STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Nir Barkat, Israel’s Minister of Industry & Economy, currently on a visit to India, met with Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, to explore collaboration in emerging technologies. The two leaders discussed joint initiatives in StartUps, particularly in Space and Quantum Technology, and the potential for innovation in agriculture and healthcare sectors.
chamber at New Delhi on Tuesday.
Dr. Jitendra highlighted the National Quantum Mission, calling it a cornerstone of India’s technological aspirations. He invited Israeli startups, known for their quantum computing expertise, to collaborate with Indian institutions to co-develop cutting-edge quantum technologies. He emphasized the complementary strengths of both nations: India’s large market and manpower, and Israel’s pioneering innovation.
The National Quantum Mission aims to revolutionize sectors such as communication, cryptography, and computing through quantum technologies. Dr. Singh stressed the need for Israeli expertise to play a crucial role in developing these technologies.
The ministers also discussed India’s growing space ecosystem, with Dr. Singh pointing out the surge in space startups following the government’s forward-looking policies. He underscored the immense potential for collaboration between Israeli and Indian space startups, leveraging Israel’s innovation and India’s cost-effective production capabilities.
Dr. Singh proposed adopting a PPP+PPP model (Public-Private Partnership + Proactive Policy Push) for joint ventures in critical technologies. He also mentioned India’s Anusandhan National Research Mission (NRM), aiming to integrate and enhance research across disciplines. He welcomed Israeli partnerships, especially in biotechnology, which could accelerate innovation in agriculture, healthcare, and sustainable development.
Nir Barkat praised India’s support, especially during critical times, and shared Israel’s innovative economic model, highlighting key sectors like advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and high-tech industries. He suggested that India and Israel could work on strategic pilot projects to create scalable solutions in AI, quantum technologies, and agriculture.
The meeting concluded with both ministers agreeing to set up a working group to explore collaborative efforts in agriculture and marine sectors, positioning both countries as global leaders in innovation.