The new labs bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercial product development – advancing next-generation batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen, sustainable industrial materials, carbon capture technologies, and more
NetZero Tech Ventures and the National Institute for Energy Storage have inaugurated world-class R&D facilities (Energy Prototype Labs) at Bar-Ilan University with an investment of tens of millions of shekels. The labs are designed to support startups in developing technological prototypes in the fields of energy and climate, and to accelerate their commercialization. They form Israel’s first end-to-end innovation ecosystem in these fields, enabling academic researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, and industrial companies to advance technological breakthroughs toward initial implementation, with the potential to build commercial companies backed by NetZero Ventures and other investors.
The initiative addresses a critical gap: early-stage startups, academic labs, and deep-tech projects in energy and climate often lack access to the advanced infrastructure required to transition breakthrough technologies from the lab to the marketplace. Without such resources, these innovations cannot demonstrate feasibility, missing opportunities for investment, international grants, and strategic partnerships.
The venture was made possible through an investment of tens of millions of shekels in infrastructure and equipment, led by the National Institute for Energy Storage and NetZero Ventures, with resources pooled from multiple partners: the Ministry of Energy’s support for the Institute, the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Bar-Ilan University, the Technion, NetZero Ventures’ private partners, and the Israel Innovation Authority. Together, the labs are strengthening Israel’s energy innovation ecosystem from research to commercialization.
Prof. Doron Aurbach of Bar-Ilan University, Co-Director and Head of the Israel National Institute for Energy Storage, said: “The purpose of this infrastructure is to raise the technological readiness level (TRL) of innovations emerging from Israeli universities and early-stage startups. The new labs support the transition from laboratory research to large-scale pilot, opening opportunities for collaboration with industry and international investors – including European Union programs such as Horizon Europe, which often require higher TRL levels for participation.”
The labs include advanced infrastructure for developing innovative solutions in areas such as fuel cells, hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon capture, storage, and utilization. A key feature is Israel’s first open-space “dry room” in academia, enabling the assembly of next-generation battery prototypes. The facility also houses a pilot-scale production line that significantly reduces the risks associated with bringing battery technologies to market.
Beyond technological development, the labs create a full commercialization ecosystem through NetZero Ventures’ company-building and investment platform. NetZero is Israel’s most active early-stage investor in energy and climate technologies, operating an incubator in partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority, international funds, and multinational energy companies including TotalEnergies, IP Innovative Power, DelekUS, BGV, and Eren Groupe. NetZero invests in early-stage startups, providing them with technical expertise and business support to build companies and achieve large-scale commercialization.
At the launch event, winners were announced for an international Climate Innovation Challenge led by NetZero in collaboration with Chevron Technology Ventures, as well as recipients of a call for academic research proposals from the National Institute for Energy Storage.
Shmuel Kedmi, CEO of NetZero Ventures, said: “This is not only about creating physical infrastructure, but about building the bridge from scientific discovery to commercial-ready solutions. Under one roof, we are bringing together all the elements needed – from cutting-edge laboratory tools to access to international customers and follow-on investors – to drive the next wave of Israeli innovation in energy and climate technologies.”
Kedmi added: “We are applying a business-driven approach that identifies promising technologies within deep-science academic labs and builds startups around them. In addition, we invest in young companies that already have strong core teams.”
To learn more on NetZero Ventures, visit https://net-zero.vc/
Photo: NetZero Ventures and the National Institute for Energy Storage launch prototype labs at Bar-Ilan University
Credit: Israel Pinhasov
