NetZero Tech Ventures and the National Institute for Energy Storage on Thursday inaugurated advanced research and development facilities at Bar-Ilan University aimed at accelerating the commercialization of Israeli energy and climate technologies.
The Energy Prototype Labs, funded through an investment of tens of millions of shekels, are Israel’s first end-to-end innovation ecosystem in the field, organizers said. The facilities are designed to help startups and academic researchers move breakthroughs from the lab to pilot testing and, eventually, commercial companies.
Officials said the labs address a critical gap faced by early-stage startups and university researchers, who often lack the infrastructure to demonstrate feasibility and attract investment, international grants and strategic partners.
The initiative was backed by the National Institute for Energy Storage, NetZero Ventures, and a consortium of partners including the Energy Ministry, the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Bar-Ilan University, the Technion, private investors, and the Israel Innovation Authority.
Prof. Doron Aurbach of Bar-Ilan University, co-director of the National Institute for Energy Storage, said the facilities are meant to raise the “technological readiness level” of university projects and startups. That, he said, will help open doors to industry collaborations and participation in programs such as the European Union’s Horizon Europe, which often requires more advanced development stages.
The labs include infrastructure for work in fuel cells, hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon capture. They also feature Israel’s first academic “dry room” for assembling next-generation battery prototypes and a pilot-scale production line designed to reduce risks in bringing battery technologies to market.
Beyond equipment, the project ties into NetZero Ventures’ commercialization platform. NetZero, which officials say is Israel’s most active early-stage investor in energy and climate technologies, operates an incubator in partnership with the Innovation Authority, international funds and multinational energy companies including TotalEnergies, DelekUS and Chevron Technology Ventures.
At the launch event, winners were announced in an international Climate Innovation Challenge led by NetZero and Chevron, alongside grants for new academic research proposals in energy storage.
“This is not only about creating physical infrastructure, but about building the bridge from scientific discovery to commercial-ready solutions,” said Shmuel Kedmi, CEO of NetZero Ventures. “Under one roof, we are bringing together all the elements needed — from laboratory tools to international investors — to drive the next wave of Israeli innovation in energy and climate technologies.”