From brain science to quantum computing: Israeli entrepreneurs take the stage at the Peres Center

What does the future look like? It could mean finding the right antidepressant before treatment begins, unlocking the potential of quantum computers, or turning household garbage into new materials.

These are the challenges being tackled by three entrepreneurs who joined i24NEWS for a special panel at the Innovation Expo at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

Dr. Talia Cohen Solal of NeuroKaire, Simon Fried of Classiq and Jack 'Tato' Bigio of UBQ Materials are developing technologies across very different fields, united by a common ambition: translating scientific breakthroughs into solutions that can make a tangible difference.

NeuroKaire is working to transform mental health treatment through precision neuroscience. Its technology uses a patient’s blood cells to create neurons in the laboratory, then combines biological measurements and artificial intelligence to help predict how a person may respond to antidepressants. The goal is to reduce the trial-and-error process that can leave patients waiting months to find an effective treatment.

Dr. Cohen Solal says the growing excitement around AI should not overshadow the underlying science that makes these advances possible.

“People think we can use AI to replace everything, but people are forgetting to pay attention to the real core technologies that you need,” she told i24NEWS, emphasizing the importance of biological research and medical technologies in building a healthier healthcare system.

At Classiq, Fried is helping prepare for another technological turning point: quantum computing. The Israeli company develops software that allows users to design and optimize quantum algorithms without having to manage every complex technical detail themselves.

While quantum computing has yet to deliver its full commercial promise, Fried believes the industry is approaching a crucial phase. He estimates that the next two to three years could bring significant progress toward the stability and computing power needed to deliver results that businesses and researchers are waiting for.

Meanwhile, Bigio’s UBQ Materials is tackling one of the world’s most persistent environmental problems: waste. The company has developed a process that converts unsorted household waste, including food scraps, cardboard and mixed plastics, into a thermoplastic material that can replace conventional oil-based plastics in manufacturing.

For Bigio, the challenge is not simply inventing a greener alternative, but changing how industries use resources. By giving discarded materials a second life, UBQ aims to support a more circular economy.

The entrepreneurs presented their work at the Innovation Expo, part of the Peres Center’s Israeli Innovation Center, which showcases Israeli startups and technological developments to visitors from Israel and around the world. The event offers an opportunity for the public to discover emerging technologies and meet the people behind them.

All three entrepreneurs are also part of the Peres Center’s Innovation Dream Team, a community that connects innovators with new audiences, potential investors and collaborators. Through exhibitions, events and international delegations, the initiative helps entrepreneurs expand their reach and build relationships that can support their work.

For Dr. Cohen Solal, that exposure is particularly important for a small country with global ambitions. Fried describes the experience as an opportunity to meet collaborators and investors who can help bring future technologies to life.

Bigio, whose company has been involved with the center for several years, says the platform has provided significant exposure. He also received the Peres Center’s Outstanding Entrepreneur Award, which he sees as a meaningful connection between the late Shimon Peres’s vision and the work of entrepreneurs today.

Ultimately, the Innovation Expo is about more than showcasing new technologies. It is about connecting ideas with people — and helping innovations move beyond the laboratory and into the world.