80 Israeli MedTech Companies Take Up The Fight Against COVID-19

As the circles widen daily in one of the worst global pandemics in recent history, it is not surprising that Israeli entrepreneurs are ‘on the case’ in the quest for both a vaccine and preventive solutions. As healthcare systems collapse under the load, there is a dire need to test and treat people outside of the hospitals and to better identify and quarantine people with the disease.

Israeli entrepreneurs typically don’t take no for an answer, which is why Israeli research and health technology startups are taking up the charge against coronavirus. More than 80 Israeli companies are actively working on wide ranging solutions; their expertise range from remote monitoring, diagnostics and decision support, to protection and prevention, and addressing social and mental health aspects of the virus.

Remote monitoring, diagnostics and decision support to relieve growing pressure on hospitals

Remote monitoring is an area of real strength in Israel’s digital health ecosystem. The largest group of COVID19-relevant Israeli companies are providing solutions for the remote monitoring of patients, either those quarantined without confirmed cases or other high-risk populations, such as the elderly. Remote monitoring can reduce the load on hospitals and the healthcare network, while also providing patients some peace of mind regarding the severity of their symptoms. The solutions allow for remote monitoring of key vitals, such as heart and lung-function and can perform temperature readings.

There are innovative diagnostic technologies to support medical staff in streamlining their decision-making process. These are mainly machine-learning based solutions that can help healthcare networks by prioritizing high risk patients, based on indicators like voice samples.  Other innovative solutions can speed up viral diagnostics – a process currently bottlenecked due to a shortage of testing kits and lengthy waiting periods for test results.  

Preparing for a coronavirus world

One cannot neglect the logistical, social and mental health aspects of the isolation caused by the lockdown. Some Israeli companies are applying their chemical engineering and artificial intelligence expertise toward developing physical protection, such as masks, and anti-viral coating for the testing booths.

One of the most difficult challenges we face is how to go about our everyday lives and interact with the world when there’s a highly infectious virus in our midst. Israeli companies are developing masks made of new materials and AI interfaces to help lonely elderly populations cope with our new reality.

The Holy Grail in the coronavirus battle is coming up with a vaccine for global distribution. Israeli companies and research institutes are among the top contenders for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, including treatments using proteins found in human plasma and based on other known viruses.

The wide range and quality of these solutions sheds light on Israelן entrepreneurs’ ability to perform under pressure. As Start-Up Nation Central’s CEO, Prof. Eugene Kandel put it: “The coronavirus is presenting an existential danger across the globe; Israelis have extensive experience in times of emergency and their outside-the-box thinking can be leveraged to achieve solutions.”

COVID-19 knows no borders, and is posing some of the greatest health challenges of our generation for policymakers and health professionals. It seems likely that Israel’s digital health sector, with its unique strengths, will make a meaningful contribution toward addressing this global crisis.

For more information about the Israeli companies working on COVID-19 innovation and research, visit the coronavirus directory on Startup Nation Finder.