Recently IAI’s Innovation Acceleration Program launched in India – NEUSPHERE. How does Indian deep tech startups will benefit from this program?
The launch of the NeuSPHERE Innovation Acceleration Program in India reflects IAI’S commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with India and to partner with its startup ecosystem. NeuSPHERE provides Indian deep-tech startups with access to IAI’s global expertise, resources, funding and mentorship. Through this program, startups gain opportunities to co-develop cutting-edge technologies in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and green energy, while receiving guidance on scaling their innovations to global markets.
Radars plays a crucial role in aviation industry, how does HELA’s MRO capabilities will address the challenges?
HELA Systems’ MRO facility in Hyderabad provides specialized support for advanced radar systems used in aviation and defense. By offering high-quality repairs, rapid turnaround times, and cost-effective solutions, the facility ensures that radar systems remain reliable and operational at all times. The facility is focused on building local capabilities, in line with the “Make in India” initiative, and with its sophisticated infrastructure and highly trained workforce, HELA is ready to meet India’s evolving aviation needs with precision and excellence.
Let’s now talk a bit about the specific areas of cooperation. We could discuss political ties, trade and investment, defense and security, energy, so on and so forth. Let’s start with the state of play in defense cooperation. How would you describe current relations as far as defense goes, and how do you see the role of the Israel manufacturers in PM Modi’s flagship enterprise- Make in India?
We have a strategic partnership between our two countries: It started with solutions supplied by Israel to Indian challenges, but it evolved into a much deeper cooperation that includes partnerships, joint projects in maintenance and manufacturing and even R&D. Israel might have been the first country to adapt to Make in India. We are seeing a complete transformation of how the Israeli defense industry works in India. Multiple local companies have been established all around the country. Some of them Israeli owned, some with Israeli majority stake and others with a minority stake. All that is tailored to adapt to the various conditions of domestic procurement. All these changes have on the one hand lowered the size of defense exports from Israel to India, because more products and components are produced here, but on the other hand the adaptation in the structure of how we operate here has increased as mentioned the number of partnerships and has deepened the cooperation. In this way, supply chains are more interconnected and it increases options for both countries. It was even mentioned by India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar recently, when he stated that defence exports to Israel align with the Indian national interest. The Israeli Director General of the Ministry of Defense came to India recently for a joint working group discussion with the Indian Defense Secretary. They’ve dealt strategic issues, innovation and industrial defense collaboration.
Additionally, we can talk about Counterterrorism Collaboration and Intelligence Sharing: Both India and Israel have been the victims of terrorism and deal with cross-border terrorism. Both the countries strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. With Israel having a vast experience in counterterrorism and intelligence activities, we could both benefit from enhanced intelligence-sharing methods and joint counterterrorism training projects.
Besides defence, which of Israel’s strengths can India harness today?
There are multiple areas in which India and Israel already collaborate and others which are evolving
- Take a look at the agri-tech industry for instance: some of the Israeli global leading solutions in agricultural technology are already being implemented in India through a network of centers of excellence the Indian government has established. Millions of Indian farmers have benefited from them. These centers work with special consulting experts coming from MASHAV, Israel’s agency for development. Other solutions are supplied through the private sector. Israeli innovation can help boost further Indian productivity and address pressing challenges such as soil degradation and crop diseases.
- Or water conservation and water purification for example: As you know, India faces water scarcity and water pollution problems. In this field, Israel has multiple innovations and inventions already vastly implemented in our country that could benefit India in optimizing water usage and purification for both urban and rural populations.
- Start-ups too are abundant in Israel: India’s start-up ecosystem, which is already witnessing a rapid growth, can collaborate with Israel (known as the “Start-Up Nation”) to foster innovation hubs, support start-ups, and boost technological advancements. We have a joint R&D fund that already spent 25 USD Million in partnerships managed by DST and the Israeli Innovation Authority. Only last month 4 new projects were approved. Our challenge is to create multi billion dollar partnerships between private sector stakeholders.
- A few months back, PM Modi, at an event, highlighted that cybersecurity had to be paramount as no country is immune to its impact. With Israel having advanced expertise in cybersecurity, India can strengthen its cyber defense capabilities and foster partnership between Israeli and Indian cybersecurity companies to build resilience against cyber threats.
- A new area we want to introduce is infrastructure. Israel needs India’s companies and workers in Israel to build our infrastructure projects, such as new 100km metro we intend to build in the greater Tel Aviv area. The international tenders are being written now. Indian companies have already built 1000 kilometers of metro so they can contribute from their experience and compete against companies from all around the world.
What are the terms and conditions of cease fire? What is the duration of cease fire?
There is a ceasefire signed with Lebanon in the north. The Hezbollah terrorist organization finally agreed to stop its aggression following severe blows given by Israeli. Unlike in previous ceasefires, Israel will enforce strict measures of implementation if the Lebanese government fails in preventing Hezbollah from going south of the Litani River. We won’t accept Hezbollah deployed on our border again.
In Gaza, We all want to see a ceasefire sooner rather than later, however that will NOT happen before all our remaining hostages are back. We have said this from day one. Hamas started this war, and we will finish it. And if they want a ceasefire – they must return all the hostages right now. We still have 100 people in captivity held under inhumane conditions. We cry for their urgent release.
In addition – we have to reach a situation where Hamas does not pose any threat to our border and our civilians. That means – continue eliminating Hamas’ capabilities and preventing them from regrouping and rearming. . And we are working quite successfully to do that. The People of Gaza deserve to live free from this savage terrorist organization.
What is your advice for Indian businesses that are interested in Israel?
The collaborative potential is huge: Israel is a power-house for innovation and technology, but lacks the population to unfold it to the entire economic chain. In India, on the other hand, there is no shortage of people or markets, and there’s a thirst for innovation that can trickle down to benefit all of the country’s emerging industries in all fields: communications, cyber, electronics, mobility, renewable energy, agriculture, water, healthcare and more. This is the time to take action and reach out to collaborate in order to strengthen our countries economically.
What would be your special message to our readers related to the Aviation community?
The aviation community everywhere is educated, talented, entrepreneurial and curious. These qualities make them a perfect fit for seeking cooperation with Israeli companies. In the last few years the aviation community in Israel is also rapidly evolving inside and outside the country. We are looking forward to creating partnerships that will both increase the number of direct flights between our countries and also deepen collaboration in marketing and developing solutions that increase flight and airport safety, a field in which Israel excels.
