BIRD Foundation - Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial R&D

08/06/2026

⏳ Last Call: U.S.-Israel Energy Center Proposals Due June 30

The deadline to submit Executive Summaries for the U.S.–Israel Energy Center is fast approaching.

Managed by the BIRD Foundation and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Israel's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Israel Innovation Authority, the Energy Center funds large-scale collaborative R&D addressing critical energy challenges.

We are seeking proposals for two new U.S.–Israel consortia. Proposed projects should address one of the following areas.

🔹 Energy Storage
🔹 Energy-Water
🔹 Fossil Energy

Funding: up to $6M over three years per consortium, with a possible two-year extension of up to $3.2M in additional funding, subject to approval.

Selected consortia must include both academic and industry partners and provide at least 50% matching support.

If your team is developing innovative solutions to major energy challenges and is looking to build a large-scale binational collaboration, we encourage you to apply.

🗓️ Executive Summaries Due: June 30, 2026
🗓️ Full Proposals Due: September 15, 2026

🔗 Learn more: https://birdfoundation.activetrail.biz/EnergyCenter_CFP-2026

03/06/2026

The energy sector is becoming increasingly digital, connected, and unfortunately, vulnerable.

From power grids and utilities to industrial control systems and distributed energy resources, cybersecurity is now a core component of energy resilience.

That is why we have expanded the 2026 BIRD Energy Call for Proposals to include Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure.

We are seeking innovative U.S.-Israel collaborations developing technologies that can strengthen the security, reliability, and resilience of critical energy systems.

If you are a cybersecurity company with a cybersecurity solution for critical energy infrastructure, or an energy company seeking advanced cyber solutions, now is an excellent opportunity to explore a joint U.S.-Israel project.

As always, the BIRD team can help identify potential partners and facilitate introductions between companies with complementary capabilities.

Let's work together to build a more secure and resilient energy future.

🔗 Learn more about the 2026 BIRD Energy Call for Proposals: https://www.birdf.com/bird_programs/energy/

🗓️ Executive Summary deadline: July 8, 2026

OTSecurity | Tamir Goren | Shelly Korenboim | Ido Shaham | Haim Litvak | Oren Butchmits

01/06/2026

It’s inspiring to see innovation taking shape where it’s needed most.

Our West Coast Director, Anat Bujanover, recently participated in a specialized agtech delegation to Nevada and Utah organized by Arieli Group and Frontier RNG, focused on the future of desert agriculture and farming systems for arid and semi-arid regions.

The delegation brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, growers, and technology leaders developing advanced solutions in next-generation agriculture, efficient resource management, infrastructure resilience, and energy integration for arid environments.

For Anat, the experience reinforced just how strongly the western U.S. and Israel align when it comes to tackling complex real-world challenges through joint innovation, creating vital new avenues for partnerships, pilot programs, and commercialization collaborations.

And that's exactly where BIRD comes in.

Many of the technologies featured during the visit operate at the precise intersection of agriculture, water, energy, infrastructure, and sustainability - areas where the BIRD Foundation helps catalyze and fund joint U.S.-Israel R&D and commercialization partnerships.

For companies working in these sectors, BIRD Energy’s current call for proposals offers a direct opportunity to build new U.S.-Israel collaborations.

📣 BIRD Energy Call for Proposals - Now Open

BIRD Energy supports binational projects developing innovative technologies in areas including energy resilience, advanced manufacturing, AI-enabled energy systems, the water-energy nexus, and sustainable infrastructure.

🗓️ Executive Summary Deadline: July 8, 2026
👉 Learn more & apply: https://www.birdf.com/bird_programs/energy/

Companies interested in exploring BIRD funding opportunities are welcome to connect with our regional representatives:

🇺🇸 U.S. Regional Contacts:
➤ West Coast: Anat Bujanover | [email protected]
➤ East Coast & Midwest: Andrea Yonah | [email protected]
➤ Southern U.S.: Anat Ben Yosef | [email protected]

🇮🇱 Israel Office Contact:
➤ Limor Nakar-Vincent | [email protected]

🔗 Explore all BIRD funding opportunities at: www.birdf.com

28/05/2026

We’re excited to announce the latest round of BIRD Foundation awards.

