US-Israel BIRD Foundation Approves $7.4M for Seven Joint Tech Projects
The US-Israel BIRD Foundation approved $7.4 million in September 2026 for seven joint projects in AI, quantum computing, and satellite communications, totaling $20 million with private investments.
The Board of Governors of the BIRD Foundation, the US-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, approved $7.4 million in funding for seven joint projects between American and Israeli companies in September 2026. Combined with private sector investments, the total project investment is expected to reach approximately $20 million.
Advancing Global Technologies
The BIRD Foundation supports strategic partnerships between Israeli and US companies to develop innovative products and technologies targeted at global markets. The foundation awards conditional grants of up to $1.5 million per project, assisting companies in identifying suitable partners and establishing cross-border collaborations.
Projects submitted to the foundation are evaluated by BIRD's team alongside professional assessors appointed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – operating under the US Department of Commerce – and the Israel Innovation Authority. These seven new projects bring the total number of collaborations backed by the foundation to over 1,200 since its establishment in 1977.
Featured Innovation Projects
Among the newly approved projects are several high-impact collaborations:
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Ibex Medical Analytics (Israel) and Proscia (USA): Developing an AI-powered platform for precision oncology, integrating and automating biomarker scoring in digital pathology workflows.
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NovaLink Space (Israel) and Ciena Corporation (USA): Developing a compact satellite laser communication terminal capable of a one-terabit-per-second data transmission rate.
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Qarakal Quantum (Israel) and Quantum Elements (USA): Developing a proof-of-concept product in quantum computing to map complex surface catalysis reactions.
"As we approach five decades of the BIRD Foundation's activity, the technological partnership between Israel and the United States continues to prove its strength as an engine for breakthrough innovation," stated Dr. Alon Stopel, Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority.
Future Outlook
Mr. Mike Molnar, Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office at NIST and co-chairman of the BIRD Board of Governors, noted that the selected projects exhibit significant R&D potential to advance quantum algorithms, semiconductor design, satellite communications, and other critical technologies. Executive summaries for the next BIRD approval round are due by November 23, 2026.
