Israel and US Fund Next-Gen Deep Tech Projects with $7.4 Million
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
The BIRD Foundation is awarding $7.4 million to seven Israeli-American joint ventures in deep-tech fields including AI, quantum computing, and satellite communications. The funded projects aim to attract $20 million in total and focus on areas like medical AI for oncology, energy-efficient computer chips, and quantum computing infrastructure. This initiative continues the BIRD Foundation's long-standing model of fostering technological collaboration between the two nations, with the next funding cycle's applications due in November 2026.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Seven Israeli-American deep-tech projects will receive $7.4 million from the BIRD Foundation.
- Funded areas include medical AI, efficient chips, quantum computing, satellite communication, and precision agriculture.
- The BIRD Foundation shares development risks with companies through a royalty-based repayment model.
- Projects involve companies like Ibex, Ra'am, Krakle Quantum, SpotitAI, and NovaLink Space.
- Israel is also investing 100 million shekels in national quantum computing infrastructure.
- The next BIRD funding application deadline is November 23, 2026.
Seven collaborations between Israeli and American companies will receive a total of $7.4 million from the BIRD Foundation, supporting advancements in areas such as medical AI, energy-efficient chips, quantum computing, satellite communication, and precision agriculture. These projects are expected to attract approximately $20 million in additional funding, including contributions from the participating companies themselves. The BIRD Foundation, which funds up to half of a project's cost up to $1.5 million per collaboration without taking equity, aims to share the risks of early-stage development and commercialization through a royalty-based repayment model upon product sales.
Notable projects include a partnership between Israel's Ibex and the US's Prosia to develop an AI platform for digital pathology to aid in analyzing oncological biomarkers. Another collaboration involves Israel's Ra'am and GlobalFoundries to advance a new type of memory, JisRAM, designed to reduce chip area and power consumption, with a trial chip already produced and initial customer access planned for 2027. This development is significant as AI models increasingly move to edge devices, where memory efficiency is crucial.
In quantum computing, Israel's Krakle Quantum and the US's Quantum Elements will develop a system for studying surface catalysis reactions. This initiative aligns with Israel's national investment of 100 million shekels in quantum infrastructure to provide researchers and companies access to various computing architectures. The Israeli quantum sector is focusing on infrastructure, control, and chips to integrate into the global value chain.
Other funded projects include SpotitAI's collaboration with Fox Chase Cancer Center to enhance AI-driven cancer detection using trained dogs to identify breath compounds, NovaLink Space and Siena's development of a compact laser communication terminal for satellites, Sidax and Illinois Foundation Seeds' work on AI-powered seed sorting, and Costumed and Miraba's project to 3D print custom orthopedic surgical tools for hospitals.
Since its establishment in 1977, the BIRD Foundation has supported over 1,200 collaborations, investing hundreds of millions of dollars and serving as a key mechanism for connecting Israeli technology with the US market. The next application deadline for funding is November 23, 2026, with decisions expected in March 2027.
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