Program Description

Criteria

Threshold Conditions

The threshold conditions detailed below are cumulative. They must be met on the date of submission of the application and throughout the entire implementation period of the program. Failure to meet any one of the following threshold conditions may result in the disqualification of the application or the cancellation of an approved program.

• Establishment of a physical R&D infrastructure in the Tkuma Region, as defined in the Incentive Program.
• The program, in all its components, shall be carried out in Israel by Israeli residents, unless the Research Committee determines, with reasons recorded in writing, that it is essential for part of the program to be carried out outside Israel or by non-Israeli residents.
• The approved program shall be implemented by the applicant, by a party designated by the applicant in the application to implement the program or any part thereof, or by an implementer approved in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Program.
• The program that is the subject of the application shall not be carried out on behalf of another party that is not the applicant in exchange for full or partial payment, where such payment is provided in consideration for full or partial ownership rights in the resulting know-how or product.
• The applicant does not have an application for funding of an identical program, in whole or in part, that is currently under review under any of the Israel Innovation Authority’s incentive programs, including sub-programs, and the applicant has not had such an application rejected under the Incentive Program during the six months preceding the submission of the application.
• No financial assistance has been received for the implementation of the program that is the subject of the application from any governmental entity or from the Israel Innovation Authority, directly or indirectly, other than in accordance with the provisions of this Incentive Program. No additional benefit shall be granted for an approved program for which a benefit has previously been granted under the provisions of this Incentive Program.
• The applicant does not have any restricted bank accounts and is not subject to receivership, a stay of proceedings, liquidation, or similar proceedings.
• The applicant and its controlling shareholders comply with the requirements of the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Regulations (Conditioning of Approvals – Minimum Wage), 5771–2011.
• The applicant has undertaken to own the know-how resulting from the research and development conducted under the approved program, as well as any rights deriving therefrom, including intellectual property rights, from the moment they are created.
• If the Israel Innovation Authority has designated a dedicated procedure for submitting applications pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Incentive Program, the applicant or the application, as applicable, shall comply with the requirements established under that procedure.

 

Evaluation Criteria for Applications

Evaluation criteria for applications that meet the threshold conditions:

• The extent to which there is a technological need for the infrastructure equipment required by industrial corporations for research and development purposes.
• The existence of a market failure, technological gap, or limitation in access to technology demonstration at advanced stages of development using the infrastructure equipment described in the program, which would be addressed through implementation of the proposed program.
• The applicant’s capabilities, including its management capabilities and its ability to complete the proposed program and achieve its commercial implementation.
• The technological and employment-related contribution of the proposed program to the Israeli economy.
• The technological and business growth potential of the applicant or, where applicable, the members of the user group, resulting from the successful implementation of the program.
• The proposed terms of use of the infrastructure equipment by industrial corporations, including service availability and pricing.
• The technological innovation embodied in the proposed program.

 

Obligations of the Approval Recipient 

As specified in the provisions of the Incentive Program, and in accordance with the requirements for establishing the R&D infrastructure described above and the additional requirements set out below:

• The establishment of the R&D infrastructure shall be completed within three years from the date specified in the approval letter issued by the Israel Innovation Authority.
• The provision of services shall commence no later than two years from the date specified in the approval letter issued by the Israel Innovation Authority.

 

Application Process

Application Content

The application and its appendices shall include references to and responses addressing, among other things, the aspects detailed below. It is clarified that this is not an exhaustive list and constitutes only part of the information required under the application form. Applicants may expand upon and address additional matters not included in this list.

Selected Technological Field: The application shall describe the proposed technological field and the type of R&D infrastructure, supported by a preliminary market survey demonstrating the need for the infrastructure and its expected contribution to research and development in Israel.

Service Level and Accessibility: Definition of industrial Service Level Agreement (SLA) metrics.

Compliance with Standards: Compliance with applicable standards, where relevant.

Collaborations: Description of the applicant’s experience, expertise, and ability to establish and promote strategic collaborations with industry and academia in Israel and abroad within the proposed technological field.

Independent Research (where relevant): Description of the scope and quality of the independent research to be conducted within the infrastructure, including the experience of the personnel to be employed by the R&D infrastructure in transferring and commercializing knowledge for industry.

Business Development: Presentation of the applicant’s capabilities, together with a business and marketing plan based on a clear and feasible value proposition addressing local market needs, while demonstrating differentiation and specialization that will enable the realization of the current and future potential of customers in Israel and abroad.

Essentiality of the Infrastructure and Long-Term Sustainability: Discussion of anticipated demand, anchor users, existing or planned collaborations, and the measures that will be taken to ensure the infrastructure’s continued utilization, operation, and long-term impact.

Business and Financial Model: A sustainable financial model shall be presented covering:

• the initial support period of up to three years for applicants that are industrial corporations; or
• up to six years for applicants that are user associations,

during which the applicant will receive support from the Israel Innovation Authority, as well as a sustainable and independent financial model for the subsequent period.

The model shall include:

• Profitability and investment return metrics, including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), cash flow (CF), and the projected payback period, together with assumptions relating to establishment, equipment, operations, personnel, and business development throughout the program period.
• A description of complementary financing sources, both current and anticipated, where applicable.
• Revenue projections based on services to be provided by the infrastructure beginning within the first two years of operation.
• A phased implementation plan covering the commencement of operations, service delivery, and revenue generation throughout the establishment and pilot phases.
• Milestones and multi-year performance monitoring mechanisms to enable evaluation of the project’s progress against its objectives during both the establishment and operational phases.
• Details of complementary financing sources required to support the establishment, operation, and long-term development of the infrastructure. Such financing sources may not include funding originating from government budgets.

Competitive Advantage: Presentation of the applicant’s competitive advantage and the advantages of the proposed infrastructure compared with existing capabilities in Israel and internationally.

Timelines: Applicants shall submit a detailed work plan covering planning, procurement, equipment acquisition, and operational readiness. Procurement and installation of the essential equipment shall be completed within 18 months from the program commencement date. The work plan shall also include a roadmap for launching services and generating revenue within the first two years.

Personnel: Presentation of the key personnel who will participate in the program, demonstrating proven experience in the proposed technological field, including, where applicable, researchers, technical experts, operators of specialized equipment, and managers responsible for research activities.

 

Important Notes 

All matters stated herein, including with respect to the submission of applications, their examination, the decision regarding approval or rejection of applications, the granting of benefits, and the obligations and rights of a benefit recipient, such as in relation to know-how and intellectual property, reporting, and payment of royalties, shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Innovation Law, the relevant Incentive Program, and the procedures established, including those appearing in the Incentive Program Procedures. 

 

Application Process 

1. Applications must be submitted by October 8, 2026, at 12:00 noon (ILT). It is clarified that applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted. 
2. The application must be submitted via the personal online area on the Authority’s Hebrew website, using the application form for the Incentive Program. 
3. Applicants should follow this call-for-proposals page, where any updates regarding the procedure will be published, if applicable. 
4. Nothing in this notice constitutes a commitment to approve any application submitted under this procedure.