diff --git a/templates/boilerplate/embark.json b/templates/boilerplate/embark.json
index 46b01646..837e2d2a 100644
--- a/templates/boilerplate/embark.json
+++ b/templates/boilerplate/embark.json
@@ -13,5 +13,12 @@
     "solc": "0.4.24",
     "ipfs-api": "17.2.4"
   },
-  "plugins": {}
+  "plugins": {
+  },
+  "options": {
+    "solc": {
+      "optimize": true,
+      "optimize-runs": 200
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/templates/demo/embark.json b/templates/demo/embark.json
index 2f73ec75..198029a6 100644
--- a/templates/demo/embark.json
+++ b/templates/demo/embark.json
@@ -13,5 +13,11 @@
     "ipfs-api": "17.2.4"
   },
   "plugins": {
+  },
+  "options": {
+    "solc": {
+      "optimize": true,
+      "optimize-runs": 200
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/templates/simple/embark.json b/templates/simple/embark.json
index e7907501..57fc6fff 100644
--- a/templates/simple/embark.json
+++ b/templates/simple/embark.json
@@ -12,5 +12,12 @@
   "versions": {
     "solc": "0.4.24"
   },
-  "plugins": {}
+  "plugins": {
+  },
+  "options": {
+    "solc": {
+      "optimize": true,
+      "optimize-runs": 200
+    }
+  }
 }