ESIL - Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab

What ESIL - Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab does

ESIL (Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab) is a Haifa-based open innovation accelerator founded in 2020 as a tri-party partnership among EDF Power Solutions (France), Bazan Group (Israel), and Johnson Matthey (UK). The lab's core function is to connect Israeli sustainability-technology startups with the capital, industrial infrastructure, and global market channels of its three founding corporate partners, operating under the Israel Innovation Authority's Innovation Labs program (Track 29). It does not develop proprietary technology itself; instead, it deploys equity investments of up to 2,000,000 NIS per startup, provides access to laboratories, pilot sites at Bazan's Haifa Bay facilities, multi-disciplinary engineering support, and mentorship from senior leaders across the founding partners.

ESIL's portfolio spans 18 companies across clean energy generation and storage (RepAir for direct air capture, Hydro X for hydrogen logistics, SolOr for CIGS solar paint, Arbell Energy for nanocrystal solar cells, Solra-PV for indoor perovskite solar), energy storage and EV infrastructure (EExion sodium-ion batteries, BaTTeRi mobile DC chargers, NUGEN solid-state hydrogen cartridges for data centers), industrial efficiency (Sphere Technologies cooling, KOTLEAK compressed-air monitoring, SRS Spectroscopy gas analyzer), agrivoltaics (Agri-Light Energy, agRE.tech), and sustainable materials (SeaNovel seaweed bioplastics). Notable portfolio claims include RepAir's 70% energy reduction versus conventional DAC and Hydro X's sub-US$1/kgH2 hydrogen storage cost.

The business model is structured as a corporate-backed accelerator and equity investor rather than a fee-for-service consultancy. Capital flows from the three founding partners and the Israel Innovation Authority, deployed as equity into selected startups through a formal 4-step process (Apply, Evaluation, Work Plan, Join the Lab). Returns, where they materialize, come from equity appreciation as portfolio companies commercialize with the founders' support. The customer base is bifurcated: Israeli sustainability startups as investees, and the three founding corporates as the strategic anchor partners that justify the program's industrial relevance and distribution potential. ESIL does not disclose revenue, and the lab is operated with a lean team of approximately seven people plus a five-member board drawn from the founding partners.

Name

ESIL - Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab

Legal name

ESIL - Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab

Website

https://esil.co.il

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ESIL is a Haifa-based open innovation accelerator, founded in 2020 as a partnership among EDF Power Solutions, Bazan Group, and Johnson Matthey, that invests up to 2M NIS per Israeli sustainability-tech startup and provides labs, pilots, and global corporate distribution under the Israel Innovation Authority's Track 29 program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup accelerator and equity investment services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG Integration / Responsible Investment Funds (Broad ESG) (FSANAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impact / ESG Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAJ), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

Keywords

• Sustainability accelerator
• Innovation lab services
• Clean energy investment
• Startup equity funding
• Environmental technology platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Haifa

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equity Investment in Portfolio Companies: ESIL invests equity (up to 2,000,000 NIS per startup) in Israeli sustainability tech startups through the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) Innovation Labs track (Track 29). Returns are generated through equity appreciation and follow-on investments as portfolio companies succeed and commercialize.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ESIL is an open innovation lab and equity investment platform that funds and accelerates early-stage Israeli sustainability tech startups. It offers selected startups equity investment of up to 2,000,000 NIS under the Israel Innovation Authority Innovation Labs track, alongside access to industrial laboratories, pilot sites at Bazan Group's Haifa Bay facility, R&D support, mentorship, and global market connections delivered through its three founding corporate partners: EDF Power Solutions, Bazan Group, and Johnson Matthey.

Product overview

ESIL (Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab) is a startup accelerator and investment platform that provides equity funding (up to 2,000,000 NIS) and acceleration services to sustainability-focused startups. The platform connects Israeli green technology entrepreneurs with three global corporate founding partners - EDF Power Solutions, Bazan Group, and Johnson Matthey - providing access to laboratories, pilot sites, expertise, and global market connections. ESIL's portfolio spans 18 companies across clean energy, materials, pollution reduction, and environmentally friendly products, including Direct Air Capture (RepAir), hydrogen storage (Hydro X), solar technologies (SolOr, Arbell Energy, Solra-PV), battery solutions (EExion, BaTTeRi), AI-powered renewable energy prediction (Agil Green), agrivoltaics (Agri-Light, agRE.tech), cooling systems (Sphere Technologies), air leak detection (KOTLEAK), industrial gas analysis, and bioplastics (SeaNovel).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESIL Innovation Lab Program Accelerator and equity investment program providing up to 2,000,000 NIS per startup to early-stage Israeli sustainability tech companies, with access to laboratories, pilot sites at Bazan Group's Haifa Bay facility, R&D support, mentorship, and global corporate connections through founding partners EDF Power Solutions, Bazan Group, and Johnson Matthey.