Seven new U.S.–Israel collaborative projects have been approved for $7.5 million in funding, with total expected investment reaching approximately $20 million through a combination of BIRD support and private-sector participation.

The newly funded collaborations include:

🔹 Brevel (Israel) and Ayana Bio (Boston, MA) to develop scalable plant cell cultivation using illuminated fermentation technology for the production of plant-based bioactive ingredients.

🔹 enSights AI Renewable Energy (Israel) and Solitude Labs (West Palm Beach, FL) to develop next-generation cybersecurity solutions for operational technology systems within critical infrastructure.

🔹 Greeneye (Israel) and Nutrien Ag Solutions (Loveland, CO) to develop and validate an AI-driven targeted spraying system for agricultural retailers.

🔹 HT Vet (Israel) and VCA Animal Hospitals (Los Angeles, CA) to develop non-invasive skin and subcutaneous tumor screening for cats and expand diagnostic capabilities for dogs through the VISTA IQ platform.

🔹 Identifai Genetics (Israel) and Inocras Inc. (San Diego, CA) to develop the U.S. clinical introduction of a cfDNA-based, genome-wide prenatal test for monogenic disorders.

🔹 NeuroGenesis Bio Inc. (Israel) and OrganaBio (South Miami, FL) to develop a cell therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis.

🔹 NeuroKaire (Israel) and Mindfulcare (New York, NY) to develop tailored precision treatments for depression.

Congratulations to all of the participating companies, researchers, entrepreneurs, and partners from both the United States and Israel. We look forward to following the progress of these collaborations in the years ahead.

🔗 Read more for additional information on the newly approved projects and the continued impact of U.S.-Israel technological cooperation: https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/from-smart-agriculture-to-mental-health-these-are-the-new-us-israel-projects-set-to-receive-7-5-million-from-the-bird-foundation-302781782.html

Yoav Saidel | Yair Albin | Jeremiah Baronberg | Casey Iaccino | Howard Gudell | Vered (Ve'-Red) Nohi | Dov Hoch | Inon Dinesman | Dan Trajman | Janet Kaplan | David Speer | Nathan Tsror | Avi Nevel | Jordan Kastrinsky

19/05/2026

“AI inside” is no longer enough to create a lasting competitive advantage.

In a new Hebrew-language article in Funder, Omer Carmel, Director of Business Development at the BIRD Foundation, points to a shift already showing up in the market: even as major indices reach new highs, parts of the software sector are under pressure.

The reason isn't a lack of innovation. It’s the opposite.

As AI capabilities become cheaper and more accessible, what was once proprietary - models, features, and products - is now easier to replicate. When intelligence is commoditized, it becomes harder to stand out and even harder to justify a premium price.

So the question changes: if everyone has access to the same intelligence, what actually creates an advantage?

The answer is Structural IP. This isn’t just software; it is technology embedded into the very architecture of an organization. It is integrated into data, woven into specific workflows, and anchored in day-to-day operations.

In this framework, the advantage lies less in the algorithm than in its integrality. The value isn't in what the code is, but in how difficult it is to replace.

However, building this advantage doesn't happen in a vacuum. It requires deep access to proprietary data, customer environments, and live operations - access that typically only comes through strategic partnership.

In the age of commodity AI, collaboration isn't just a strategy; it may be the only way to build a moat that lasts.

That idea sits at the core of the BIRD model: bringing together U.S. and Israeli partners to develop technologies that are not only innovative but deeply integrated into the industries and systems they aim to serve.

This approach is especially relevant in sectors like energy and infrastructure, where technology must operate inside complex, large-scale systems.

That’s the kind of collaboration BIRD was built to support.

📣 Several BIRD Calls for Proposals are currently open:

✔︎ BIRD Energy
🗓️Executive Summaries due: July 8, 2026
Up to $1.5M in non-dilutive funding for joint U.S.–Israel energy innovation
🔗 https://www.birdf.com/bird_programs/energy/

✔︎ U.S.-Israel Energy Center
🗓️ Executive Summaries due: June 30, 2026
Support for large-scale U.S.-Israel consortia focused on next-generation energy technologies and infrastructure
🔗 https://www.birdf.com/bird_programs/energy-center/

👉 See Funder article here: https://www.funder.co.il/article/199767

18/05/2026

📣 Reminder: Our upcoming webinar, From Ideas to Impact: Funding U.S.–Israel Innovation, is taking place this Wednesday on May 20th.

