Elron Snapshot
An equal-opportunity gadget geek, Elron Electronic Industries fosters all kinds of high-tech endeavors. The conglomerate founds or invests in Israeli technology companies in a number of fields, including medical devices, semiconductors, software, telecommunications, and clean technology. It typically owns controlling or significant minority stakes in its group companies, for which it plays an active management role; it periodically spins off its offspring to realize gains for investing in new opportunities. Through subsidiary RDC, the company partners with Rafael, a research unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, to adapt Rafael-produced technologies for non-military uses.