BIRD Foundation Invests $9.6 Million in Innovative US-Israel Joint Projects

The BIRD Foundation, the renowned Israel-USA Binational Foundation for Industrial Research and Development, has greenlit an investment of $9.6 million in ten groundbreaking joint projects between American and Israeli companies. This decision was made during the board meeting held in December 2023 in Washington. The projects, expected to receive additional funding from the private sector, are set to yield a total investment of $24.5 million.

This initiative marks another milestone in the foundation's 46-year history, which has seen it invest approximately $400 million in over 1,000 projects. BIRD's contributions have translated into direct and indirect sales surpassing $10 billion.

The ten approved projects cover a diverse range of sectors and include collaborations between prominent Israeli and American companies:

1. Celleste Bio (Israel) and Mondelez International (USA): Joint effort in developing fat-free cocoa solids using cell-based technology.

2. CENS Materials (Israel) and LiCAP Technologies (USA): Collaboration on enhancing lithium-ion batteries' energy capacity and reducing production costs through the "dry electrode" process.

3. Diptera.ai (Israel) and Vectech (USA): Utilizing artificial intelligence for monitoring and controlling Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, carriers of malaria.

4. Greatnix (Opmed.AI) (Israel) and Mayo Clinic (USA): Expansion of the Smart Planner system, an AI-based optimization software for operating rooms.

5. Hypervision (Israel) and Light Polymers (USA): Joint development of polarized chemical coating technology for virtual reality VR/MR optics.

6. Imagindairy (Israel) and Ginkgo Bioworks (USA): Collaborative effort in producing key milk proteins of non-animal origin for innovative dairy products.

7. LahakX (Israel) and Aero Systems West (USA): Development of a high-capacity drone swarm for agricultural spraying and fire prevention.

8. Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital (Israel) and Serpin Pharma (USA): Conducting a phase 2 clinical trial to restore immune balance for myocardial infarction patients.

9. Israel Aviation Industry (Israel) and MELD Printworks (USA): Joint venture in developing civil aviation components using additive manufacturing technology.

10. Tissue Dynamics (Israel) and ATCC Biological Cell Bank (USA): Collaboration on a system to test the effect and toxicity of drugs on heart activity.

Ms. Mojada Behar, Senior Director of Innovation and Industry at NIST, expressed excitement about the diverse collaborations, emphasizing the importance of these projects in vital areas like advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and electric vehicle battery production.

Dr. Einat Magal, Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, highlighted the enduring partnership between Israel and the USA, especially in supporting the high-tech industry through the BIRD fund.

Mr. Yaron Lotan, CEO of the BIRD Foundation, expressed pride in strengthening collaborations between the two nations, emphasizing the commitment to promoting significant partnerships that drive innovation.

The deadline for executive summaries for the next round of BIRD Foundation approvals is March 7, 2024, with projects expected to be approved in June 2024.