South of Salame (SOSA), an open innovation platform from Israel, might be setting up tech innovation hubs in at least three Indian states, Maharashtra, Assam, and Goa. These hubs are being planned to aid in forming launch pads in Tel Aviv, Israel and New York, US, all SOSA locations, for Indian startups. This means that startups from these three states get a chance to access SOSA’s global innovation network.
According to reports, SOSA CEO Uzi Scheffer has said that almost 100 startups can access innovation networks each year. With the help of these innovation hubs, Indian startups get a platform to reach out to like-minded associates and corporates in several spaces, such as fintech, big data, clean tech, insuretech, mobility solutions, cyber security, etc.
In May, Intel, along with the Israel Consulate General to South India, made an announcement about its cooperation for developing innovation and technology while linking startups in both the countries. Mumbai-based DCF Ventures also partnered with SOSA to help connect the startups of two countries throughout different industries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started a bilateral innovation challenge called India-Israel Innovation Bridge last year, intended to aide startups from both the countries in growing.
Accordingly, six Israeli tech startups from healthcare, agriculture and water management sectors were chosen to grow and commercialise their idea in the Indian subcontinent. So far, seven bilateral agreements exist between India and Israel in numerous industries, including space, agriculture, and water conservation.
Scheffer has expressed that SOSA would like to create an ecosystem through these alliances that includes innovators, investors, academics, and governments. As a next step, they will connect corporates with related technologies and innovations.
25 leading Israeli investors and entrepreneurs founded SOSA in 2014, and the platform is trying to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of corporate innovation. Currently, SOSA’s global network boasts of including 150 multinational corporations and investors and more than 8,500 startups.
