Germany's Secret Weapon: How Israel's Tech is Changing Europe!

Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro. We're here today at Hi, I'm Amy Shapiro. We're here today at Calculist and CEX Mind the Tech Berlin. Calculist and CEX Mind the Tech Berlin. Calculist and CEX Mind the Tech Berlin. We're joined by Casten Ovenans, the CEO We're joined by Casten Ovenans, the CEO We're joined by Casten Ovenans, the CEO of the European Leadership Network in of the European Leadership Network in of the European Leadership Network in the Berlin office, also known as Elnet. the Berlin office, also known as Elnet. the Berlin office, also known as Elnet. Casten, thank you so much for joining us Casten, thank you so much for joining us Casten, thank you so much for joining us today. today. today. >> With pleasure, Amy. Great to be here >> With pleasure, Amy. Great to be here >> With pleasure, Amy. Great to be here today. today. today. >> It's a pleasure to have you. Um, to >> It's a pleasure to have you. Um, to >> It's a pleasure to have you. Um, to start off with, for those who might not

start off with, for those who might not start off with, for those who might not be in the know, can you explain exactly be in the know, can you explain exactly be in the know, can you explain exactly what Elnet uh is and what uh what it is what Elnet uh is and what uh what it is what Elnet uh is and what uh what it is that you do there? that you do there? that you do there? >> Sure. Um it's probably fair to say that >> Sure. Um it's probably fair to say that >> Sure. Um it's probably fair to say that we are a bridge builder. So ELNET was we are a bridge builder. So ELNET was we are a bridge builder. So ELNET was established back in 2007 as a policy established back in 2007 as a policy established back in 2007 as a policy organization and network to foster and organization and network to foster and organization and network to foster and strengthen the Europe Israeli relations strengthen the Europe Israeli relations strengthen the Europe Israeli relations between several countries in Europe between several countries in Europe between several countries in Europe where we have offices today and Israel. where we have offices today and Israel. where we have offices today and Israel. >> Mhm. And this year is quite significant

>> Mhm. And this year is quite significant >> Mhm. And this year is quite significant in that it marks 60 years of diplomatic in that it marks 60 years of diplomatic in that it marks 60 years of diplomatic relationship uh relations between relationship uh relations between relationship uh relations between Germany and Israel. What does that Germany and Israel. What does that Germany and Israel. What does that represent to you and to Elnut? Well, of represent to you and to Elnut? Well, of represent to you and to Elnut? Well, of course, also for me as a German citizen, course, also for me as a German citizen, course, also for me as a German citizen, it means a lot. Um, looking back in it means a lot. Um, looking back in it means a lot. Um, looking back in history after the show, probably no one history after the show, probably no one history after the show, probably no one would have ever dreamt of the uh would have ever dreamt of the uh would have ever dreamt of the uh fruitful um and strong partnership and fruitful um and strong partnership and fruitful um and strong partnership and friendship that we have today. Um, some

friendship that we have today. Um, some friendship that we have today. Um, some years ago, books were published about years ago, books were published about years ago, books were published about the impossible or unique friendship. And the impossible or unique friendship. And the impossible or unique friendship. And indeed it took some some decades and at indeed it took some some decades and at indeed it took some some decades and at least a generation. But what we have least a generation. But what we have least a generation. But what we have today looking back for the past 60 years today looking back for the past 60 years today looking back for the past 60 years in particular in the past let's say 20 in particular in the past let's say 20 in particular in the past let's say 20 years is a unique partnership and a years is a unique partnership and a years is a unique partnership and a close friendship between like-minded close friendship between like-minded close friendship between like-minded democracies that share common interest democracies that share common interest democracies that share common interest uh and values and that are also on the uh and values and that are also on the uh and values and that are also on the economical perspective very economical perspective very economical perspective very complimentary. complimentary. complimentary. >> Mhm. And what is it that you're hearing

>> Mhm. And what is it that you're hearing >> Mhm. And what is it that you're hearing uh I suppose from German uh businessmen uh I suppose from German uh businessmen uh I suppose from German uh businessmen and also politicians about the and also politicians about the and also politicians about the relationship between Germany and Israel relationship between Germany and Israel relationship between Germany and Israel today? Well, first of all, besides all today? Well, first of all, besides all today? Well, first of all, besides all politics and everything, of course, politics and everything, of course, politics and everything, of course, after October 7 that has also an impact after October 7 that has also an impact after October 7 that has also an impact on the debate in in Germany, in Europe, on the debate in in Germany, in Europe, on the debate in in Germany, in Europe, um Germans in particular from the um Germans in particular from the um Germans in particular from the economic sector are looking with economic sector are looking with economic sector are looking with admiration and respect uh towards the admiration and respect uh towards the admiration and respect uh towards the startup nation or I think nowadays it's startup nation or I think nowadays it's startup nation or I think nowadays it's even better and fairer to call it the even better and fairer to call it the even better and fairer to call it the tech nation Israel with the vast and tech nation Israel with the vast and tech nation Israel with the vast and immense uh innovation ecosystem uh on so immense uh innovation ecosystem uh on so immense uh innovation ecosystem uh on so different fields and and uh industry different fields and and uh industry different fields and and uh industry sectors and that is where in particular, sectors and that is where in particular, sectors and that is where in particular, Germany as a heavily industrialized Germany as a heavily industrialized Germany as a heavily industrialized country can benefit a lot to work with country can benefit a lot to work with country can benefit a lot to work with Israeli uh younger tech companies and on Israeli uh younger tech companies and on Israeli uh younger tech companies and on the other hand the young Israeli tech

