10 Israeli startups join 'Space Bootcamp' event in the Negev, pioneering earth-to-orbit tech

Ten Israeli startup companies participated at a “Space Bootcamp” event in a small town located near the Ramon Crater in the Negev Desert in June.

Roy Naor, CEO of Creation-Space, explained the dual-use innovation , which took place in Mitzpe Ramon shortly before the 12-day Israel-Iran War, Operation Rising Lion.

“The main innovation here is laying the cornerstone for a campus dedicated to research, development, and entrepreneurship of dual-use solutions for both Earth and space,” Naor said in an interview with the Davidson Institute, an NGO that supports the development of gifted young individuals.

“This is a milestone in the realization of the vision for establishing a space city in Mitzpe Ramon,” he added.

The initial stage of Creation-Space’s accelerator program offers investments of up to $250,000 to each startup that meets the program’s specific milestones. The U.S.-based venture capital firm CreationsVC is funding the initiative.

Arbell Energy is one of the participating startups, having developed dual-use technology in the form of ultra-thin, lightweight solar panels made from nanomaterials. On earth, the panels can turn virtually any surface into an energy source, while in space, their minimal weight significantly reduces spacecraft fuel consumption.

Another startup, 3DSil, has developed a silicon-based 3D printing technology capable of producing complex, dual-use components for both terrestrial and space applications.

Naor emphasized that the space program serves as an initial gateway to the broader global space industry.

“This was an introductory course to the space industry. Most of these companies had not previously been involved in space activities. We introduced them to the field, facilitated meetings with experts, and arranged a video call with investors from the United States. Additionally, they toured the Ramon Crater to learn about its advantages as an analog environment for planetary research,” he explained.

“The program lasts three months, during which we help the companies raise investments and secure grants from space agencies, the Israel Innovation Authority, and other organizations. We guide them, foster connections with key people and companies in the field, and encourage them to explore space opportunities without giving up their terrestrial activities.”

Naor said the overarching goal is to foster the growth of viable companies, noting, “Every company is a potential partner that we develop together.”

He outlined the long-term vision of establishing a dedicated space campus in Mitzpe Ramon, which would include laboratories, classrooms, a conference center, and other essential facilities.

“Companies developing products for extreme environments will be able to develop them here and immediately run pilot tests in this remote town. They can also take their projects into the field to test them in an environment analogous to the Moon and Mars,” Noar added.

Last month, Israel Aerospace Industries and researchers at the Weizmann Institute near Tel Aviv announced plans to jointly launch an Israeli space mission to search for potential signs of life on Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

Prof. Yohai Kaspi, a senior scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Weizmann Institute, noted that despite its limited budget, Israel can play a meaningful and focused role in international space exploration efforts.

“We can’t compete with the scale and budgets of the major space agencies, but a focused mission with a single instrument and a lot of trade-offs is something a small country can pull off,” Kaspi said.