Dr Jitendra Singh invites Israeli Startups to collaborate on National Quantum Mission
Two leaders discussed collaboration in StartUps, particularly in Space and Quantum Technology. They also discussed collaborative innovation initiatives in agriculture and health sectors
India’s Scale Meets Israel’s Innovation: A Partnership for Progress, Says
Minister
Israel Minister’s India Visit Strengthens Innovation Ties: Focus on Clusters,
Collaboration, and Cutting-Edge Pilots
Israel's
Industry & Economy Minister Nir Barkat, currently on India visit, today
called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and
Technology; Earth Sciences, Minister of State PMO, Department of Atomic Energy,
Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra
Singh.
Two leaders discussed collaboration in StartUps,
particularly in Space and Quantum Technology. They also discussed collaborative
innovation initiatives in agriculture and health sectors.
The Israel Minister was accompanied by a high-level
official delegation.
Dr Jitendra
Singh spotlighted the transformative potential of India’s National Quantum
Mission, envisioning it as a cornerstone of the country’s technological
aspirations. He invited Israeli startups, known for their pioneering work in
quantum computing, to partner with Indian institutions to co-develop critical
quantum technologies. “India and Israel can supplement each other in this
domain—India with its large market, manpower, and opportunities, and Israel
with its cutting-edge innovation,” he said.
India’s National Quantum Mission aims to harness quantum
technologies to bolster sectors like communication, cryptography, and
computing. Israeli startups and researchers, Dr Jitendra Singh noted, could
play a vital role in co-developing critical technologies, leveraging their
experience for mutual benefit.
Dr Jitendra
Singh emphasised the remarkable growth in India’s space ecosystem, attributing
the rise in space startups to the government’s forward-looking policies and
initiatives. Since the opening of the space sector to private players, the
number of startups in this domain has surged, reflecting India’s growing role
as a global space technology hub. “Israeli space startups have immense
potential to collaborate with their Indian counterparts,” he noted, underlining
the mutual benefits of leveraging Israel’s innovation prowess with India’s
cost-effective production capabilities and large talent pool.
Highlighting the role of PPP+PPP—Public-Private
Partnership plus Proactive Policy Push—Dr Jitendra Singh described it as a
unique model that has driven innovation and economic growth in India. He
suggested that India and Israel adopt this framework to scale joint ventures in
critical and emerging technologies. The Minister expressed confidence that
combining India’s economies of scale in terms of markets and manpower with
Israel’s economies of scale in innovation would create a winning formula for
success.
The Minister spoke about Anusandhan National Research
Mission (NRM), which aims to integrate and bolster research across disciplines
in India. He linked this with Israel’s capabilities in advanced research and
development, envisioning a collaborative approach to solving global challenges.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also touched on the expanding bio-economy sector, noting
that the number of bio-startups in India has seen exponential growth under the
present regime. He welcomed Israeli expertise in biotechnology, proposing
partnerships that could drive innovation in agriculture, healthcare, and
sustainable development.
During the meeting, the two ministers also explored
partnerships in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of
Things (IoT). Dr Jitendra Singh encouraged Israeli companies to view India as a
reliable partner in these critical domains, highlighting India’s strides in
indigenous tech development, including mobile manufacturing and 5G rollout.
Barkat expressed profound gratitude to India for its
unwavering support, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s prompt
solidarity during critical moments. He elaborated on Israel’s innovative
economic model, which identifies six key clusters driving exports. These
include advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and high-tech sectors. The
approach involves aligning infrastructure to these clusters, creating
specialized facilities like labs that cater to multiple startups. For instance,
shared laboratories for agri-tech companies not only reduce costs but also
foster a collaborative ecosystem. By leveraging public-private partnerships,
Israel maximizes efficiency and scales innovations effectively, offering a
replicable framework for India-Israel collaboration.
Barkat emphasised the potential for deeper India-Israel
ties through strategic pilot projects and infrastructure investments tailored
to sector-specific needs. He pointed out that Israel’s small yet
innovation-rich economy complements India’s vast scale in market size and
talent. Collaborative pilots, particularly in areas like artificial
intelligence and quantum technologies, could help create scalable solutions for
both nations. By nurturing these collaborations, Israel and India can position
themselves as global leaders in innovation while fostering stronger
government-to-government and people-to-people relationships.
Both the Ministers agreed to initiate collaborative
efforts in the agriculture and marine sectors, recognising their potential for
mutual benefit. They proposed the formation of a dedicated working group to
conduct an in-depth study of these areas, identifying opportunities for
innovation and sustainable growth.
Dr Jitendra Singh concluded by underscoring the shared
aspirations of India and Israel as knowledge-based economies. He reiterated
that partnerships in space, quantum computing, biotechnology, and other
critical sectors would not only strengthen bilateral ties but also position
both nations as leaders in global innovation. “Together, we can harness our
strengths to address the challenges of today and create solutions for a better
tomorrow,” he remarked.