KIRD – Karnataka (India) – Israel Industrial R&D Program

With the goal of supporting joint industrial R&D projects between Israeli companies and Indian companies based in the Indian state of Karnataka, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in March 2013 between MATIMOP – The Israeli Industry Center for R&D, (currently named the Israel Innovation Authority) of the Ministry of Economy in Israel; and the Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), autonomous organizations under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, in India.

Under the MOU, a program was established, referred to as the Karnataka – Israel Program for Industrial R&D (KIRD), to create partner matching services and funding mechanisms through which industry may seek support for joint bilateral research and development (R&D) projects, involving at least one Karnataka-based company and one Israeli company.

Known primarily as the IT & Biotech capital of India, Karnataka is a state in South West India whose capital and largest city is Bangalore. Karnataka recorded the highest growth rates in terms of GDP in the last decade compared to other Indian states. Some of India’s biggest software firms are headquartered in Karnataka, along with India’s largest biocluster.

The KIRD program offers Israeli and Karnataka-based companies the unique opportunity to tap into the technological strengths and market opportunities unique to the countries. KIRD offers partner matching assistance and access to funding for joint R&D projects in all technological fields.

This bilateral framework is jointly implemented and promoted by KSTePS & KSCST, under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, in Karnataka, India; and the Israel Innovation Authority.