A new strategic collaboration recently unveiled between the Israeli fund NetZero Tech Ventures and NGLI Holdings Ltd. aims to bring Israeli deep-tech innovations into Japan’s advanced industrial sector.
As part of the initiative, NGLI, which specializes in business connections between Israel and Japan, will identify the precise needs of major Japanese corporations among its clients and, together with NetZero, locate promising research within Israeli academia. At the same time, NetZero Ventures will work to transform these research projects into strong start-up companies, with the support of the Israel Innovation Authority, advancing the technologies to a level of maturity that enables Japanese corporations to become customers or distribution partners.
The new model seeks to solve a longstanding problem: Japanese companies are eager for innovation but often find it difficult to work with early-stage research due to technological uncertainty and cultural gaps. The new partnership will allow Japanese companies to join as “design partners” from the very beginning, ensuring that products developed in Israeli university laboratories are precisely suited to the needs of Japanese industry. The primary focus will be on climate and energy sectors, ranging from energy production and storage, through alternative fuels such as hydrogen, to advanced materials that could transform industry.
Shmuel Kedmi, CEO of NetZero Ventures: “We are proud to accelerate the journey from science to market and to help turn groundbreaking research into impactful companies. Close collaboration with industrial partners from the earliest stages enables us to build ventures that are both scientifically exceptional and commercially relevant.”
Yaakov Azran, CEO of NGLI: “This new partnership creates a unique bridge between Israeli academic excellence and the real-world needs of Japanese industry. We believe this model will unlock significant innovation potential and create meaningful opportunities for corporate partners seeking early access to transformative technologies.”
NetZero Tech Ventures, founded in 2021, is one of the most active early-stage investors in Israel in the fields of climate tech and energy. Its investors include major companies such as TotalEnergies and Delek US. The management team includes CEO Shmuel Kedmi, CTO Dr. Gideon Friedman (formerly Chief Scientist at the Energy Ministry), and VP of Business Development Yael Weiss Zilberman. The fund’s partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority enables it to reduce risk and accelerate young technologies into the global market.
NGLI specializes in promoting open innovation and technology transfer between Israel and Japan. Its clients are leading Japanese industrial corporations seeking to collaborate with Israel’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, which includes start-ups, academia, and research institutions. The company provides comprehensive end-to-end project management support, including field trials (POCs) and commercial collaborations. Among its leadership team is Ms. Yoko Yamaguchi, who resides in Israel and serves as a senior partner. A biochemist by training, she leads strategic collaborations with Japanese companies. Her professional experience and deep familiarity with Japan’s business and scientific culture form a key pillar in NGLI’s ability to build and manage successful partnerships between Japanese corporations and Israeli innovation entities.