The awards were given on January 25 to the winners in an event held at the Startup Nation Central offices in Tel Aviv, attended by a delegation of 20 JNF-Canada representatives who made a special visit to Israel.
This is the second year in which the award, which is actually the biggest of its kind in Israel, is given with the goal of promoting and encouraging academic research in Israel that will aid in the struggle against the global climate crisis. The financial award, along with the recognition the researchers will get for further activity, will allow support and speeding their researches and influence the reduction of greenhouse gasses and the creation of climate change for the benefit of humanity.
The three winning researches are:
Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries – Professor Menny Shalom, Ben Gurion University
As part of the research, rechargeable zinc-air batteries with high energetic efficiency and resilience, as an alternative to the classic lithium batteries that pollute the environment both in their creation process and after they are disposed of.
An Easy Way of Creating Green Ammonia – Professor Brian Rosen, Tel Aviv University
The development of an easy and safe way to create green ammonia as a source of energy and nutrition. It can serve to create green hydrogen as a source for clean fuel for the production of electricity and different applications.
Cyanobacteria as Pasting Material for Green Building – Professor Shani Barth and Professor Professor Yechezkel Kashi, The Technion
As part of the research, a technology developed for the use of cyanobacteria in cement. Using this material will make the building absorb CO2, and will reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses in the creation process of the cement.
The decision to give the award during the war in Gaza and the military tension throughout the country testify of the resilience of Israel and its lively entrepreneurship ecosystem, which continues to promote and develop innovative technologies that will improve the quality of life for billions of people throughout the world.
KKL-JNF Chief Scientist Doron Markel commented that many submissions of the highest quality were made this year and were examined by a committee appointed by KKL-JNF consisting of renowned scientists from the relevant fields in academic and research institutions.
He added that the winning researches have the potential of significantly reduce the carbon gasses in the atmosphere, using renewable energy and reduction of the greenhouse gasses emissions, or capturing the carbon using natural or artificial means.
Galit Levy, Head of the Climate Solution Prize in JNF-Canada, said, "These researches touch upon some of the most urgent climate crisis-related challenges faced by the world. Israel's technological lead regarding distillation, aggrotech, autonomic vehicles, waste disposal, green transportation and renewable energy – all establish Israel as the center of research and development in a variety of areas of green technology. The climate award will assist supporting and promoting Israeli's leading position in the field, and its part in the global struggle against the implications of the climate crisis on the quality of life of billions of people all over the world, as well as the national interests of different countries."
Jeff Hart, Chair of the Climate Solution Prize, said "In the past few months we received dozens of nominations from researchers in Israel's leading institutes who competed on the JNF-Canada award along with our partners, KKL-JNF and Startup Nation Central. Again, we witnessed the vision and inspiration of the Israeli scientific community and the extraordinary innovations in the climate tech field, and we congratulate the three winners on their achievements."
From the Startup Nation Central data, there are over 850 Israeli companies in the climate tech field, that make Israel a significant player in the global zone and place it at the forefront of the struggle against the climate crisis. Billions of dollars are invested in the development of technological solutions in the field, and Israel's position can become an important national growth engine, alongside collaborations with other countries. Next month, Startup Nation Central will give support grants in the sum of a million dollars for entrepreneurs and startups in the climate tech field.
For additional details on the award, click here
Photograph: Yossi Zelinger, KKL-JNF Photo Archive