Hosted together with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest (Israel in Chicago) , the session will explore how companies and research institutions can build funded U.S.-Israel collaborations.

🗓️ Wednesday, May 20
⏰ 9:30 AM CST | 5:30 PM Israel
🔗 Register: https://www.birdf.com/event/webinar-from-ideas-to-impact-funding-u-s-israel-innovation/

Speakers include representatives from Illinois DCEO, the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, the BIRD Foundation, and Northwestern University.

The webinar will also highlight current funding opportunities through:

✔︎ BIRD Energy - up to $1.5M in non-dilutive funding
📌 Executive Summaries due: July 8, 2026

✔︎ U.S.-Israel Energy Center - advancing large-scale binational energy innovation consortia
📌 Executive Summaries due: June 30, 2026

We hope you’ll join us.

📣 Webinar: From Ideas to Impact: Funding U.S.–Israel Innovation

The BIRD Foundation is pleased to join the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest (Israel in Chicago ) for an upcoming webinar focused on how companies and research institutions, particularly those in Illinois, can turn collaborative ideas into funded, market-ready innovation.

🗓️ Wednesday, May 20
⏰ 9:30 AM CST | 5:30 PM Israel
🔗 Register: https://www.birdf.com/event/webinar-from-ideas-to-impact-funding-u-s-israel-innovation/

This session brings together leaders from both the U.S. and Israel to walk through how binational partnerships are supported and funded.

You’ll hear from:

➤ Margo Markopoulos, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
➤ Elad Strohmayer, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest
➤ Andrea Yonah, BIRD Foundation
➤ Limor Nakar-Vincent, BIRD Foundation
➤ Prof. Aaron Packman, Northwestern University - presenting the CoWERC initiative, part of the BIRD-managed U.S.–Israel Energy Center

The discussion will also highlight current funding opportunities:

✔︎ BIRD Energy – up to $1.5M in non-dilutive funding, supporting projects focused on energy efficiency, reliability, and resilience, with a clear path toward commercialization
📌 Executive Summaries due: July 8, 2026

✔︎ U.S.–Israel Energy Center – large-scale binational consortia advancing energy innovation from research to deployment
📌 Executive Summaries due: June 30, 2026

If you’re exploring collaboration between U.S. and Israeli partners, this is a useful place to start.

P. Fuchs

12/05/2026

Celebrating U.S.-Israel Innovation: BIRD Foundation Reception in Washington, D.C.

Last week, the BIRD Foundation and the Embassy of Israel hosted a special reception at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia, and the innovation communities in both the U.S. and Israel.

The evening highlighted the strength of the bilateral innovation partnership and the importance of continued collaboration in advancing impactful technologies and commercialization efforts.

The reception followed a productive meeting of the BIRD’s Board of Governors, where the next cycle of binational collaborations was selected. We look forward to sharing these new partnerships soon.

We were honored to hear remarks from:

➤ Jaron Lotan, Executive Director, BIRD Foundation
➤ Michael Molnar, Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office at NIST and Co-Chair of the BIRD Foundation
➤ Carl Coe, Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Energy
➤ Tommy Joyce, Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy
➤ Jake McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs and the Levant, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State
➤ Ambassador Yehiel Leiter, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States

The reception also featured presentations from outstanding BIRD-supported collaborations demonstrating real-world impact across healthcare, AI, and advanced technologies:

➤ SpotitEarly & Penn Medicine - presented by Udi Bobrovsky, COO & Co-Founder of SpotitEarly

➤ Mentaily & The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine - presented by Michael J. Roy MD, MPH, of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, together with Iris Shtein, Founder and CEO of Mentaily

➤ Validit.ai & Silverstein Properties - presented by Avivit Yorkevich, Validit.ai CEO

The evening closed with a special address by Ambassador Yehiel Leiter, on strengthening the enduring ties between our two nations - a fitting close to a night that reflected the depth and vitality of U.S.–Israel partnership.

Thank you to all the speakers, participants, partners, and innovators who joined us for an inspiring evening of collaboration and shared vision.

