Expanding High-Tech Opportunities geographically and demographically. Innovation centers serve as key hubs for tech advancements and as platforms for incubating startups, accelerating ventures, promoting quality employment in high-tech, and developing regional technological ecosystems. By connecting startups with academia, industry leaders, and investors, they unlock unique assets across the country, generating inclusive economic growth and offering international investors strategic entry points into Israel’s evolving tech landscape.
The goals of the innovation centers include:
- Expanding entrepreneurship and high-tech activity to the entire population and regions, especially in the periphery.
- Accelerating ventures: acceleration programs aimed at providing startups with tools and resources to develop their ideas in early stages, raise funds, and connect them to investors and Israeli and international corporations. These programs include practical training, mentorship, investor connections, and support in research and development processes.
- Financial and infrastructural support: centers provide access to grants and significant financial support during early development stages—for example, applications for Innovation Authority grants for startups and access to international grants such as “Horizon” and others. Additionally, they create a supportive environment, including access to advanced laboratories and experts in various fields that early-stage entrepreneurs need but may not always have access to.
- Collaboration with anchor institutions: innovation centers collaborate with local anchor entities in various ways, focusing on creating synergy among different organizations within the local ecosystem to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. This includes partnerships with universities and research institutes, which provide scientific and research infrastructure, attract young talent, and generate new knowledge. Innovation centers are often located near these institutions to leverage knowledge and talent and establish venture creation companies.
- Access to laboratories for technological innovation: programs that enable entrepreneurs to access advanced technological infrastructure and specialized expertise, in cooperation with leading corporations. These programs also provide substantial grants to prove the feasibility of technological ideas.
- Connecting to peripheral incubators: these incubators operate in partnership with higher education institutions and local entrepreneurs and receive financial support from the Innovation Authority to promote innovation and startup creation in their regions.
- Innovation space: the physical space is designed to encourage informal meetings among researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors through shared workspaces, advanced laboratories, and public areas, enabling natural collaboration.
- Community development: innovation centers organize professional events, acceleration and training programs, and exposure activities aimed at connecting various ecosystem players and encouraging new collaborations.
The Strategy for Establishing the Centers:
The establishment of innovation centers in Israel is part of a national government strategy aimed at expanding high-tech and entrepreneurial activity across all regions, diversifying high-tech fields, and strengthening the country’s economic and social resilience. The centers are established through cooperation among multiple government ministries and the Innovation Authority, and are operated by select licensees chosen through a competitive process, including Israeli and foreign corporations, investors, regional clusters, and non-profit organizations.
The Context of the Innovation Authority and the Support Provided:
The Innovation Authority is the primary body leading government support for the innovation centers. It operates in partnership with other government ministries and provides grants and professional support for the establishment and operation of the centers, according to dedicated assistance programs. Support includes:
- Significant annual grants to the selected licensees to establish and operate innovation centers,
- Professional guidance, assistance in building regional ecosystems, and technological and business consulting,
- Support in creating collaborations with local and international players, attracting new employers, and promoting quality employment.
The Role of Investors and Multinational Companies in the Innovation Centers:
Private investors and multinational companies can participate and invest in the centers themselves or in the companies and ventures operating within them, through various means:
- Direct investments in startups and ventures nurtured within the centers,
- Collaborations with local companies, academia, and research institutions to develop technologies and products,
- Establishing R&D centers in Israel that generate demand for innovation, development services, technological infrastructure, and facilitate knowledge spillover to local companies.
How to Implement This Practically:
- Direct financial investment in ventures emerging within the centers, or participation in acceleration and incubation programs,
- Strategic collaborations with the centers and local companies, including funding, professional support, technology deployment, and service procurement.
The Contributions of Investors and Multinational Companies:
- Knowledge, tools, and advanced work methodologies transfer to Israeli companies, especially startups,
- Strengthening the global competitiveness of the Israeli ecosystem.
- Below is a link to all the Innovation Centers, their focus areas, website, and contact person.