Google Brings Entrepreneur Delegation on Computer Vision Tour in Jerusalem
A Day with Google
Twenty international entrepreneurs came to Jerusalem earlier this summer to learn about Computer Vision technology from a series of world renown experts in the field. The entrepreneurs, part of the Google Campus Exchange Program, met Jerusalem’s community of Computer Vision technology trailblazers. Computer Vision is a particularly exciting field; it enables computers to process video and extract data, allowing them to “see” and react. It’s a game changer for all fields; obviously, it can be used for facial recognition and automotive purposes, but it can also be used in medical, agricultural, and retail fields. The technology opens up worlds of possibilities for what computers can accomplish, which is why MarketsandMarkets estimates that the market for Computer Vision technologies will grow by 5.5 billion dollars by 2023.
Jerusalem is already an established leader in the Computer Vision industry, as recognized by the Startup Genome’s 2018 Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
The city is populated with some of the world’s leading giants in their respective fields. Mobileye is leading the entire industry of self-driving automobiles (acquired last year by Intel for $15.3 billion.) Orcam is creating its own field in developing a wearable headset to improve the quality of life for the blind (valued at $1 billion.)
“I wish that I had these resources back home.”
Throughout the Google trip, I entered into conversations with many of the entrepreneurs. One commented to me that “there is so much collaborative work being done here,” another that “I wish that I had these resources back home.” When it comes to resources for Computer Vision R&D, Jerusalem reigns supreme. Hebrew University is a major contributor to the ecosystem, with advanced courses to train the upcoming generation, and research constantly taking place. On the Google tour, two Ph.D. candidates presented their research to the Google delegation, one from the Computer Aided Surgery and Medical Image Processing (CASMIP) Laboratory, and another a former intern at Google who achieved “dynamic temporal alignment of speech to lips.”
Tech Transfer Supreme: Yissum
One unique element of the innovation ecosystem at Hebrew University is the Yissum technology transfer company. The company introduced a new search engine on its website that allows the user to input a type of technology and yields results comprised of the various research projects at Hebrew University in the field. It connects innovation to the commercialization process and serves as a tremendous resource for aspiring entrepreneurs. Mobileye and Orcam were both co-founded by Professor Amnon Shashua from the Hebrew University and were successfully commercialized via Yissum, along with over 130 other companies to date.
Keep an Eye Out
New startups in Computer Vision are constantly popping up in Jerusalem. Here are some companies to be on the lookout for in the coming months:
This company develops cutting-edge technology to synthesize location information based on drone videos.
Winner of the 2017 Apple Design Award, this company specializes in perfecting photo editing.
This mobile-based software tracks brain activity through optical analysis.
The company has created a new sensory language for the visually impaired to help them navigate their surroundings.
Looking Forward: Jnext
Jnext, the Jerusalem Development Authority’s High-Tech and Entrepreneurship Program, was instrumental in coordinating the “Google visit” to Jerusalem. Oded Barel, the Executive Director of Jnext, gave an enthusiastic statement about Computer Vision in Jerusalem, saying, “Jerusalem is the place to be when it comes to Computer Vision technology companies. If you’re in the industry and are looking for a place to start a business, find a job at a cutting-edge company, or study Computer Vision and work on research projects, Jerusalem is the ideal city. Startups in the field can receive funding from the Jerusalem Development Authority to grow their teams in Jerusalem, helping them actualize their entrepreneurial endeavors”.
