The BlueSpark accelerator, led by the The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences and the HIL – Haifa Innovation Labs, reached a key milestone with its Demo Day held at the offices of PwC Israel in Haifa. The program, funded by the Israel Innovation Authority and developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, the Israeli National Center of Blue Economy, and leading industry partners, supports released soldiers and reservists in developing innovative ventures in the blue economy.
In his opening remarks, the University’s CEO, Sharon Zaid, highlighted the importance of connecting academia, innovation, and sustainability as key drivers of growth and national resilience. The event brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders, reflecting the University’s role in building a strong blue economy ecosystem.
Ten ventures presented solutions addressing real-world marine and environmental challenges and were evaluated by a senior judging panel from industry, investment, and research sectors. The program concluded with the announcement of the winning teams, marking an important step toward commercialization and future collaborations.
This milestone demonstrates the University of Haifa’s commitment to applied research, cross-sector partnerships, and the development of innovation that generates both economic and social impact.
