A Bridge to Academia and Future Technologies

Doral serves as a bridge between entrepreneurship, innovation, and academia. Through Doral Tech, Doral’s innovation arm, the Company gains unique access to cutting-edge research and future technologies, funds applied research, commercializes knowledge, and receives expert opinions on technologies from leading academic experts worldwide. As part of this activity, pilots are promoted with Israeli startups and technology companies, some of which have received funding from government ministries (the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Israel Innovation Authority). Additionally, Doral Tech was a partner in establishing the Energy and Sustainability Center at Bar-Ilan University.

Doral Partners in Establishing the Energy and Sustainability Center at Bar-Ilan University

The Center was established in 2022 to promote research and development of ventures in the field of renewable energy until they become operational technologies, with an investment of millions of shekels. Simultaneously, to nurture the next generation that will work toward promoting a sustainable environment, the interdisciplinary School of Sustainability and Environment was launched at Bar-Ilan University. At the inauguration event for the research center, which advises, initiates, and promotes research while building collaborations with numerous industry players, Energy Minister Karine Elharrar and senior figures in the Israeli energy sector participated. The Center includes 55 research groups from seven faculties at the University, engaged in various topics including energy storage solutions, networks, regulation, engineering, robotics, photonics, geography, smart cities, economics, earth sciences, and more, collectively working toward finding holistic energy solutions. Among the technologies being developed at the Center are hydrogen-based drones, fuel cells for green energy production, green walls to reduce temperatures in urban heat islands, and sodium batteries.

As part of the Center’s activities, an energy and climate boot camp was held in July 2022, which included 35 entrepreneurs in collaboration with government companies, businesses, and other entities. Among the innovative ideas presented, two winning ventures were chosen, focusing on energy optimization and sustainability in buildings, and a platform for environmental decision-making for consumer products. The boot camp included six meetings on campus and two tours with representatives of the initiative partners: the Israel Electric Corporation, Bazan Group, and Doral. The entrepreneurs listened to lectures from ecosystem experts and participated in entrepreneurship workshops. In addition, the participants were divided into working groups and established ventures with mentorship from industry professionals.

Doral is an active partner in the initiative, contributing content, mentoring selected entrepreneurs, and sponsoring the Center.

The Launch of the Energy and Sustainability Center at Bar-Ilan University

Collaboration with the Technion

On April 20, 2021, an agreement for strategic collaboration was signed with the Technion. Under this agreement, the partners will work to promote research, development, and the identification and realization of joint business opportunities in response to global challenges in energy, climate, and environment.

As part of the collaboration, Doral Tech funds three applied research projects (two of which were signed in 2022) and receives initial exposure to relevant investment opportunities. This agreement emphasizes the value that Doral places on research and development in general and on Israeli academia in particular, reinforcing its position as a leader in innovation and a developer of the environmental-climate impact ecosystem.

Facilitating the Exchange of Knowledge and Strategic Partnerships

Doral Tech’s activities are not limited to equity investments alone. They include mutual knowledge flow, support, and guidance for portfolio companies and partners, as well as promoting an ecosystem of innovation in energy, environment, and climate. Doral Tech has facilitated the creation of infrastructure for mentoring and accelerating early-stage startups in the energy and climate track, the first of its kind at the 8200 Impact Accelerator, in a strategic collaboration with Bank Hapoalim. In addition, Doral Tech built a ‘bootcamp’ for growth-stage startups from Israel and Europe in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT Hub Israel).

Doral Tech employees serve as active/observing board members and mentors for entrepreneurs and startups in various technology accelerators and programs (the energy and climate track of 8200 Impact, the EIT entrepreneurship program, the International Energy Accelerator led by Tech Stars and the energy giant Equinor, the Climate First platform, the European startup competition “Hello Cleantech” led by the EU’s EIT InnoEnergy innovation fund, and more). Furthermore, Doral Tech provides close support to portfolio companies, introducing them to new investors (some of whom have already made investments in the portfolio companies, including first-time foreign investments in Israel), business development (Value Creation), regulatory guidance, and strategic connections to Doral’s business units in Israel and worldwide.

Doral Tech promotes numerous ventures to identify the next innovative ideas in energy and climate technologies. Through partnerships, investments in startups, and broad collaborations like the Israeli Climate Awards in cooperation with “Calcalist,” valuable prizes and investment opportunities are offered to environmental entrepreneurs and startups participating in the initiative. Beyond that, Doral Tech is invited to and participates in numerous conferences, panels, and interviews, working to bring the energy and climate crisis to the public agenda and engage entrepreneurs and investors.

Examples of innovative developments from the 15 startups that reached the semifinals of the Israeli Climate Awards by Calcalist and Doral Energy Tech Ventures included waste decomposition using flies, using algae to generate electricity, and fully automated maintenance of solar fields. In 2023, the winner of the competition was NitroFix, a company working to produce ammonia from only water and air, without polluting carbon emissions.

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