the other hand the young Israeli tech the other hand the young Israeli tech companies they want to conquer the companies they want to conquer the companies they want to conquer the global market and it's a good idea uh to global market and it's a good idea uh to global market and it's a good idea uh to start with Germany if you want to go to start with Germany if you want to go to start with Germany if you want to go to Europe. Europe. Europe. >> Mhm. Well, actually on that uh note, >> Mhm. Well, actually on that uh note, >> Mhm. Well, actually on that uh note, Casten, uh my final question for you was Casten, uh my final question for you was Casten, uh my final question for you was what uh how do you uh believe we can what uh how do you uh believe we can what uh how do you uh believe we can strengthen and deepen the bilateral strengthen and deepen the bilateral strengthen and deepen the bilateral relationship between Israel and Germany relationship between Israel and Germany relationship between Israel and Germany when it comes to innovation and tech?

when it comes to innovation and tech? when it comes to innovation and tech? >> Yeah, good question Amy. Thank you for >> Yeah, good question Amy. Thank you for >> Yeah, good question Amy. Thank you for that. So look at the moment from not that. So look at the moment from not that. So look at the moment from not only the perspective of ELNET because we only the perspective of ELNET because we only the perspective of ELNET because we are involved on these two fields but are involved on these two fields but are involved on these two fields but also looking at the global situation also looking at the global situation also looking at the global situation that we face in terms of security that we face in terms of security that we face in terms of security threats uh here in Europe in particular threats uh here in Europe in particular threats uh here in Europe in particular also in Germany. Um just today while we

also in Germany. Um just today while we also in Germany. Um just today while we speak uh the A3 um the first part the speak uh the A3 um the first part the speak uh the A3 um the first part the first batch of the A3 system coming from first batch of the A3 system coming from first batch of the A3 system coming from Israel is about to be handed over to Israel is about to be handed over to Israel is about to be handed over to Germany. So it will be Israeli Germany. So it will be Israeli Germany. So it will be Israeli technology protecting the German people technology protecting the German people technology protecting the German people against all odds from the east. So that against all odds from the east. So that against all odds from the east. So that is amazing and I'm sure in the field of is amazing and I'm sure in the field of is amazing and I'm sure in the field of security and defense there is a lot more security and defense there is a lot more security and defense there is a lot more our two countries can work together our two countries can work together our two countries can work together defense tech just to mention that. defense tech just to mention that. defense tech just to mention that. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Um cyber security for sure which is >> Um cyber security for sure which is >> Um cyber security for sure which is relevant for all industrial sectors. And

relevant for all industrial sectors. And relevant for all industrial sectors. And then last but not least the then last but not least the then last but not least the digitalization of the Halescare digitalization of the Halescare digitalization of the Halescare ecosystem that is also what I'm going to ecosystem that is also what I'm going to ecosystem that is also what I'm going to speak now about in a panel. Uh we speak now about in a panel. Uh we speak now about in a panel. Uh we started some years ago the German started some years ago the German started some years ago the German Israeli health forum for artificial Israeli health forum for artificial Israeli health forum for artificial intelligence and um this program is intelligence and um this program is intelligence and um this program is meant not only to create political meant not only to create political meant not only to create political recommendations for policy makers in two recommendations for policy makers in two recommendations for policy makers in two countries what we can learn from each countries what we can learn from each countries what we can learn from each other but it's also to bridge the gap to other but it's also to bridge the gap to other but it's also to bridge the gap to bring Israeli technology and here I I bring Israeli technology and here I I bring Israeli technology and here I I really must say Israel is far more really must say Israel is far more really must say Israel is far more advanced than Germany. We are just about advanced than Germany. We are just about advanced than Germany. We are just about to digitalize our healthcare ecosystem to digitalize our healthcare ecosystem to digitalize our healthcare ecosystem in Israel. It started in the '90s. So in Israel. It started in the '90s. So in Israel. It started in the '90s. So that is like 25 years. Um you you are that is like 25 years. Um you you are that is like 25 years. Um you you are advanced there and we can learn a lot uh advanced there and we can learn a lot uh advanced there and we can learn a lot uh about data standards about how to build about data standards about how to build about data standards about how to build data sets for AI indeed and how to build data sets for AI indeed and how to build data sets for AI indeed and how to build a better health ecosystem for the a better health ecosystem for the a better health ecosystem for the patients out there to improve their patients out there to improve their patients out there to improve their lives and also to improve the lives and lives and also to improve the lives and lives and also to improve the lives and the work actually of medical stuff and the work actually of medical stuff and the work actually of medical stuff and that is where both countries Germany and that is where both countries Germany and that is where both countries Germany and Israel can work a lot together and also Israel can work a lot together and also Israel can work a lot together and also learn and benefit from each other.

learn and benefit from each other. learn and benefit from each other. >> Amazing. We're looking forward to the >> Amazing. We're looking forward to the >> Amazing. We're looking forward to the future of this ongoing relationship. Uh future of this ongoing relationship. Uh future of this ongoing relationship. Uh Ken, it's truly a pleasure to have you Ken, it's truly a pleasure to have you Ken, it's truly a pleasure to have you here at Mind the Tech Berlin. Thank you here at Mind the Tech Berlin. Thank you here at Mind the Tech Berlin. Thank you again for your time and enjoy the rest again for your time and enjoy the rest again for your time and enjoy the rest of your day. of your day. of your day. >> Thanks a lot, Amy. See you soon.