Indiana, Israel Sign Ag Tech Agreement

The agreement will involve private-sector partnerships between Indiana and Israeli businesses.

Governor Eric Holcomb has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Israel Innovation Authority focused on agbiosciences, life sciences and cybersecurity. Holcomb says the agreement, signed as part of his economic development trip to Israel, could lead to "academic exchanges, mutual investment and cross collaboration."

Israel is known as an entrepreneurial hub. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. says the country has one startup per every 1,600 people, and spends more than 4 percent of its annual Gross Domestic Product on research and development.

Governor Holcomb additionally spoke at the Agritech Israel summit in Tel Aviv. He also joined Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger and Indiana Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler in meeting with several Israeli companies and organizations. They include equity crowdfunding platform OurCrowd, innovation and entrepreneurship discovery platform Star-Up Nation Central and Copia Agro, which invests in ag and food technology developed in Israeli research institutes.

Several Israel-based companies have a presence in Indiana, including MCP USA in Portage, Polyram Group in Evansville and Omen USA in Richmond.

Holcomb’s international travels will continue later this month. He will lead another trip to Europe beginning May 18. That trip will include meetings with government and business leaders in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Slovakia.