By Ashley Zlatopolsky, Published in The Detroit Jewish News
A group of 10 women leading Israel’s trailblazing mobility sector visited Michigan in May.
The first-ever Women in Mobility delegation to Michigan, an initiative spearheaded by Israeli smart mobility community leader Orlie Gruper, toured Metro Detroit businesses, exchanged ideas and forged new relationships between the two tech hubs.
The delegation was also made possible thanks to partnerships with Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) of the State of Michigan.
During their weeklong stay, the Women in Mobility delegation explored Detroit’s automotive industry, engaging with industry giants such as Stellantis, General Motors and Ford, as well as suppliers like Magna, investors and innovation leaders.
It was a packed agenda that included business meetings, lunch-and-learns, tours, community dinners and, of course, witnessing mobility technology being used firsthand.
Many discussions and business goals focused on advancements in electrification, sustainable mobility and innovative materials being used for modern mobility solutions.
Delegation members also learned about Michigan’s celebrated mobility history, which began with the auto industry and has since branched out into numerous sectors. In addition, Israeli delegates had a chance to showcase their cutting-edge technologies.
It was a unique opportunity, Gruper explains, for not only a mutual exchange of ideas or showcase of Israeli might, but for the Israeli delegates to share their collaborative spirit.
The Women in Mobility Michigan delegation included the likes of influential Israeli figures such as Tamara Baksht, CEO and co-founder of VisIC Technologies; Nirit Grinberg, CFO and COO of Silentium; and Viktoria Kanar, CEO and co-founder of Re-Fresh Global, among other women mobility tech leaders.
Each individual, Gruper describes, brought a “wealth of experience,” knowledge and commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration between the two hubs.
“It was our first time hosting the Women in Mobility delegation in Michigan, and it set the tone for an ongoing reciprocal partnership between organizations in Michigan and Israel,” says MIBA director of operations Krista Siefert, who explains that MIBA is already planning to host future annual Women in Mobility delegations from Israel.
“It wasn’t all just business meetings,” she adds. “Many partnerships were forged.”
Widely hailed as “Startup Nation,” Israel has quickly emerged as a world leader in tech, particularly in the smart mobility field — a sector that has invested more than $29.34 billion since 2015 and is home to more than 600 startups pioneering mobility solutions.
The business partnerships forged during the Women in Mobility Michigan delegation focused on how to support these innovation goals and their corporate strategy.
“It’s exciting for Michigan,” Siefert says of the partnerships. “We’re all about leveraging Israeli innovation and scaling Israeli innovation in Michigan to advance our economic growth.”
Siefert adds that same level of excitement was reciprocated by the Israeli delegates.
“They left with not only an understanding of why Michigan is a premier destination to do business with mobility, but a better understanding of why Michigan is a global mobility leader.”
Similarly, a Michigan delegation was also set to visit Israel in October 2023, but the trip was postponed due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. However, Siefert says a Michigan mobility delegation is still in the works and will be set for a later date.
“This is part of a greater plan to incorporate women in mobility and to take the programs and initiatives to the next level,” Gruper says of the ongoing partnerships between Israel and Michigan, which business leaders plan to continue growing. “We have a long way to go to achieve our goals, and we are going to take huge steps every day to get there.”
