge, applying the very best of the country’s research and innovation: education technology.
EdTech utilizes technological resources to improve the learning styles of all types of learners, from childhood to adulthood. There are an estimated 30,000 EdTech companies across the globe and somewhere between 300 to 500 such companies in Israel.
The local ecosystem is committed to building on its impressive track record in the sector. Headquartered in southern Israel, one organization – MindCET – is bringing together educators, and entrepreneurs to develop the latest ground-breaking technologies for real-world use by students, teachers, and lifelong learners worldwide.. Established by the Center for Education Technology (CET), MindCET believes EdTech has the power to “fill the void” between education provided at school and knowledge required in adult life. Since 2012, the organization has been seeking out EdTech startups, tapping into gaming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, to transform the modern learning environment.
Here are some of the startups leading the way:
- Plethora – a joint venture by the Weizmann Institute of Science and the CET – is a pedagogical platform that enables children aged between 7 to 14 years old to practice the skills required to understand complex systems, by changing a system’s behavior and watching it in action. The platform was recently selected by the Israeli Ministry of Education to be featured at the 2019 Nationwide Cyber Championship.
- Inflow helps researchers refine their search for reputable publications – saving them valuable research time. Focusing primarily on the bio-medical field, the company is developing an algorithm that automatically evaluates scientific publications and ranks them according to a range of metrics, including credibility and reproducibility, in their respective field of research.
- Moving beyond traditional classroom and computer-based learning, GEM (Guided Experience in Museums) is a personalized mobile app designed to enhance people’s experiences of visiting museums. Powered by AI, GEM give each unique visitor an enriching experience via their mobile app.
Market intelligence platform HolonIQ predicts the global education market will reach $10 trillion by 2030. In our digital world, technology will be central to the sector’s future growth – and Israel will be at the forefront.
Israel Trade and Economic Commission in Sydney, Australia 