{"id":4283,"date":"2023-01-03T11:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T11:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationisrael.org.il\/en\/?post_type=report&p=4283"},"modified":"2023-08-15T15:01:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T15:01:36","slug":"the-israel-innovation-authority-in-action","status":"publish","type":"report","link":"https:\/\/innovationisrael.org.il\/en\/report\/the-israel-innovation-authority-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"The Israel Innovation Authority in Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Innovation Authority endeavors to provide solutions for the various challenges facing the Israeli innovation ecosystem via 7 activity \u201cDivisions\u201d. Each assignment- and client- directed Division offers a unique toolbox for the different challenges of the technological life cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This chapter presents the Divisions\u2019 primary activities in 2019 and the way in which they translated the Authority\u2019s policy into action and individual policy tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Technological Infrastructure Division focuses on R&D infrastructure, development of applied knowledge, transfer of knowledge from academia to industry, and the development of generic technologies alongside dual use R&D (civilian and defense). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main programs of the Technological Infrastructure Division are: The MAGNET Consortiums (pre-competitive generic R&D), R&D Infrastructure Users\u2019 Association, Knowledge Direction and Transfer (KAMIN, NOFAR, Technology Transfer and MAGNETON) and Dual Use R&D (MEIMAD). The Division is also responsible for the Authority\u2019s activity in the National Infrastructure Forum for R&D (TELEM).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n About 300 R&D projects were examined and a total of approx. 325 million shekels was approved including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n MAGNET Consortiums<\/strong>: Six new consortiums began operating as part of this program, aimed at advancing and developing groundbreaking technologies that will give Israeli industry a significant competitive advantage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three additional new consortiums were also given organizational approval \u2013 Artificial Intelligence for wireless communication in 5G devices, smart planting \u2013 vegetative reproduction safety, and technologies for enhancing and improving precision of CRISPR systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several changes were introduced during the year to the regulations of the MAGNET program consortiums and in its operation in order to streamline, simplify and adapt it to current industrial needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Updates introduced during the year in Technology Knowledge Direction and Transfer Programs (KAMIN, NOFAR, Technology Import, MAGNETON, and Application Institutes) <\/strong>aimed at advancing applied R&D in academia and technology transfer from academia to industry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NOFAR and KAMIN programs were amalgamated in a single academic knowledge direction program and research committee. This was done to allow greater flexibility, operational efficiency, and comparability. Furthermore, the option of advance approval of a multi-year budget was made available (obviating the need for further submissions for subsequent projects), an expanded program of 36 months for drug development was designated, the option was given to add an accompanying corporation (that participates in financing and serves as a directive factor) at each stage of the project and not limited to only one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The objective of these changes (apart from operational efficiency) is to support effective and applied collaboration between academia and industry, ahead of commercialization of the developed knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology Knowledge Transfer Program (From Academia to Industry) was expanded and enables support in 3 different cases:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 projects were financed as part of the efforts to enhance the capabilities of the industrial application institutes, and it was decided to allow institutes to submit projects of knowledge direction while encouraging industry to collaborate with the institutes via the Advanced Manufacturing Division\u2019s MOFET program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MEIMAD Programs:<\/strong> These programs aim to support dual use R&D \u2013 technologies that have a civilian commercial use alongside a defense sector use. The Technological Infrastructures Division has begun preliminary work to examine ways of improving the program and to bolster the contribution of the defense industry as one of the growth engines of the Israeli economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Start-Up Division supports technological initiatives in their early stages. The Division employs a variety of unique tools in order to assist these initiatives develop the technological idea into a product, raise initial capital and progress to the next financing stage and to sales. The Division also strives to bolster the technological innovation ecosystem throughout Israel and in growing technological sectors which have potential to make a significant contribution to the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main programs of the Start-Up Division are: Tnufa (Ideation), Innovation Laboratories, the Incubators Program, Early Stage Companies, Technological Entrepreneurship in Haifa, Young Entrepreneurship Program.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During 2019, the Start-Up Division expanded its support for early-stage start-up companies. It launched a program to encourage entrepreneurship in the periphery <\/strong>\u2013 this program is aimed at promoting local entrepreneurship via specially designated laboratories that will promote and assist the establishment of R&D and commercialization start-up companies. Three entrepreneurial laboratories were selected that focus on Industry 4.0 \u2013 cleantech, agrotech, plastic and medical cannabis. The laboratories are expected to be established in Karmiel, the Bnei Shimon Regional Council and in Yeruham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the Authority\u2019s endeavors to promote innovation in areas beyond central Israel, a program to promote technological entrepreneurship in Haifa was launched in 2019.