Israel's plan to become a global leader in clean-water technologies has gotten a boost from a recent cooperative agreement between Siemens and Israel's Mekorot state-owned water utility. Other large foreign players are also in talks the Israeli government and industry, and other announcements are expected over the next few months. Siemens will act as a global marketing channel for Israeli companies and will present ideas in Israel for possible development, said Booky Oren, Chairman of Mekorot. The agreement will require Mekorot's water technology incubator to sponsor joint projects between Siemens and Israeli entrepreneurs. Jack Levy, general partner at Cleantech Ventures, says there is much interest by the local venture capital industry due to more stringent environmental regulation in most countries, increasing interest by multinationals, and a swiftly growing deal flow. Mekorot is performing as a test ground for new technologies developed by local start-ups and will identify the needs, test the technology, and commit to buy, says Chairman Oren. The utility is currently testing about 12 locally developed technologies, and each concentrates on a market segment that is potentially worth billions. An advanced start-up is Atlantium, which developed an ultraviolet method for water purification. Another technology, being tested by AquaPure Technologies, is a technique for removal of such water contaminants as methyl tertiary butyl ether, which is a significant cause of groundwater pollution in the U.S. and other Western countries.