Roundtable Launch of “The Road to FOAK” Report

Arison ESG Center officially launched its latest report, “The Road to FOAK”, during a roundtable discussion with leading experts from the climate innovation ecosystem.

The event opened with remarks by Prof. Niron Hashai, Chair of Arison ESG Center. Dr. Ruth Dagan, Head of Climate and International Collaborations at the Center, presented the background and rationale behind the report, and Sharon Broid Goldberg, Research Fellow in the Center’s Climate Team, presented its main insights and practical framework.

The report was developed as a practical working tool to support the transition of climate technologies from demonstration stages to industrial-scale deployment. It is designed for entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, corporates, and other stakeholders working to advance First-of-a-Kind climate projects.

The roundtable discussion highlighted that bridging the FOAK gap — often described as the “Valley of Death” between proven technology and commercial-scale implementation — requires more than capital alone. It calls for coordinated action, early alignment between stakeholders, regulatory and market readiness, and new forms of collaboration across sectors.

The discussion featured insights from Jack (Tato) Bigio, Co-Founder of UBQ Materials; Deanna Zhang, Founder and Managing Director at Node Climate; and Nir Brenmiller, Co-Founder and CEO of Brenmiller Energy. Their perspectives, together with the contributions of participants and experts who supported the process, helped shape a practical conversation on the conditions needed to scale climate technologies effectively.

This report serves as a foundation for the Arison ESG Center’s continued work in this field. Building on its findings, the Center will continue to develop tools, partnerships, and applied knowledge aimed at helping bridge the FOAK gap and accelerate the deployment of climate technologies.