The event was attended by Head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, Uri Epstein; representatives from JNF Australia; representatives from KKL - JNF, including Yuval Yeini, Head of the Finance Division and Acting Head of the Resource Development and External Relations Division; Yaniv Maimon, Director of the Southern Region; Hadas Shon-Levy, Deputy Director General for Economy and Energy at the Tekuma Administration; Vered Liebstein, widow of the late Sha’ar HaNegev Council Head, Ofir Liebstein z"l.
Located adjacent to the Sderot Central Train Station and spanning 9,900 square meters, the Innovation Center will house dozens of startups and established high-tech companies, creating hundreds of high-quality jobs for local residents. Construction is led by the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council and its Economic Development Company with major support from JNF Australia, whose generous contribution made the 30 Million NIS project possible. The first building is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The center will also serve as home to startups from SouthUp, Sha’ar HaNegev’s tech incubator, which currently supports 25 companies in various sectors.
The initiative was originally spearheaded by the late Ofir Liebstein, beloved head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, who tragically lost his life on Octobert 7th while defending his kibbutz, Kfar Aza. The center was central to his vision of advancing innovation and employment in the region. Planning and permit processes were initiated before the attack and carried forward during Israel’s "Iron Swords" war. Today, that vision begins to come to life.
As part of the “Income-Generating Projects” call for proposals, the Tekuma Authority approved reserving a budget of NIS 6.782 million in 2024 for the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council to support income-generating projects. Within this framework, the council recently submitted a request on behalf of the Sha’ar HaNegev Innovation Center, whose cornerstone was laid today in an official ceremony. This request will be reviewed in accordance with the guidelines and provisions outlined in the call for proposals.
The two-story building features an innovative architectural design, consists an inner courtyard, with a total area of 3,300 square meters, designed by Strasburger, Ben Naim Architects, and will include modular offices, smart meeting rooms, labs, quiet workspaces, and cutting-edge infrastructure. It is ideally located next to Sderot’s “Mall 7,” the Sderot train station, and Sapir College—the largest academic institution in the area.
The innovation center is also designed to attract leading high-tech companies in the Israeli market, offering a variety of significant advantages. These include tax benefits for companies and employees due to its designation as a national priority area, and major companies already operating in the area such as Amdocs, Elbit, and Strauss, as well as a vibrant and growing ecosystem that includes industrial, health, and other sectors.
Photograph: Yoav Lin, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
Uri Epstein, Head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council : “This is a central milestone in our vision to make Sha’ar HaNegev a magnet for innovation, entrepreneurship, and high-tech. Our heartfelt thanks go to our partners and friends at JNF Australia and KKL – JNF here in Israel. While our hearts are still heavy and we long for the return of every hostage, we are also committed to looking forward—building not just recovery, but long-term prosperity for generations to come. This initiative is expected to create a technological anchor for the entire Gaza Envelope, generate hundreds of new jobs, retain the younger generation in Sha’ar HaNegev, and attract entrepreneurs and companies from central Israel to come to Sha’ar HaNegev and the surrounding area.”
Yifat Ovadia-Luski, Chairwoman of KKL-JNF, said “The laying of the cornerstone for the Innovation and Sustainability Center in Sha’ar HaNegev is the realization of a vision. The Western Negev is set to become a hub of high-tech, entrepreneurship, industry, and smart communities. Establishing the center is not merely an investment in infrastructure, but in the future — in quality employment, regional growth, and a true opportunity to build a thriving technological center that will attract entrepreneurs, companies, and investors from Israel and around the world.”
Aviv Cohen, CEO of the Sha’ar HaNegev Economic Development Company, said: “This groundbreaking project will place Sha’ar HaNegev at the forefront of Israel’s innovation ecosystem. With state-of-the-art infrastructure and strategic location, we are offering high-tech companies a platform to thrive—backed by tax benefits, access to talent, and an energetic regional ecosystem.”
SouthUp CEO Gil Shwarsman, said, “Since our founding in 2017, SouthUp has helped create over 300 jobs in the region. With the Innovation Center, we’re building a new future right here in the Western Negev. We’re flipping the script—no longer will companies need to head to Tel Aviv. We’re building a new innovation hub, right here.”
The Innovation Center is expected to attract leading Israeli and international tech companies, leveraging advantages such as proximity to academic institutions, regional players like Amdocs, Elbit, and Strauss, and national priority tax benefits.
This initiative is complemented by the launch of Ofir-SouthUp Ventures, a new investment fund that will strengthen regional startups and support accelerators in homeland security, health, advanced agriculture, and more—solidifying the Western Negev’s role on Israel’s high-tech map."