We are discovering new opportunities even after the project, so I think this [BIRD] is also a very good networking tool. A true enabler which I would promote strongly anywhere I go and that’s what I do.
To stimulate, promote and support industrial R&D of mutual benefit to Israel and the U.S.
BIRD is an acronym for Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development.
The BIRD Foundation’s mission is to stimulate, promote and support industrial R&D of mutual benefit to the U.S. and Israel.
The BIRD Foundation was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies, including start-ups and established organizations. BIRD provides both matchmaking support between U.S. and Israeli companies, as well as funding covering up to 50 percent of project development costs, up to $1.5M per project. BIRD takes no equity in the companies.
BIRD’s scope extends to Advanced Manufacturing, Agrotechnology, Cleantech, Energy and Environment, Communications, Construction Tech, Cyber Security, Electronics, FinTech, FoodTech, Healthcare IT, Homeland Security, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, Semiconductors, Software, Water and and other areas of innovative technology with commercial potential.
Since its inception in 1977, BIRD has approved investments in close to 1200 projects, which
have yielded direct and indirect revenues of more than $10 billion. BIRD’s Board of Governors approves projects twice a year. Projects are evaluated by expert reviewers appointed by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce.
How does the BIRD Foundation Operate?
Any pair of companies, one Israeli and one U.S.-based, may apply jointly so long as they can demonstrate the combined capabilities and infrastructure to define, develop, manufacture, sell and support an innovative product based on industrial R&D.
The key criterion is that each corporate entity shall have the ability to carry out its part of the joint development and commercialization. Their willingness to share in the financial risk of product development as well as in the financial gain of commercialization, are also key factors in BIRD’s evaluation.
The BIRD Foundation offers conditional grants for joint development projects on a risk- sharing basis. The Foundation funds up to 50% of each company’s R&D expenses associated with the joint project, up to $1.5M per project. Repayments are due only upon
commercial success.
BIRD Vertical Programs
The Foundation also manages BIRD Energy, a program which promotes and supports U.S.-
Israel joint development projects relating to clean energy technologies. Click here for further information about the Program.
Another binational program managed by the Foundation is “BIRD Homeland Security
(HLS).” BIRD HLS is a joint U.S.-Israel program that aims to foster and support the development of advanced technologies for the homeland security mission.
Click here for further information about the Program
In 2018, the BIRD Foundation was selected to manage the U.S.-Israel Energy Center .The
goal of the Energy Center is to promote energy security and economic development through the research and development of innovative energy technologies, currently covering four topics: Energy Storage, Energy Cyber, Energy-Water Nexus and Fossil Energy.
BIRD Cyber is the most recent program to be added to those managed by BIRD to promote collaborations focused on the development of cybersecurity and related emerging technologies aimed at enhancing cyber resilience by harnessing the innovation and ingenuity of the Israeli and American technology sectors. Click here for further information about the Program.
BIRD is an acronym for Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development.
The BIRD Foundation’s mission is to stimulate, promote and support industrial R&D of mutual benefit to the U.S. and Israel.
The BIRD Foundation was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies, including start-ups and established organizations. BIRD provides both matchmaking support between U.S. and Israeli companies, as well as funding covering up to 50 percent of project development costs, up to $1.5M per project. BIRD takes no equity in the companies.
BIRD’s scope extends to Advanced Manufacturing, Agrotechnology, Cleantech, Energy and Environment, Communications, Construction Tech, Cyber Security, Electronics, FinTech, FoodTech, Healthcare IT, Homeland Security, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, Semiconductors, Software, Water and and other areas of innovative technology with commercial potential.
Since its inception in 1977, BIRD has approved investments in close to 1200 projects, which have yielded direct and indirect revenues of more than $10 billion. BIRD’s Board of Governors approves projects twice a year. Projects are evaluated by expert reviewers appointed by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Commerce.
How does the BIRD Foundation Operate?
