Elbit Systems (Haifa) has won a 5-year contract to supply up to $11.4 million worth of 100-watt power amplifiers for the U.S. Navy 's digital modular radio program.  The product will be manufactured at their America subsidiary plant in Tallahassee, Florida, and the contract should be completed by 2014. 

Israel's Medical Device Market  

Israel has the largest medical device market in the Middle East region and is set to grow at an attractive rate of 6.1% in the medium term. Much of the market, at over 80%, is supplied by imports, and a significant portion of these in value terms are dominated by "high-end" products falling under the diagnostic imaging apparatus category. In terms of expenditure, Israel spends around 8.0% of total GDP on healthcare and per capita spending rates are considered high by regional and world standards. Much of spending is in the public sector and the government has made allowances in recent years to expand the number of services and treatment offered by public health insurance programs. The country also has a rapidly growing elderly demographic that is contributing to rising healthcare costs. (Source:  Research and Markets)

Discretix Named to Deloitte Israel Technology Fast 50 for Second Consecutive Year

Discretix has been named to the 2009 Deloitte Israel Technology Fast 50, the ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Israel. Discretix has enjoyed a five-year growth record of 212%.  Design wins with high-profile customers this year included: Intel, HTC and LG. The company offers security solutions deployed in a wide range of consumer electronics devices enabling services and applications, while protecting the device and its contents. Discretix' products include embedded security co-processors and a broad range of security applications. The solutions are tightly integrated into the device, enhancing security without compromising the user experience. Discretix, a privately-owned company, serves the needs of some of the world's best-known semiconductor and device manufacturers.   

Deloitte, a leading international professional services firm, sponsors the annual Technology Fast 50, among the most well-known technology award programs. The program honors business growth, technological innovation and Israeli entrepreneurial spirit. Inclusion in the Technology Fast 50 is based on a company's percentage growth record over the previous five years.  (Source:  ATID)

Israel and the Global Equity Market urges Israeli-based businesses, government agencies and capital-market regulators to respond quickly. The report outlines specific steps that can be taken to increase liquidity and broaden the base of portfolio investors. "The potential outflows and stock reductions could negatively impact Israeli market liquidity in the short term, increase the cost of capital, and reduce overall portfolio investment," said Glenn Yago, director of Capital Studies and head of the Milken Institute's Israel Center. "Increasing transparency and liquidity can help Israel overcome these new challenges and are required to attract international investors."

For more information about the study, and to read it online, click here. (Source: Milken Institute)

State Tops Development Counsellors International Poll for Fourth Consecutive Time

AUSTIN - Corporate executives ranked Texas' business climate best in the nation for the fourth consecutive time according to a survey conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), an economic development and tourism marketing firm. The survey measures CEO's perception of a state's business climate based on several economic variables.

"Texas is far and away the best place in America to do business," Gov. Perry said. "Business leaders throughout the world recognize the Lone Star State as a place where their business can grow and thrive thanks to our reasonable regulations, low taxes, fair legal environment, educated workforce and an unparalleled quality of life."

DCI surveyed 281 executives in charge of site selection for various sized companies. Texas gained 40.8 percent of the top votes, which named a favorable tax climate, workforce cost and availability, and pro-business climate as the top features influencing positive perception.  

Overall, the Texas economy continues to grow at nearly three times the national average. CNBC recently named Texas America's Top State for Business and overall best economy. Texas was also recently recognized by CEO magazine as the Best State to do Business for the third year in a row, and is now home to more fortune 500 companies than any other state in the nation. Last year, more than half of all new jobs created in the United States were created in Texas.  

400 Innovative Technologies in Life Sciences, Biotech and more available from Yissum (www.yissum.co.il)