The Science and Innovation Park, established through a partnership between Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), Kinneret Academic College, and Zemach Industries, was designed to connect academia, industry, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation. Covering roughly 20 dunams, it offers workspaces for hundreds of researchers, entrepreneurs, and students, alongside dozens of companies already renting offices and operating in state-of-the-art laboratories.
Professional operations at the Innovation Center are led by the KIC team under the guidance of KKL-JNF’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Doron Merkel. The park’s launch represents a significant step in rehabilitating and strengthening the north after the prolonged war, while positioning the center as an international hub attracting technology entrepreneurs, researchers, hi-tech professionals, farmers, and investors who view the Kinneret Innovation Center as fertile ground for economic growth and accelerated technological development in Israel’s northern periphery.
The inauguration comes at the height of efforts to rebuild the north after months of fighting. The new center is not only an economic initiative but also a foundation for growth, recovery, and a regional future anchored in technology, education, and employment.
Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chairwoman of KKL-JNF , said: “The establishment of the Kinneret Innovation Center is truly good news for the north – and for the State of Israel as a whole. Investment in the periphery is a paramount Zionist act: strengthening the north means strengthening Israel. KKL-JNF sees this center not only as an advanced technological hub but also as an engine of growth that will create thousands of quality jobs, bridge academia and industry, and ensure that the Galilee, the Golan, and the Kinneret region host world-class innovative industry. This is how we realize practical Zionism in the 21st century.”
Danny Taragan, Chairman of Zemach Industries , added: "“The launch of the Kinneret Science and Innovation Park in the Jordan Valley is a major milestone on our path to making this region a global knowledge hub in agricultural technologies. For Zemach Industries, this is an opportunity to advance Israeli agriculture, nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs, and establish advanced technology companies here in the Jordan Valley – for the development of the region as a whole, for advanced agricultural industry, and for the benefit of future generations in northeastern Israel.”
Prof. David Mendlovic, President of Kinneret Academic College, said: “The Kinneret Science and Innovation Park brings our vision to life – to be an academic hub for teaching and research in engineering, social sciences, and the humanities. Our applied degrees directly address Israel's employment market, particularly in the north. Our graduates lead in their fields with values of innovation, skills, and expertise. We are proud to be an innovative and connected Israeli academic institution that creates real value for its environment, and together with KKL-JNF and Zemach Industries, to advance the north.”
Elad Shamir, CEO of KIC , concluded: “The Science and Innovation Park is a remarkable example of vision realized, of bold leadership, and of committed partners who take initiative and drive forward. For seven years, we have been working to shape the future of the north – accelerating hundreds of entrepreneurs and technology companies, training thousands of youth and students, and strengthening advanced agriculture and northern industry. The extraordinary facility we inaugurate today stands as a beacon of innovation, quality, professionalism, knowledge, and values. We will continue to reach new heights and invest in research and technology to advance the north.”