Gov. Braun Strengthens Investment, New Job Opportunities Through Israel Partnership

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 9, 2026) – Indiana Governor Mike Braun is strengthening the state’s economic partnership with Israel, building opportunities to bring new business, new jobs and new innovations to the Hoosier state. Under his leadership, Indiana Economic Development Corporation President Mitch Frazier will travel to Israel next week to meet with business, venture capital and government leaders, joining an Iron Nation Summit and pitching Indiana as an ideal destination for economic growth. 

"Indiana and Israel share strong ties in our efforts to cultivate world-class hubs for entrepreneurship, innovation and startup growth,” said Gov. Braun. “Our new Iron Nation-Indiana initiative is designed to deliver new investment and new jobs to the Hoosier state, and it is a steppingstone to continue building out opportunities across high-growth sectors like AI, agbioscience, life sciences and defense that will create more opportunities for Hoosiers to build careers and prosper.” 

Frazier will travel to Israel’s capital, Tel Aviv, which boasts the world’s 4th ranked startup ecosystem according to Startup Genome. Indiana is home to eight Israeli companies and investments, including IBI Ag, which recently announced plans to locate its North American headquarters here, and Prometheus Energetics, a joint venture of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Israel-based RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems, which is building its headquarters and production facility in Greene County.

Additionally, the state announced the launch of Iron Nation-Indiana earlier this year – a more than $60 million investment and commercialization initiative with Israel-based Iron Nation to strengthen the state’s position as a destination for innovation-driven growth. The initiative, which has already brought IBI Ag to Indiana, connects Indiana’s leading corporations, healthcare systems, universities and communities with world-class Israeli technology companies. 

"Indiana’s economy hosts more than 1,050 foreign-based businesses that support approximately 218,300 good-paying Hoosier jobs,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “Innovation and startup activity are happening across the world, and these types of partnerships are central to our ability to bring new investment and new jobs to the state while growing Indiana’s reputation as a global destination for business, R&D and talent.” 

In Israel, Frazier will meet with U.S. and Israeli government officials, representatives of Indiana-based and Israeli businesses with ties to Indiana, Israeli businesses considering growth in the US, and Israeli industry executives leading innovation initiatives like pharmaceutical tech parks and the Wingate Institute, Israel’s national hub for sports and athletic development. Frazier will also participate in an Iron Nation summit, showcasing Indiana as a growing destination for entrepreneurship, innovation and high-growth sectors like agbiosciences, AI and technology, life sciences and defense, and meet with Iron Nation portfolio companies, founders and investors to further opportunities to bring growing businesses, startup funding and innovation partnerships to Indiana. 

Frazier will be joined by three representatives of the IEDC and, while there, will further the organization’s efforts to reestablish an Indiana investment office in Israel to support the ongoing economic- and innovation-focused partnerships between the two entities. The cost of the economic development trip is being paid jointly by the Consulate General of Israel in Chicago and through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation (IEDF). Total costs paid through the IEDF are expected to be up to $20,000.

About the Indiana Office of Commerce
The State of Indiana’s Office of Commerce was created by Governor Mike Braun to align and accelerate the state’s economic development efforts and is led by Indiana Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. 

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Media Contact:

Hope Orono (IEDC) – 317.671.1796 or hoorono@iedc.in.gov 

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