Program Description

Italy and Israel are announcing a Call for Proposals for joint R&D projects, focusing on developing innovative products and applications in the following areas:

• Water management
• Water Technologies
• Agri-food technologies
• Energy transition / clean energy
• Life sciences, including biotechnologies and medical technologies

Finance:

• The total maximum budget for the entire program (up to two years) is NIS 2 million.
• Israeli corporations are eligible for up to 60% of the approved budget (minimum 50% of the total project budget),
• Israeli research institutions receive 100% funding.
• Corporations receiving funding must repay royalties.
• Applicants must meet at least one of the following:
  • Have raised over NIS 50 million in funding or
  • Earned over NIS 30 million in revenue in the last fiscal year.

Criteria

• Technological Aspect:
  • The level of technological innovation in the research, including its complexity, depth, and feasibility.
  • The program’s alignment with the appropriate Technology Readiness Level (TRL 2–5).
• Applicant’s Capabilities: The applicant’s ability to successfully complete the proposed activities, including both technological and managerial capabilities.
• Business Aspect (Commercialization Potential): The commercial potential of the technology, market size, and growth rate, and the technology’s competitive advantage (including aspects related to intellectual property).
• For applicants that are technology transfer (TTO) companies of the research institutions: Technological aspect: the research value of existing knowledge (at TRL 4) developed prior to submission, which forms the basis of the application.
• For applicants that are industrial corporations: •Technological aspect: the extent to which the proposed research is based on technology not currently present in the company’s existing product development processes. The proposals will be rated more highly when the research is based on non-existent technologies within the applicant’s current development activities.

Application Process

• A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be signed between the Israeli and Italian partners, outlining work division, IP ownership, and commercialization rights.
• The research must focus on pre-product research stages (TRL 2–5), include technology validation and technology adaptation tasks, and involve an Israeli company with the technical capacity and commercial potential to implement the technology.
• The Hebrew version of this Open Call is the only complete and official version. All submissions must be made following the regulations outlined in the Hebrew text as available on the Authority’s Hebrew website.