The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
From
Innovations
to
Products
From
Research
to
Water Industry
Eilon M. Adar
Ben Gurion University of the Negev
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research
Dept. of Environmental Hydrology & Microbiology
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Innovation In Water:
TheThe
National
Center
for
Advanced
Water
Origins are Already In the Bible!
Technologies at Sede Boqer
From Water Need to Water Technologies
Water
water
technologies
Industry
Desalination
&
Water needs
&
production
(in terms
of
quantity
&
quality)
Water
treatment
Water
Remediation
The Center
“Missing
The National
forLink”
Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer
Ashkelon Seawater Desalination Plant
Findings &
Inventions
Concept &
Organizational
structure
Solutions
Industry
Innovative
Technologies
Water
Needs
Research &
Development
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The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
At the academic level innovations end as:
Research Report
Scientific Paper
Patent (at most!)
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The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
Academic research institutions vs. entrepreneurs
• While academic research findings may be firm and even
conclusive as a basis for new commercial, they are often
premature for implementation.
• Up-scaling is often a non-linear process
which is difficult to predict.
•
The creation of a new commercial product out of successful
laboratory findings often requires the development of additional
associated devices.
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From a laboratory scale to an Alfa Model prototype
Pilot Plant Facilities
Specific membranes for treating industrial effluents
Pilot Plant Facility for Advanced Water Treatment Technologies
Enhanced environmental-safe evaporator for brines and hazardous waste
From a laboratory scale to an Alfa Model prototype
The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
The NCWT goal is to provide the platform,
facilities and environment for
R & D in water technologies
Objectives
• Closing the gap between innovation and product
• Accelerating the process of leveraging academic
findings toward the water industry
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Pilot Plant Facility for Advanced Water
Treatment Technologies
Scope:
• Constructing R & D laboratory that will enable the
development of an Alfa Model allowing the study of technical
feasibilities, mode of operation and mode of maintenance – all
necessary pre-requisites to leverage innovative invention into
a commercial product.
Motivation:
• A pilot facility will provide the necessary equipment and
infrastructure for all stages of this process, from developing the
initial prototype to evaluating modes of operation and
performance.
Outdoor Field-Scale Testing Facilities
for Development & Demonstration
Scope:
• Establishing a beta site that provides the last essential
element in the development of innovative products before the
final design of a commercial product
Motivations:
• An experimental testing site for
prototypes for small and/or large-scale
water technology systems where
experiments conducted under
actual conditions;
• Testing of prototypes of alpha
and beta-stage products;
• Development of operational
protocols, examination of maintenance requirements and
demonstrations of technology and product capabilities to
potential customers.
The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
•
The NCWT should be located in close proximity to a Water
Research Institute.
•
It will provide an added value due to the R&D infrastructure of
prototypes developing facilitiesn and beta-stage field tests,
and due to the parity which is returned to the developer.
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The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
The aim of the center is to provide a
foundation for advanced technological
entrepreneurship in the field of water in
Israel.
 The center will be established and managed
by a private consortium (a tender call
process).
 Government support to cover 50% of the
investments and expenses

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The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Diverse R & D activity in the field of
water
Water treatment and desalination, water
chemistry, microbiology, hydrology, hydrogeology, sewage treatment, purification and
recycling, flow and physics, optics,
nanotechnology and other engineering fields
that support water technology
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Center for Water Technologies
The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
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The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer

Preference for entrepreneurial groups with maximal
product life cycle, supportive environment, and market
potential
capital
industry
science
marketing
Management
ability
development
of
technology
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The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer -Israel
Center Capabilities and Government Support
•
“Incubator” Plans, collaborative academic/industrial research 66%
government-supported (total support: NIS 2m annually)
•
Establishing and advancing start-up companies for two years from
the proof-of-feasibility stage 85% government-supported (up to NIS 2.5 annually per
project)
•
Establishing beta testing sites - 50% government-supported (total
scope of support: NIS 4m annually for three years)
•
Complementary funding and continuing investments in the companies
The government will provide assistance according to existing Ministry of Industry, Trade,
and Labor programs.
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From the idea
through the
prototype stage
Basic and
application
research
Experimental platform
From the prototype
to the “beta” stage
Industrial
Park
Launching
Park
Technological
Incubator
Research Institutions
& Universities
Civil Infrastructures
Initiatives and Strategic planning
From the “Beta”
stage full industrial
production and
export
Venture Capital for Research & Industry
The Concept – “Chain of Value”
The National Center for Advanced Water
Technologies at Sede Boqer
Industrial Entrepreneurship
will trigger further
Academic Innovations !
Thank You!
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