11/05/2026

📣 Webinar: From Ideas to Impact: Funding U.S.–Israel Innovation

The BIRD Foundation is pleased to join the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest (Israel in Chicago ) for an upcoming webinar focused on how companies and research institutions, particularly those in Illinois, can turn collaborative ideas into funded, market-ready innovation.

🗓️ Wednesday, May 20
⏰ 9:30 AM CST | 5:30 PM Israel
🔗 Register: https://www.birdf.com/event/webinar-from-ideas-to-impact-funding-u-s-israel-innovation/

This session brings together leaders from both the U.S. and Israel to walk through how binational partnerships are supported and funded.

You’ll hear from:

➤ Margo Markopoulos, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
➤ Elad Strohmayer, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest
➤ Andrea Yonah, BIRD Foundation
➤ Limor Nakar-Vincent, BIRD Foundation
➤ Prof. Aaron Packman, Northwestern University - presenting the CoWERC initiative, part of the BIRD-managed U.S.–Israel Energy Center

The discussion will also highlight current funding opportunities:

✔︎ BIRD Energy – up to $1.5M in non-dilutive funding, supporting projects focused on energy efficiency, reliability, and resilience, with a clear path toward commercialization
📌 Executive Summaries due: July 8, 2026

✔︎ U.S.–Israel Energy Center – large-scale binational consortia advancing energy innovation from research to deployment
📌 Executive Summaries due: June 30, 2026

If you’re exploring collaboration between U.S. and Israeli partners, this is a useful place to start.

P. Fuchs

07/05/2026

We’re hiring: Office & Operations Manager (Temporary Role)

The BIRD Foundation is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Office & Operations Manager to join our Tel Aviv team (~8 months, maternity leave cover, with potential for extension). The position requires strong English and ongoing work with partners in Israel and the U.S.

This role sits at the center of the organization - overseeing administrative operations, supporting international activity, and helping ensure continuity in a fast-moving, binational environment.

It’s well suited for someone with strong office management experience, along with hands-on financial and analytical capabilities, who can step in quickly and take ownership.

Responsibilities include:

✔︎ Managing office operations, vendors, and facilities
✔︎ Overseeing administrative systems, documentation, and internal processes
✔︎ Coordinating high-level meetings and events in Israel and the U.S.
✔︎ Supporting financial processes, including invoices, tracking, and budgets
✔︎ Maintaining data, reports, and ongoing project files (Excel)

👉 For full role details, requirements, and application information: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4408689174/

📩 You can also reach out to: [email protected]

30/04/2026

As one U.S.-Israel Energy Center consortium reaches a major milestone, the next phase of collaboration is already underway.

Over the past four years, the U.S.–Israel Energy Cyber (ICRDE) consortium has tackled a growing challenge: protecting electric grids from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

By leveraging AI and machine learning, the team developed practical, scalable solutions that help utilities detect, respond to, and withstand attacks in real time - without disrupting operations.

Led by Arizona State University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and featuring Resource Innovations alongside partners from academia, industry, and national labs, the project program is a clear example of what the Energy Center was built for: moving innovation from the lab into real-world energy systems.

Congratulations to Resource Innovations and the full consortium on this landmark achievement.

👉 Read the full success story here: https://www.resource-innovations.com/resource/resource-innovations-completes-landmark-grid-cybersecurity-project-with-global-research-consortium

___________________

📣 Now Open: Call for Proposals for Two New Energy Center Consortia

Building on the achievements of the current consortia, the U.S.–Israel Energy Center is launching its next phase.

We are inviting proposals for two new consortia ($12M total funding) in the following critical areas:

🔹 Energy Storage
🔹 Energy-Water
🔹 Fossil Energy

The opportunity:

✔︎ Up to $6M per consortium over three years
✔︎ Potential extension of up to two additional years, subject to approval
✔︎ Joint teams of U.S. and Israeli industry and academia

If you're looking to take on complex energy challenges at scale, this is a natural point to step in.

🗓️ Deadlines:
Executive Summaries – June 30, 2026
Final Proposals – September 15, 2026

🔗 Learn more: https://birdfoundation.activetrail.biz/EnergyCenter_CFP-2026