New NIS 12 Million Initiative Launched to Advance National Climate Tech Leadership Network

Kinneret Innovation Center and Maoz selected to lead a three-year Climate Tech Fellows program that will connect researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to accelerate Israel’s climate innovation ecosystem

The Israel Innovation Authority today announced the launch of a new national initiative to strengthen Israel’s climate tech ecosystem through the establishment of the Climate Tech Fellows Program, a NIS 12 million investment designed to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. As part of the initiative, the Kinneret Innovation Center (founded by Kinneret Academic College, Tzemach Industries, and KKL-JNF), in partnership with Maoz, was selected through a competitive procedure to operate the program, which will receive approximately NIS 3.5 million annually over three years.

Launching in 2026, the program aims to build a new generation of climate tech leadership, enhance cross-sector collaboration, and help position climate innovation as one of the future growth engines of Israeli High-Tech.

The Climate Tech Fellows Program is a central pillar of the national effort to establish a leading climate tech ecosystem in Israel. Its objective is to strengthen the connection between scientific excellence and practical business implementation, encourage the creation of new ventures based on deep innovation, and broaden collaboration among academia, industry, investment entities, government entities, and civil society.

Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, said: “The world is currently facing major challenges. On one hand, demand for energy is increasing rapidly due to the growth of artificial intelligence and the electrification of entire sectors. On the other hand, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions in response to the global climate crisis. These challenges create tremendous economic and technological opportunities.

Israel has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to transform national challenges into global growth engines through innovation, entrepreneurship, and scientific excellence. To realize the enormous potential of climate tech, investment in technology and research alone is not enough. We must also invest in the people who will lead this transformation.

The Climate Tech Fellows Program is designed to build a leadership layer capable of connecting science, technology, capital, and policy, and transforming breakthrough ideas into solutions with global impact. By creating a high-quality fellows network and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we are laying the foundation for Israel to become one of the world’s leading nations in climate innovation.”

The winner was selected through a competitive procedure thanks to an operating model that combines research capabilities, pilot and demonstration infrastructure, experience in connecting technological development to market needs, and leadership in large-scale systemic initiatives. Kinneret Innovation Center, established in 2018 by KKL-JNF, Tzemach Regional Enterprises, and Kinneret Academic College, will operate the program in strategic partnership with Maoz and with academic support from Reichman University.

The program will bring together leaders from academia, industry, government, and civil society through a cross-sector fellows network. Participants will undergo a comprehensive training program that includes working on real-world challenges, exposure to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and bio-convergence, and in-depth training on entrepreneurship, investment, public policy, and systems-change leadership.

In addition, the program will develop methodologies for identifying regulatory barriers and opportunities, with the goal of accelerating the development and implementation of technological solutions to climate challenges.

The program will integrate partners from academia, industry, and the investment community, alongside leading international organizations, and will leverage a broad network of experts and connections to global markets. The selected approach emphasizes creating a complete continuum, from scientific knowledge and research, through technological development and entrepreneurship, to venture maturation, investment, commercialization, and market implementation.

By strengthening human capital, encouraging new collaborations, and expanding access to knowledge, networks, and opportunities, the program is expected to increase the number of ventures and solutions emerging from the Israeli ecosystem and contribute to establishing climate tech as a strategic growth engine for the Israeli economy in the decades ahead.