Any pair of companies, one Israeli and one U.S.-based, may apply jointly so long as they can demonstrate the combined capabilities and infrastructure to define, develop, manufacture, sell and support an innovative product based on industrial R&D.
The key criterion is that each corporate entity shall have the ability to carry out its part of the joint development and commercialization. Their willingness to share in the financial risk of product development as well as in the financial gain of commercialization, are also key factors in BIRD’s evaluation.
The BIRD Foundation offers conditional grants for joint development projects on a risk- sharing basis. The Foundation funds up to 50% of each company’s R&D expenses associated with the joint project, up to $1.5M per project. Repayments are due only upon commercial success.
BIRD Vertical Programs
The Foundation also manages BIRD Energy, a program which promotes and supports U.S.-
Israel joint development projects relating to clean energy technologies. Click here for further information about the Program.
Another binational program managed by the Foundation is “BIRD Homeland Security
(HLS).” BIRD HLS is a joint U.S.-Israel program that aims to foster and support the development of advanced technologies for the homeland security mission.
Click here for further information about the Program.
In 2018, the BIRD Foundation was selected to manage the U.S.-Israel Energy Center.
The goal of the Energy Center is to promote energy security and economic development through the research and development of innovative energy technologies, currently covering four topics: Energy Storage, Energy Cyber, Energy-Water Nexus and Fossil Energy.
BIRD Cyber is the most recent program to be added to those managed by BIRD to promote collaborations focused on the development of cybersecurity and related emerging technologies aimed at enhancing cyber resilience by harnessing the innovation and ingenuity of the Israeli and American technology sectors. Click here for further information about the Program.
Esteemed BIRD Community,
As we enter 2025, I am filled with optimism and gratitude for the unwavering support and commitment of our partners, grantees, and stakeholders. This past year has been a testament to resilience, innovation, and the enduring collaboration between the United States and Israel.
While 2024 brought its share of challenges, it also showcased remarkable achievements. From addressing global crises to advancing critical technologies, the BIRD Foundation has remained steadfast in its mission to foster U.S.-Israel partnerships that tackle challenges and lay the foundation for a brighter and sustainable future.
Over the past year, BIRD approved funding of over $12.5 million for 12 projects in the general program covering a broad variety of sectors. These included advancements in medical diagnostics, medical devices, advanced electronics, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing. The BIRD Energy program supported five projects with funding totaling $7.5 million, underlining the growing importance of addressing energy and sustainability challenges globally.
In addition, the U.S.-Israel Energy Center continued to drive impactful collaborations between academia and corporate entities. This initiative focuses on pivotal areas, including solid-state energy storage, energy-water nexus technologies, cybersecurity for energy infrastructure, and technologies to reduce carbon emissions while improving environmental safety in offshore fossil energy production. These efforts exemplify how binational collaboration can lead to meaningful global solutions.
Looking ahead, BIRD will continue to lead in driving innovation and supporting evolving trends in the U.S. and Israeli ecosystems. Our priorities for 2025 focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, enhancing health-tech solutions (including public and mental health), and addressing critical global issues such as cyber protection, homeland security, climate, and energy-related challenges. Another critical focus will be driving technology transfer from academia to industry, ensuring that cutting-edge research translates into impactful real-world applications.
What makes these achievements truly inspiring is the human element. The partnerships forged through BIRD not only result in technological breakthroughs but also build lasting relationships that strengthen the fabric of U.S.-Israel cooperation. These collaborations remind us of the profound impact we can have when we come together with shared purpose and determination.
As we embark on this new year, I extend my deepest thanks to all who make our work possible. Your commitment, dedication, and ingenuity are the driving forces behind our success. I also want to acknowledge the exceptional BIRD Foundation team in the U.S. and Israel for their unwavering commitment and excellence. Together, we will continue to transform challenges into opportunities and bold ideas into reality.
Here’s to a year of innovation, partnerships, and transformative impact.
