Nine Israeli innovation centers across the country have received a total investment of $28 million from several government agencies, including the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry for Regional Cooperation, according to the Israel Innovation Authority. The goal of these centers is to foster entrepreneurship and promote the high-tech industry in Israel’s periphery areas. Each center will focus on specific sectors within the high-tech industry, such as Agtech, Foodtech, renewable energy, and Healthtech, and will receive an accumulated grant of up to $4.1 million over five years. These centers aim to encourage the establishment and growth of new startups with strong regional ties and to contribute to job creation in the respective areas.
Some of the key innovation centers include:
- Technological Center for Security and Resilience in the Western Negev: This center will focus on National Security and Nutritional Resilience.
- Galileo Studio Ventures: This center will focus on AgriTech and FoodTech in Eastern Galilee and Golan.
- SeaNovation Eilat: This center will focus on Biotechnology and Marine Agriculture.
- Built Environment Innovation Center: This center will focus on Green Construction Technologies and the Built Environment.
- Northern Climate Synergy: This center will focus on AgriTech, water, climate, and AI.
- Techlinic: This center will focus on Health Technologies in East Jerusalem.
- DAROM Innovation Center: This center will focus on Renewable Energy and Advanced Industry in the Eastern Negev.
- DesertTech and Climate Innovation Center: This center will focus on Climate Technologies and Desert Agriculture in Be’er Sheva and the Negev and Arava region.
- INNOVEASTECH: This center will be located in the Judea and Samaria region.
The Israel Innovation Authority stated that diversity in technology, including industry, geography, and demographics, is a key component of strengthening Israeli high-tech competitiveness. These innovation centers, selected through a national competitive process, aim to expand the entrepreneurship cycle and employment in the high-tech sector throughout the country and across all sectors. The investment from the government agencies demonstrates Israel’s resilience and ability to continue innovating and creating new growth engines for the economy.
