New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo traveled to Israel last week on a brief solidarity and trade mission “to strengthen economic ties with Israel” and boost solidarity with the Jewish community and the people of Israel following a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the US.
Cuomo met with Israeli companies, like the Intel-acquired, Jerusalem-based vision assistance tech firm Mobileye, in an effort to find the “cheapest fix” for New York subway systems plagued by technical failures and old signaling technology.
“We have seen tremendous growth in software development for navigational systems to make automobiles safer and more reliable, and if this software works well on the road then we owe it to commuters to test its application for train and rail. I met with Mobileye today to discuss the possible application of their technology to New York’s mass transit system, Cuomo said in a statement.
“The MTA spends millions of dollars on navigational tools, and we want to look beyond the handful of companies who essentially have a monopoly on the rail system to develop a navigation program capable of supporting the 21st-century transit system New Yorkers need and deserve,” he added.
Cuomo met with Mobileye founder and CEO Amnon Shashua and toured the Jerusalem facility of Mobileye.
During the trip, Cuomo hosted an economic development roundtable, where he announced a $2 million partnership agreement with the Israel Innovation Authority for two new programs to strengthen economic development ties between New York State and Israel.
According to the agreement, Empire State Development will sign a Declaration of Intent with the Israel Innovation Authority to cooperate on the co-development and commercialization of innovative solutions in the fields of cybersecurity, supply chain, smart cities, energy, unmanned aerial vehicles, life sciences, and more.
Also, New York State and Israel will establish a Smart Cities Innovation Partnership, a new initiative which aims to share innovative tech, research, talent, and business resources between cities in New York and Israel.
The governor said that New York State’s Hot Spot and Incubator programs will now implement a new focus on Israeli companies. The $5.125 million program provides support to numerous technology sectors including biotech and cybersecurity. A reciprocal agreement is in place so that New York State companies have space and support from Israeli accelerators and incubators. Program managers from both regions will scout and recruit companies for participation. Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR) manages the program, which includes over 30 centers focusing on assisting early-stage companies and advancing technology.
“The New York-Israel economic relationship is unique and it is strong, but we want to make it even better. The future of New York is going to be growth in the tech sector, and this joint venture between New York and Israel will develop new opportunities that allow both economies to thrive even further,” Cuomo said in a statement.
The governor also met with Israeli President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the rise in anti-Semitism and the strong ties between Israel and New York.
This is Cuomo’s third trip to Israel since taking office in 2011. In 2014, he arrived during Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s summer war with Hamas in Gaza, while missiles were hitting areas of southern and central Israel.
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