Quantifiable outcome

• RepAir's DAC solution consumes 70% less energy than conventional DAC technologies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding partner and minor.

• Ignite the SparkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Ignite the Spark is an Israeli ecosystem organization that runs the Ideation2Scale program. ESIL partnered with them for this program, which brought together energy-tech entrepreneurs through focused sessions covering problem-solution fit, techno-economic analysis, investment readiness, and final pitching. ESIL CEO Amir Horowitz participated in panel discussions alongside Shon Dana and industry leaders.
• EDF Power Solutionsfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF Power Solutions is part of the EDF group, a world leader in renewable energy electricity operating in over 20 countries with gross installed capacity of 12,607 MW. As a founding partner of ESIL, they provide access to renewable energy expertise, global infrastructure, R&D capabilities, and commercial connections to help Israeli startups scale sustainable energy solutions.
• Bazan Groupfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBazan Group is Israel's largest refining and petrochemicals complex, located in Haifa Bay with maximum daily production capacity of approximately 26,600 tons of oil. As a founding partner of ESIL, they provide access to industrial facilities, pilot sites, field trials, and operational expertise in petroleum products, polymers, and aromatics compounds.
• Johnson Mattheyfounding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohnson Matthey is a UK-based global leader in sustainable technology with over 200 years of innovation, approximately 15,000 professionals, and expertise in low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing, and efficient use of natural resources. As a founding partner of ESIL, they provide science-led innovation expertise and global market connections.
• APM & Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner in ESIL's 'Our Partners' section. APM & Co. is an Israeli law firm/innovation services company that may provide legal and business advisory services to ESIL and its portfolio companies.
• BitumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner in ESIL's 'Our Partners' section. Bitum is an Israeli company providing services related to ESIL's ecosystem.
• GESminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner in ESIL's 'Our Partners' section. GES (Green Energy Solutions) is an Israeli company operating in the energy/innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• OurCrowd: Israel-based global equity crowdfunding and venture platform investing heavily in Israeli tech including clean energy — comparable Israeli-rooted investor ecosystem sourcing from the same startup pool as ESIL.

Broad incumbents

• SOSV / IndieBio: Global accelerator/VC firm running deep-tech accelerator programs including climate and biotech tracks — comparable accelerator-first model for early-stage deep-tech founders, though portfolio spans multiple non-climate verticals.
• Techstars Sustainability Accelerator: Global accelerator network including sustainability/clean-tech verticals, providing cohort-based funding and mentorship to early-stage ESG founders — comparable accelerator mechanics but with a far broader geographic footprint.
• EIT Climate-KIC: Pan-European public-private climate innovation platform with accelerators and venture-building programs across Europe — much broader scope than ESIL but a comparable model of state-backed climate-tech acceleration.

Direct peers

• Greentown Labs: Largest cleantech startup incubator in North America, offering lab space, mentorship, and corporate partner access to early-stage climate-tech startups — mirrors ESIL's accelerator + corporate-partner structure.
• Terra Venture Partners: Israeli early-stage cleantech/clean energy VC. Listed as an ESIL ecosystem partner and invests in Israeli clean-energy startups, overlapping directly with ESIL's mandate and portfolio focus.
• Cyclotron Ventures: Israel-based early-stage climate-tech VC, deploying capital into deep-tech startups addressing climate — operates in the same Israeli ecosystem as ESIL with a similar applicant pool and clean-energy focus.
• Israel Cleantech Ventures: Israeli venture capital firm investing in early-stage clean technology companies, providing a directly comparable funding pathway for the same pool of Israeli sustainability founders ESIL serves.
• Elemental Excelerator: US-based sustainability-focused accelerator backing early-stage climate startups with non-dilutive capital and corporate pilot access — comparable model to ESIL, oriented around ESG and decarbonization.

Emerging players

• Ignite the Spark (EnergyTech): Israeli ecosystem organization running energy-tech programs such as Ideation2Scale, partnered with ESIL. Overlaps with ESIL's mandate of supporting Israeli energy-tech founders from ideation toward scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESIL - Environmental Sustainability Innovation Lab