Inspiring Visit to HIT: A New Bridge Between Israel and India

A delegation of senior officials from India visited HIT Holon Institute of Technology this week, as part of a comprehensive innovation tour of Israel, initiated by the Israeli Embassy in India.

Photo: Doron Maserano

The delegation included various representatives from different sectors of the Indian ecosystem: senior government officials, venture capital fund executives, heads of technology incubators, and academic representatives. Throughout the visit, an in-depth and enriching discussion took place regarding collaboration opportunities between India and Israel in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital health, Instructional technologies, and the future job market. Representing the institute were Dr. Rafael Berkan, Dr. Hadas Lewy, Prof. Gila Kurtz, Prof. Jonathan Shler, Dr. Kobi Barda, and Ms. Hadas Lorber.

Prof. Eduard Yakubov, President of HIT, said at the event that the visit of this delegation is very important both for the institute and for the State of Israel, as this is a country that has proven itself friendly to Israel for years and is interested in developing and strengthening technological ties with it. As a giant country developing at an accelerated pace, India needs modern technologies, and the institute has technologies that we develop daily in the fields of medical technologies, electricity storage, and other areas. The president thanked the initiators and organizers of the visit and noted that this is the beginning of a joint path for connecting HIT with leading academic institutions and industries in India, through the delegation members.

Dr. Refael Barkan, Vice President for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Internationalization, reviewed for the guests the research and academic activities conducted at HIT, including the international aspect. During the visit, delegation members were divided into three discussion groups according to their areas of expertise and held dialogue with representatives of the senior academic staff in the various faculties and departments at the institute, as well as with guests from the Israeli healthcare system, on issues on their agenda. All participants noted these meetings as very fruitful and mentioned that many topics were discussed that could serve as a basis for interesting and contributing collaborations for both sides.

Hadas Lorber, Head of the Institute for Applied Research in Responsible Artificial Intelligence at HIT, who responded to the meeting initiative, said in her opening remarks: "The relations between Israel and India constitute a strategic layer in promoting technological innovation, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. There is tremendous importance in building a joint ecosystem that enables not only breakthrough technological developments but also value-based discourse on responsible artificial intelligence. This meeting is an important step toward deepening collaborations – especially ahead of the international summit to be held in India in February 2026, where we will be able to present together a shared vision for a responsible technological future."

Maya Sherman, Innovation Attaché at the Israeli Embassy in India, who initiated this meeting, noted that "the visit to HIT emphasized its central role in promoting innovation and connections between academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. For the senior delegation from India, this was a significant opportunity to be exposed to unique models of technological education and applied innovation, which could serve as inspiration for future collaborations between India and Israel."

The meeting at HIT demonstrated the great potential for connections between academia, industry, and entrepreneurship while strengthening ties between the countries and creating new opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations. Ira Ivshin Guetta, Director of the International Authority, said that "the International Authority encourages collaborations in a wide range of fields, including the field of Responsible Artificial Intelligence. The arrival of such delegations to the institute is important and significant and helps open doors for the institute worldwide."

At the conclusion of the visit, it was agreed to deepen ties and coordinate follow-up virtual meetings to create new opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations. HIT Holon Institute of Technology has collaboration agreements in academic and research fields with over 140 academic institutions in more than 35 countries worldwide.