Jerusalem, 30 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Innovation Authority and Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure selected five projects to receive funding in a competition aimed at developing technologies to strengthen global supplies of critical minerals.
The Drillzy project won first place and a NIS 1 million ($310,000) prize for developing sensors installed on drilling equipment that generate real-time geological data to help identify critical minerals.
“Critical minerals have transformed in just a few years from an industrial issue into a strategic and geopolitical issue,” Innovation Authority Director Dror Bean said. “For Israel, this is an opportunity to bring to the table exactly its advantages, entrepreneurship, deep tech, and the ability to solve complex technological problems.”
Critical minerals are essential to industries including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy and defense. Their production and processing are concentrated in a relatively small number of countries, leaving supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions and price volatility. Demand is also expected to rise as clean-energy technologies and artificial intelligence expand.
Four other projects will each receive NIS 200,000 to develop their technologies.
The other winners are SINQ, which is developing technology to measure saturation and predict the extraction of critical minerals from brines; Sentinel Mineral, which monitors and forecasts supply-chain risks; Diamonds Magix, which is developing nickel with variable porosity for use in batteries and other technologies; and AI TerraMet, which seeks to extract rare minerals from fertilizer-industry byproducts.
Energy Ministry Chief Scientist Prof. Brian Rosen said Israel’s limited natural reserves make technological innovation particularly important.
“While Israel is not rich in these minerals, we are rich in innovation, technology and research,” Rosen said.
The competition is part of the Innovation Authority’s Tnufa program, which supports high-risk technologies at an early stage, including proof-of-concept development before a company is established. The winning projects will also receive guidance from the Innovation Authority and Energy Ministry as they develop their technologies.