Jaron Lotan
Executive Director
Mr. Michael Molnar | Co-Chair
Director, Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office,
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
representing the Under Secretary for Standards and Technology
Department of Commerce
Ms. Christin Kjelland
Deputy Director, Office of Science and Technology Cooperation
representing the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Department of State
Mr. Anthony Marcus
Director, Middle East and North Africa International Affairs
representing the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs
Department of Treasury
Dr. Alon Stopel | Co-Chair
Chairman, Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) & Chief Scientist for Innovation
Ministry of Innovation Science & Technology
Mr. Inon Elroy
Representing the Director General Ministry of Economy and Industry
Mr. Ophir Gore
Representing the Director General Ministry of Finance
Dr. Harry Hertz
Dr. Phillip Singerman
New England Israel Business Council
Ohio-Israel Chamber of Commerce
Colorado-Israel Chamber of Commerce
Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative (RIIC)
Virginia Israel Advisory Board
Virginia Israel Advisory Board
Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative (RIIC)
Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
Colorado-Israel Chamber of Commerce
Ohio-Israel Chamber of Commerce
New England Israel Business Council
for joint development of innovative technologies and products
between U.S. and Israeli companies
from successful projects
generated directly and indirectly by BIRD sponsored activities
Established in 2009
Established in 2016
Established in 2019
Established in 2022
We are discovering new opportunities even after the project, so I think this [BIRD] is also a very good networking tool. A true enabler which I would promote strongly anywhere I go and that’s what I do.
I can’t speak highly enough about BIRD. I think our experience has been fabulous and I strongly recommend this audience to explore and consider BIRD as a launch point for additional research funds and activities.
We are discovering new opportunities even after the project, so I think this [BIRD] is also a very good networking tool. A true enabler which I would promote strongly anywhere I go and that’s what I do.
It all started through the BIRD grant, if we weren’t able to get the BIRD grant, the first one million six seven years ago we wouldn’t exist today.
I can’t speak highly enough about BIRD. I think our experience has been fabulous and I strongly recommend this audience to explore and consider BIRD as a launch point for additional research funds and activities.
We congratulate the awarded companies and encourage other tech companies to submit their projects to benefit from collaborations via the BIRD Foundation and the thriving U.S.-Israeli ecosystem
What makes the Foundation so successful is the emphasis on meaningful partnerships between U.S. and Israeli companies that value collaboration.
One of the better fallouts of the whole program is that you do develop good partnerships and good relationships with entities you would never meet other than through BIRD.
The collaboration between the U.S. and Israel is essential in the quest to explore new ways of putting neuroscience and neurotechnology at the disposal of humanity, with the objective of making our world a better and healthier place.
The BIRD Foundation is perhaps the best example of how we [Israel and the U.S.] come together in innovation, in development and in cooperation”
We are discovering new opportunities even after the project, so I think this [BIRD] is also a very good networking tool. A true enabler which I would promote strongly anywhere I go and that’s what I do.
I can’t speak highly enough about BIRD. I think our experience has been fabulous and I strongly recommend this audience to explore and consider BIRD as a launch point for additional research funds and activities.
The collaboration between the U.S. and Israel is essential in the quest to explore new ways of putting neuroscience and neurotechnology at the disposal of humanity, with the objective of making our world a better and healthier place.
The BIRD Foundation is perhaps the best example of how we [Israel and the U.S.] come together in innovation, in development and in cooperation”
What makes the Foundation so successful is the emphasis on meaningful partnerships between U.S. and Israeli companies that value collaboration.
We congratulate the awarded companies and encourage other tech companies to submit their projects to benefit from collaborations via the BIRD Foundation and the thriving U.S.-Israeli ecosystem
One of the better fallouts of the whole program is that you do develop good partnerships and good relationships with entities you would never meet other than through BIRD.
It all started through the BIRD grant, if we weren’t able to get the BIRD grant, the first one million six seven years ago we wouldn’t exist today.
Browse through BIRD projects by year, industry sector and U.S. state.
