Volkswagen Group has officially opened a campus in Tel Aviv named Konnect to provide local partners and start-ups direct access to the group and its many brands. It will support business collaborations within the highly innovative tech scene in Israel as well as support in mentoring and consulting.
The variety of topics includes connectivity, smart navigation, cyber security, e-mobility and big data.
Group chief customer officer Peter Harris said: "I am a strong believer in the technological innovations being developed within the Israeli market and I am convinced that they can help us reach our goal of being one of the global market leaders in sustainable mobility. Konnect is another step in expanding our activities in Israel and will help our portfolio of brands engage with the Israeli start-up ecosystem."
Chief digital officer Johann Jungwirth said: "We will provide complementary innovative solutions in various fields, including sensors, simulation, connectivity, smart navigation, cyber security, e-mobility and big data."
Konnect will be headed by managing director Stephanie Reimann who will work with the group's brands to conduct focused scouting activities within the Israeli market and identify, support and develop proof of concept projects with start-ups in various fields of mobility.
"I am excited to be moving to Israel in order to head the new campus and I look forward to working with the Israeli start-up ecosystem in order to identify cutting-edge technologies for our future mobility solutions," said Reimann. "The mission of Konnect is to connect, foster and accelerate the high-tech initiatives of the group brands in the future within the Israeli ecosystem. We will invite relevant companies to approach us and form a meaningful partnership with the group and our strong brands."
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By GlobalDataOn 23 May, the group will showcase Konnect's activities and services at the Ecomotion conference in Tel Aviv. As part of its activities in Israel, Konnect and the VW brand are supporting 41 local start-ups with innovative business ideas connected to the future of mobility. Selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their ideas to a professional jury of VW experts who will choose one winning start-up. The winner will then spend six months at the Transparent Factory in Dresden and will benefit from professional mentorship and exposure to brand development divisions and investors.