India and Israel are exploring stronger startup collaborations in sectors like cybersecurity, mobility, and medical devices, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said during trade talks. He highlighted that innovation will form a cornerstone of the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two nations.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, currently in Israel for bilateral trade discussions, emphasised the potential for Indian and Israeli startups to work together in fields such as cybersecurity, mobility solutions, medical devices, and low-carbon steel production. Speaking to reporters, he said technology and innovation would be central to the upcoming trade agreement, opening avenues for startups to scale globally while leveraging India’s cost competitiveness and large market.

Goyal pointed out Israel’s unique startup ecosystem, noting that the country has one startup for every 1,000 people. “Israel has built innovative solutions across agriculture, health, and climate technologies, and India can collaborate to strengthen our own startup ecosystem,” he said. He also suggested that both countries could explore creating a “startup bridge” to facilitate joint innovation and knowledge exchange.

The minister’s remarks align with India’s broader push to position itself as the “startup capital of the world.” Earlier this year, Goyal launched The Bharat Project through YourStory, aiming to empower one million entrepreneurs from Tier II and III cities and rural India with mentorship, funding, and digital tools. Additionally, a second tranche of Rs 10,000 crore under the government’s Fund of Funds initiative has been announced to support deeptech startups, following the full deployment of the first tranche.

With innovation at the heart of the India-Israel partnership, Goyal believes these collaborations could accelerate the growth of high-quality, globally competitive startups. He added that sectors like medtech, mobility, cybersecurity, and sustainable technologies will be the key focus areas for joint initiatives, potentially transforming the way startups operate and scale across borders.