A high-level delegation from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and including senior officials from Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA), led by Secretary DST Prof. Ashutosh Sharma visited Israel to further strengthen the ongoing bilateral partnership between India and Israel in the realms of Science, Technology and Innovation. The team made a site visit to the premises of AgroSolar which in collaboration with India’s Vyoda Pvt. Ltd., is working on a pilot project on developing an affordable autonomous water-pump for India’s marginal farming communities using solar energy. Following this, the team also visited the labs of Ubigam to witness the ongoing collaboration between Israel’s Ubigam and India’s Frog Cellsat Ltd. in developing Cellular Interface Mitigation Solutions for the Indian market. Both the joint research-projects above are supported by the Dept. of Science and Technology under the aegis of India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F). The Third Governing Board Meeting of the I4F was also held which approved three new partnerships in healthcare, ICT & energy for support under I4F. 5 March

A delegation comprising of emerging Indian start-ups led by NASSCOM President Ms. Debjani Ghosh visited Israel from 5-7 March. The delegation, began the tour with a visit to the premises of Wix, one of the top success stories of the Israeli innovation ecosystem. This was followed by visit to Pitango VC, Israel’s largest Venture Capital fund where the participants got a first-hand insight into the investment side of innovation. The group also interacted with SOSA to learn how through its global network of 150 MNCs, SOSA has been assimilating innovation in corporations. Later in the day, the delegation shared their ideas with the representatives of Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s Technology transfer organization. At MassChallenge Israel, the Indian and Israeli participants had an engaging discussion on the ongoing bilateral strategic partnership in the field of innovation and technology. The delegation visited Checkmarx and had an excellent interaction at the leading cybersecurity with the cyber security community of Israel. 5 March

Israeli irrigation technology developer Netafim has been selected to construct four large community irrigation projects in India, connecting almost 60,000 farmers in over 100 towns to advanced agricultural technology and providing water to 135,000 acres (54,000 hectares) of land. The project, worth in excess of US$ 100 million, will improve infrastructure in agricultural communities in the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. March 11

Local media reported that Elbit Systems has won an Indian Army tender for artillery guns worth over US$ 1 billion. However, the Israeli company has not yet issued any official statements on the matter. Indian media outlets reported that Elbit Systems has won a tender to deliver its ATHOS (Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System) 2052 to the Indian Army, in a deal estimated at over US$ 1 billion. Elbit has not yet notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on such a deal. 21 April

 

Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, which is owned by US retail giant Walmart, is reportedly setting up an R&D center in Israel to focus on cybersecurity, cloud computing and data protection. The new center will also scout for acquisitions in the country. 2 April