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Mouli Cohen on Innovating Israeli Water Technology
California, February 25, 2010 – In a country with few natural resources, Israel is looking beyond its arid landscape and taking the lead in water technology, the latest export-oriented industry to help it weather the effects of the global meltdown.
Mouli Cohen, longtime entrepreneur and philanthropist, weighed in on these developments today in an interview.
“Israel is definitely one of the leaders, if not the leader, when it comes to water,” Cohen said. “I think of Israel as the Silicon Valley of water.”
The force behind the Jewish state’s entry into the budding multibillion dollar industry has been decades of experience in satisfying local demand. Now, a growing number of Israeli firms are eyeing lucrative markets, offering cutting-edge expertise in areas such as desalination technology, sewage eating bacteria, and wastewater management.
Reflecting the growing prominence of water technology in the region, Israel’s fastest growing technology company last year was Aqwise, a water treatment company that uses small, bacteria-dispensing plastic cubes that break down sewage, increasing treatment efficiency and capacity.
Cohen said Aqwise has increased its sales by 50% by looking overseas. “The main growth engine of the company has been growing into foreign markets, starting in Israel as a base and then exporting to Europe, the United States, and other places,” Cohen said. “Once the company did that, growth accelerated significantly.”
Israel’s interest in water technology goes back decades, an emphasis that started out of necessity in a country that is two-thirds desert, said Cohen. “Israelis are faced with the water shortage problem every day. We need to produce technology that increases water conservation and production.”
About Mouli Cohen
Mr. Cohen is a successful entrepreneur who has founded and developed successful ventures in the biotechnology, high technology, digital media and entertainment sectors. He has balanced his success in business with extensive philanthropic activities. Over the years he has supported children’s charities, food programs, medical research, and the arts as well as education projects both in the US and abroad.