Applied Research in Industry – Applied Research Fund 

This program provides investment support to industrial corporations for conducting applied research, with the aim of incentivizing and strengthening long-term activity in the pre-product research stages. 

In addition, the program supports Technology Transfer Organizations (TTOs) and industrial corporations in the commercialization of academic knowledge that has matured sufficiently to be used by an industrial corporation. 

The goal of this program is to strengthen the long-term technological advantage of Israeli industry in international markets by supporting applied research in industry at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2–5. 

This program supports the following types of applied research: 

1. Applied research conducted by an industrial corporation. Research activities at TRL 2–5, intended to promote pre-product research and advanced innovation at a global level.
   The research may be:
   • Owned by the industrial corporation; or
   • Jointly owned with an academic institution or an implementation company, in Israel or abroad.
2. Applied research jointly conducted by an industrial corporation and an implementation company
   • Pre-product research at TRL 4, based on knowledge owned by a research institution or a foreign research institution, for the purpose of reproducing, validating, adapting, and integrating existing knowledge to meet the needs of the industrial corporation.

Industrial Corporations 

Industrial corporations that meet at least one of the following conditions: 

• Total financial funding raised exceeds NIS 50 million from incorporation until three months prior to application submission; or
• Annual revenues exceed NIS 30 million, according to the corporation’s most recent financial report.
   

Technology Transfer Organizations 

Technology Transfer Organizations (TTOs) of research institutions (up to three research groups), submitting a joint application with an industrial corporation for a knowledge commercialization project (TRL 4). 

Industrial Corporations 

• Grant rate: up to 60% of the approved budget
• Annual cap: total grants approved under this program will not exceed NIS 15 million per calendar year
• The grant is subject to royalty payments
   

Technology Transfer Organizations 

• Grant rate: up to 100% of the approved budget
• The total approved budget for all implementation companies together may not exceed 50% of the total approved program budget 

• High-risk innovative research – Participation in high-risk research activities enables companies to develop innovative technologies, gain competitive advantages, enter new markets, and contribute to economic growth.
   
• Attractive financing model – The Program offers risk-sharing in the technology development process, regardless of future commercial success. 

• The company must be registered in Israel
• The company must meet the financial eligibility thresholds
• Research must be conducted at TRL 2–5 and must not involve product development
• The applicant must undertake to own the knowledge from the moment it is created
• In cases of joint ownership or knowledge commercialization, intellectual property rights must be regulated by agreement
• The proposed program must demonstrate high technological depth and risk
   

Evaluation Criteria 

Technological Criteria 

• Level of technological innovation, complexity, and depth
• Feasibility of the proposed research
• Compliance with TRL 2–5 requirements
• For implementation companies: the research value of existing knowledge at TRL 4
• For industrial corporations: the extent to which the research is based on technology not currently used in the corporation’s product development processes 

Applicant Capabilities 

• Technological expertise
• Managerial capability
• Ability to successfully complete the proposed activity

Business Criteria (Commercial Potential) 

• Market size and growth potential
• Competitive advantage
• Intellectual property considerations
   

Where applicable, the extent to which the program responds to a published challenge. 

• Only complete and valid applications submitted with all required documentation will be reviewed
• In case of discrepancies between submitted documents, the budget file will prevail 

Important notes: 

• Applications submitted after 12:00 PM or in incomplete or incorrect form may be deferred; 
• Following submission, applications may undergo an in-depth review, including a site visit by expert evaluators, subject to the Innovation Authority’s discretion. 

Program Period 

• Maximum total program duration: 36 months
• Each application is submitted for a 12-month implementation file
• The Program is open year-round, subject to submission dates and/or dedicated calls for proposals published on the Innovation Authority website

Submission Deadlines (2026) 

Non-Dual (Military–Civilian) R&D Applications 

• Requests received between 28 December 2025 (after 12:00) and 10 February 2026 (until 12:00) – responses will be provided in early May 2026
• Requests received between 10 February 2026 (after 12:00) and 24 March 2026 (until 12:00) – responses will be provided in mid-June 2026
• Requests received between 24 March 2026 (after 12:00) and 31 May 2026 (until 12:00) – responses will be provided in mid-August 2026
• Requests received between 31 May 2026 (after 12:00) and 8 July 2026 (until 12:00) – responses will be provided at the end of September 2026
• Requests received between 8 July 2026 (after 12:00) and 26 August 2026 (until 12:00) – responses will be provided at the end of November 2026 

A new call for proposals has been launched in collaboration with the BARD Foundation for funding requests for publishing programs for researchers in academia in Israel and the U.S., and for industrial companies interested in commercializing academic knowledge in the fields of food and nutrition. Click here for details.

Israeli companies seeking further information on the requirements and application process to this program, should refer to the Israel Innovation Authority’s Hebrew site.

General inquiries and application support: 

• Mail: [email protected] 
• Phone: +972-3-715-7900
• Working hours: (Sunday–Thursday, 8:30–16:30) 

Project suitability inquiries: 

• Mail: [email protected]