The economy of Israel is a highly developed free-market economy. The prosperity of Israel's advanced economy allows the country to have a sophisticated welfare state, a powerful modern military said to possess a nuclear-weapons capability with a full nuclear triad, modern infrastructure equivalent to developed countries, and a high-technology sector competitively on par with Silicon Valley. It has the second-largest number of startup companies in the world after the United States, and the third-largest number of NASDAQ-listed companies after the U.S. and China. American companies, such as Intel, Microsoft, and Apple, built their first overseas research and development facilities in Israel. More than 400 high-tech multi-national corporations, such as IBM, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems, Facebook and Motorola have opened R&D centers throughout the country. As of 2024, the IMF estimated Israel has the 26th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and one of the biggest economies in the Middle East.
Panasonic Holdings Corporation is a Japanese multinational electronics company, headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It was founded in 1918 as Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works in Fukushima, Osaka City by Kōnosuke Matsushita. In 1935, it was incorporated and renamed Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. In 2008, it changed its name to Panasonic Corporation. In 2022, it became a holding company and was renamed.
Research and development, known in some countries as experiment and design, is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage of development of a potential new service or the production process.
Venture capital (VC) is a form of private equity financing provided by firms or funds to startup, early-stage, and emerging companies, that have been deemed to have high growth potential or that have demonstrated high growth in terms of number of employees, annual revenue, scale of operations, etc. Venture capital firms or funds invest in these early-stage companies in exchange for equity, or an ownership stake. Venture capitalists take on the risk of financing start-ups in the hopes that some of the companies they support will become successful. Because startups face high uncertainty, VC investments have high rates of failure. Start-ups are usually based on an innovative technology or business model and often come from high technology industries such as information technology (IT) or biotechnology.
SoftBank Group Corp. is a Japanese multinational investment holding company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, that focuses on investment management. The group primarily invests in companies operating in technology that offer goods and services to customers in a multitude of markets and industries ranging from the internet to automation. With over $100 billion in capital at its onset, SoftBank's Vision Fund is the world's largest technology-focused venture capital fund. Fund investors included sovereign wealth funds from countries in the Middle East.
Soros Fund Management is a privately held American investment management firm. It is currently structured as a family office, but formerly was a hedge fund. The firm was founded in 1970 by George Soros and, in 2010, was reported to be one of the most profitable firms in the hedge fund industry, averaging a 20% annual rate of return over four decades.
Mitsubishi Estate Company, Limited is one of the largest real-estate developers in Japan and is involved in property management and architecture research and design.
Clean technology, also called cleantech or climatetech, is any process, product, or service that reduces negative environmental impacts through significant energy efficiency improvements, the sustainable use of resources, or environmental protection activities. Clean technology includes a broad range of technology related to recycling, renewable energy, information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, grey water, and more. Environmental finance is a method by which new clean technology projects can obtain financing through the generation of carbon credits. A project that is developed with concern for climate change mitigation is also known as a carbon project.
Solar shingles, also called photovoltaic shingles, are solar panels designed to look like and function as conventional roofing materials, such as asphalt shingle or slate, while also producing electricity. Solar shingles are a type of solar energy solution known as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
GAF is an American manufacturing company based in Parsippany, New Jersey. Operating as a subsidiary of Standard Industries, GAF is the leading roofing and waterproofing manufacturer in North America, with 30 locations across the U.S. GAF produces both commercial and residential roofing products, as well as pavement coatings. John Altmeyer is the company’s current CEO.
The renewable-energy industry is the part of the energy industry focusing on new and appropriate renewable energy technologies. Investors worldwide are increasingly paying greater attention to this emerging industry. In many cases, this has translated into rapid renewable energy commercialization and considerable industry expansion. The wind power, solar power and hydroelectric power industries provide good examples of this.
The Rama Prasad Goenka Group, commonly known as RPG Group, is an Indian industrial and services conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai. The roots of the RPG Group can be traced back to the enterprise of Ramdutt Goenka in 1820. RPG Enterprises was established in 1979 by Rama Prasad Goenka and initially comprised the Phillips Carbon Black, Asian Cables, Agarpara Jute, and Murphy India companies. R. P. Goenka held the title of Chairman Emeritus until his death in 2013. The present chairman is Harsh Goenka, R. P. Goenka's eldest son.
On 3 April 2017, Standard Industries acquired Braas Monier Building Group. As of June 2017 and in combination with Icopal, a manufacturer of waterproofing membranes and flat roof membrane systems, Braas Monier became BMI Group.
Redland plc was a leading British building materials business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Brickworks is Australia's largest brick manufacturer, consisting of four divisions – Building Products Australia, Building Products North America, Industrial Property, and Investments.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has a mandate to develop the South African economy. They envision a dynamic, industrial and globally competitive economy, that is inclusive, offers decent employment and equity. Previously known as the Department of Trade and Industry this department, within the South African government, is responsible for commercial policy and industrial policy. The dtic and its subsidiary agencies are involved in promoting economic development, Black Economic Empowerment, implementing commercial law, promoting and regulating international trade, and consumer protection.
Schiedel GmbH is an international supplier of chimney- and ventilation systems with headquarters in Nussbach, Austria. Schiedel offers ceramic chimneys, steel chimneys, fireplaces, and ventilation systems. It sells its products worldwide. The company has 26 production sites in 26 countries and a staff of approximately 1,400 employees.
Hanwha Group is a large business conglomerate (chaebol) in South Korea. Founded in 1952 as Korea Explosives Co., the group has grown into a large multi-profile business conglomerate, with diversified holdings stretching from explosives—their original business—to energy, materials, aerospace, mechatronics, finance, retail, and lifestyle services. In 1992, the company adopted its abbreviation as its new name: "Hanwha".
Michael Pieper is a Swiss billionaire businessman, the owner of the kitchen appliance manufacturer Franke, through his Artemis Group holding company. As of October 2021, his net worth was estimated at US$4.8 billion.
Oriza Holdings (Oriza) is a Chinese investment firm founded in 2001. The firm is the investment arm of Suzhou Industrial Park. It provides equity and debt financing and seeks to invest in companies based in the technology, healthcare and materials sector. It also has a fund of funds strategy that invests in other venture capital and private equity funds.