<\/strong> The program\u2019s goal is to increase the number of start-up companies and technological initiatives in the city. This will be achieved by: creating synergy and cooperation between principle city stakeholders (the municipality, academia, industry, business sector, and non-profit sector), bolstering the urban infrastructures and using Haifa\u2019s strategic assets, encouraging entrepreneurial independence, strengthening the Haifa entrepreneurial community and including minority populations (Arabs, ultra-Orthodox, women and Ethiopians), while branding and marketing Haifa as a center of entrepreneurship and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal of the Technological Innovation Laboratories Program <\/strong>is to create new technological ecosystems and advance early-stage high-tech companies by enabling access to technological infrastructures via multi-national corporations and cross-sector collaborations. In addition to the 5 active laboratories, competitive procedures were published in 2019 for the establishment of 2 new laboratories: one in the field of environmental protection and sustainability (in conjunction with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Economy & Industry) that will be established in Haifa; and another in the field of financial cyber and fintech (in conjunction with the National Cyber Directorate and the Cyber Security and Emergency Department at the Ministry of Finance) that will be set up in Beer Sheva. The laboratories will begin operating in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Early Stage Companies Incentive Program<\/strong> is intended for start-up companies interested in developing and advancing an innovative technological initiative and in penetrating the market by raising investments and capital from the private market. The Division granted a total of 300 million shekels to support 60 start-up companies this year while expanding its support for different sectors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Towards the end of the year, the Early-Stage Companies Program moved to the Growth Division in order to provide a single response for the different target audiences applying to the Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the Innovation Authority\u2019s endeavor to identify areas with potential that require state intervention, the Authority designated the promising field of food-tech and took action to promote it in various ways. To this end, the Authority supported the establishment of a unique incubator in this sector \u2013 \u2018The Kitchen\u2019 which opened in Ashdod back in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The start-up company Aleph Farms, founded in 2017 as part of the incubator, produces cultured meat based on cow cells that are similar in taste, structure and texture to traditional meat, all without physically harming a single animal. With the Innovation Authority\u2019s support, the company achieved a significant milestone that enabled it to raise 11.7 million dollars in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company\u2019s technology is based on a process of renewal and reconstruction of cow muscle tissue. The company grows the cells extracted from the animal, isolating the cells responsible for the process and creates tissues that include fat, muscle and bone which make up the meat itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company is interested in replacing the currently accepted method for manufacturing meat with a friendlier process that makes minimal use of resources. The cultured meat will preserve the meat\u2019s nutritional value but, because of the unique production method, will be defined as VEGAN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Growth Division strives to increase the economic value created in Israel from the growth of complete high-tech companies by:<\/strong>Supporting groundbreaking high-risk<\/strong> innovation as a technological growth engine in high-tech companies.Promoting an attractive, competitive and advanced financing environment <\/strong>and removing regulatory and financial obstacles to growth.Supporting pilot programs <\/strong>for innovative technologies and helping secure access to Beta sites and supportive regulation.Promoting innovative regulation <\/strong>in Israel and creating opportunities for the development and assimilation of technological innovation, both in high-tech and in the local economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main programs of the Growth Division are: The R&D Fund, Generic R&D Program, The Pilots Program.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2019 the Growth Division awarded a total of 580 million shekels for support of innovation, distributed as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During 2019, the Growth Division expanded its joint activity with regulators and various government entities in a number of avenues in order to promote a regulatory business environment that supports growth and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To this end, the Growth Division significantly expanded the activity in the Incentive Program for Technologies Pilots<\/strong> conducted in Israel, which began in 2018. This activity is based on collaborations with additional government entities. The expansion in 2019 was expressed in all aspects of the program and especially:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A list of the participating government entities appears in Diagram 7.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nMain Activities in 2019:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Main Activities in Detail:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nStart-Up Division<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Main Activities in 2019:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Main Activities in Detail:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Israel Innovation Authority \u2013 In Practice: The First Company in the World to Grow Meat from Cattle Cells<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGrowth Division<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Main Activities in 2019:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Main Activities in Detail:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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