As part of a virtual event, Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut officially opened the Baden-Württemberg Business Representation in Tel Aviv, Israel today (October 12). In addition to the minister, the consul general of the State of Israel in Munich, Sandra Simovich, the trade commissioner and head of the foreign trade administration of the Israeli Ministry of Economics and Industry, Ohad Cohen, and the managing director of the Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn (ZFHN), Thomas Villinger, took part in the event. “With the opening of the business representation in Tel Aviv, we are celebrating a milestone in economic relations between Baden-Württemberg and Israel. Israel and its companies are not only an innovative trendsetter for future technologies in numerous fields, but also an ideal cooperation partner for our innovative companies and start-ups”, said Hoffmeister-Kraut in her opening speech.

With a population of around nine million, Israel is considered one of the world’s most innovative countries and a leading high-tech location in the world. The country also offers one of the most important and dynamic ecosystems for start-ups in the world. Since October 1st, the business representation BW in Tel Aviv has opened its doors, especially for SMEs from Baden-Württemberg. The main focus topics are the Baden-Württemberg key technologies of digitization, Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence. But the topics of smart city, smart health as well as environmental and climate protection technology are also taken into account. New business models are to be identified and agile networks are to be established between the two innovation regions. “As one of the world’s leading high-tech locations, Israel can give the Baden-Württemberg economy an important boost. The business representation should therefore not only be available to companies as a contact point. It should also identify trends and innovations in Israel and promote the transfer to the Baden-Württemberg economy and applied research ”, said the minister about the tasks of the economic representative and the innovation scoutin at the AHK Israel in Tel Aviv.

Sandra Simovich, Consul General of the State of Israel in Munich, sees great potential in economic cooperation: “The opening of a Baden-Württemberg business representative is an extraordinary sign of friendship between Baden-Württemberg and Israel and another example of the good economic relations between the two countries . Here, virtues and prerequisites complement each other in a particularly fruitful way: on the one hand, the established and successful Baden-Württemberg medium-sized companies with their inventors and thinkers who develop long-term solutions, and on the other hand, the innovative Israeli start-up scene. It’s a win-win situation. We are therefore looking forward to your new business representation in Tel Aviv. ”

A panel discussion moderated by Thomas Villinger, Managing Director of ZFHN, offered the first exciting insights into the lively Israeli-Baden-Württemberg economic relations: “I am of the opinion that further networking of the unique Israeli start-up system and Baden-Württemberg as a region of the World market leader offers huge synergy potential. I am very pleased that the Zukunftsfonds Heilbronn, as a partner of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, can make a significant contribution to further expanding and intensifying the excellent contacts our innovative state has with Israel.

Read more about the new business representation in the Heilbronner Stimme here.