The journey from the lab to the field goes through Ofakim. The city with the highest growth rate in Israel is no longer content with residential construction; beneath the giant cranes, a technological ecosystem is growing that combines generous government grants, R&D labs, and a 200-dunam agricultural farm. “We are building the world’s technological granary here,” say the municipality.
Ofakim’s real breakthrough lies in the 360-degree envelope it provides for ventures – from idea to production. At the heart of the ecosystem operates the Seed Innovation Center – an acceleration and innovation center already active today, with an investment of over NIS 10 million. The center is operated by Agro-Negev (the Agrotech administration of the Western Negev) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Israel Innovation Authority, and the Or movement, offering acceleration programs, business accompaniment, and legal advice in the field of patents, in collaboration with the Luzatto Group.
One of Ofakim’s unique assets is the urban agricultural farm – approximately 200 dunams serving as a living laboratory. The farm allows entrepreneurs and companies to conduct pilots, experiments, and cultivation with advanced technology in real-world conditions, as part of a complete product development process – not just in a closed experimental environment. The connection between agriculture, robotics, sensors, and smart technologies allows for the practical examination of solutions to food and climate challenges, and significantly shortens the path from development to implementation.
Industrial development is accompanied by extensive investment in human capital. The municipal Youth Center provides academic support, scholarships, and preparation for the job market, alongside the “Ofek-Tech” training center, which trains residents for in-demand professions in high-tech and advanced agriculture – in direct response to the needs of companies operating in the city.
Ofakim is defined as a national priority area and offers significant financial attractiveness: Ministry of Economy grants at a rate of 20%-30% for establishing preferred factories, Israel Innovation Authority grants for Seed, Pre-Seed, and Round A companies, and additions for companies operating in development areas. The combination of available land, infrastructure, human capital, and economic incentives positions Ofakim as an implementation destination for industrial growth – not as a future declaration, but as a process that is already happening in practice.
CEO of the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, Yochanan Mali: “In order to turn Ofakim into a regional agrotech powerhouse, the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience is leading regional growth engines in the Western Negev, which attract businesses, entrepreneurs, and residents to the city. To address the absorption of residents and companies, the Ministry, together with the Ofakim Municipality, continues to constantly strengthen Ofakim in all areas of life, through government decisions and numerous budgets.”
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