MARCH 20198THE ISRAEL-INDIA AXIS OF INNOVATIONBy David Talmor, Investor Outreach Manager, Axis InnovationDavid has over 25 years experience in business operations as an executive and consultant for manufacturing and distribution companies in the US and EuropeIN MY OPINIONechnology relationships are developing very rapidly between India and Israel in many directions - agriculture, environment, military, and business among others. Centers of activity are cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Vizag, and Bengaluru on the India side and Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Rehovot on the Israel side. The action doesn't stop with existing technologies, but rather innovative solutions to challenges on both sides are a major focus of the relationships. Tel Aviv-Vizag has become a key axis in the high-energy dynamic of innovation between the two countries.Shared History, Drastic DifferencesThat India and Israel should develop such a special relationship is a reflection of the nature of the two countries which can even be compared to a marriage. On the one hand the two sides share many common elements, with very long and deep religious and cultural heritages that re-flourished with independence from the British for both countries seven decades ago. On the other hand India's huge size of 1.4 billion people contrasts to Israel's total population of less than 9 million - half the number of Delhi or of Mumbai alone. The worldview connections and reality contrasts make for a hot bubbling Sambar or Cholent when entrepreneurs of the two countries get together.Two Recent Innovation EventsTwo recent events, both on the Tel Aviv-Vizag axis, illustrate the high level of innovation that is taking place between the countries. The Vizag Million Dollar Challenge was held in October 2018 and focused on AgriTech, EmergeTech, and FinTech. With Vizag and Tel Aviv as lead cities the event also recruited participants from Paris, London, Hong Kong, and Bengaluru to participate within the context of the Vizag FinTech Festival. The Tel Aviv-Vizag axis proved itself very strong with the high level of interest and encouragement provided by the government of Andhra Pradesh itself. Winners included an Israeli company that presented its technological capabilities at Vizag and will continue to develop its technology and apply it to Indian needs.The Tel Aviv-Vizag partnership was so successful that the Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society (APIS) followed up three months later with another event, the SOCH (Sunrise Open Challenge Hackathon, and a particularly appropriate name as "Soch" means "Think" in Hindi and so resonated strongly with participants) India-Israel 2-Nation Challenge. The SOCH event was solely focused on the connection between the two countries and involved only entrepreneurs from India and Israel. The event was held in Tel Aviv and Vizag with live video connection during the event, and companies presented innovative technologies that address key problems defined by the Indian government: Water Infrastructure, Water Purification, Cyber Security, and Agriculture Supply Chain. Start-ups in both countries presented TAre Challenges/Hackathons an effective way to create innovation and bring it to the benefit of companies and societies?
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