IAI’s NeuSPHERE Innovation Acceleration Programme focuses on the Indian technology startup community, in particular inventive deep-tech startups focusing on big data, signal and image processing, advanced navigation systems, AI and autonomy, XR-maintenance and training, green energy, advanced production, quantum, edge computing, Human Machine Interfaces, and wearable technology. It will provide the participating Indian startups access to advanced resources and technologies, including global mentorship and guidance, networking, and funding, to accelerate their market-ready solutions.
Through IAI’s NeuSPHERE Programme, IAI has reaffirmed its commitment to India’s innovation ecosystem, propelling Indian startups towards global competitiveness and technological excellence.
Brig. Gen. (Res) Eytan Eshel, Executive Vice President of Technology, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), R&D and Innovation of IAI, said, “The NeuSPHERE Innovation Acceleration Programme in India is a significant step towards fulfilling IAI’s strategic vision of collaborating with India’s startup ecosystem. We recognise the tremendous technology talent in India and are very excited about this programme and to work together to help these companies scale their offerings. This programme is part of our efforts to create a worldwide network of technological excellence and drive forward the future of aerospace and defence.”
NeuSPHERE Programme focuses on the Indian technology startup community, in particular inventive deep-tech startups focusing on big data, signal and image processing, advanced navigation systems, AI and autonomy, XR-maintenance and training, green energy, advanced production, quantum, edge computing, Human Machine Interfaces, and wearable technology
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a world-leading aerospace and defence company innovating and delivering state-of-the-art technologies in space, air, land, naval, cyber and homeland security for defence and commercial markets. Combining the “Start-up Nation” spirit of innovation with decades of combat-proven experience, IAI provides customers with tailor-made, cutting-edge solutions to the unique challenges they face, including satellites, UAVs, missiles, intelligence solutions, weapon systems, air defence systems, robotic systems, radars, business jets, aerostructures, and more. Established in 1953, IAI is one of Israel’s largest technology employers with offices and R&D centres in Israel and abroad.
Dr Avital Schrift, VP-Core Technologies, IAI in an exclusive chat with Raksha Anirveda said that she has very old connections with India, which started in 1997, as part of a programme which she did in collaboration with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on air defence radars. Since then, she has been able to learn more and more about India’s culture, values, and technological prowess and that is why she is very optimistic about the launch of the NeuSPHERE programme in India. India is the second country after the United States, where IAI has launched NeuSPHERE, after initiating it in Israel in 2020.
We recognise the tremendous technology talent in India and are very excited about this programme and to work together to help Indian companies scale-up their offerings: Brig. Gen. (Res) Eytan Eshel, Executive VP – Technology, CTO – R&D and Innovation, IAI
Commenting on the NeuSPHERE programme, Dr Schrift said that NeuSPHERE is approaching the Indian technological start-up community, trying to work in collaboration with Indian technological deep-tech start-ups and together find and identify undeveloped but bright ideas and together transfer them from being just an idea into a proof-of-concept and then go together from concept to product stage, from product to system and from system to system of systems stage.
Dr Schrift further said that IAI’s aim is to identify such innovations in India and together be able to integrate them into IAI’s existing and future products. NeuSPHERE is a concept which is totally virtual, though the pitch or demo sessions would be conducted in New Delhi over the coming months.
Commenting on IAI’s Innovation Centre in Israel, Dr Schrift said that this centre has been up and running for the last four years, and so far, the results have been very encouraging. So Far, IAI has hosted 15 cohorts with almost 60% success rate, which is measured by being able not only to do a proof of concept but also to incorporate that idea into an existing or a new product or a product that has been sold to a certain customer.
NeuSPHERE is approaching the Indian technological start-up community, to find and identify undeveloped but bright ideas and together transfer them from being just an idea into a proof-of-concept and then go together from concept to product stage, from product to system and from system to system of systems: Dr Avital Schrift, VP-Core Technologies, IAI
Col (Retd) Zeev Mivtzari, CMD and Country Head India of IAI told Raksha Anirveda that IAI’s aim is to establish a long-term relationship with India through the NeuSPHERE programme, just like the Indo-Israel relations which are strategic and special in nature, and have a long-term vision for growth.
-The writer is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on international and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
