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BIRD Foundation to Boost Innovation with $5.5 Million Investment

The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing technological innovation. In a recent meeting held on September 16, 2025, the Board of Governors approved grants totaling $5.5 million for five new projects aimed at fostering collaboration between U.S. and Israeli companies. This funding, when combined with private-sector contributions, will create a robust budget totaling approximately $14 million.

The BIRD Foundation is renowned for facilitating partnerships across various technological sectors, enabling joint product development between American and Israeli businesses. Each funded project can receive up to $1.5 million in conditional grants, and the Foundation also provides assistance in forming strategic partnerships.

Overview of Approved Projects

The newly approved projects demonstrate innovation across diverse fields, notably involving advancements in hardware, medical devices, mental health, and rehabilitation. The five selected collaborations include:
1. Accubeat (Jerusalem, Israel) and FieldLine Industries/Medical (Louisville, CO) will co-develop compact, low-power miniature atomic clocks and magnetometers using cutting-edge quantum technology.
2. A partnership between an Israeli Company and Resolution Medical (Minneapolis, MN) will focus on creating specialized catheters for treating deep vein thrombosis.
3. Mentaily Innovations (Or Yehuda, Israel) and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (Bethesda, MD) aim to enhance an automated assessment tool for improving the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
4. Newton Tech (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (Boston, MA) will work on high-throughput gait and movement analysis technology useful for clinical evaluations.
5. Tuned (Gan Yoshiya, Israel) in collaboration with Novidan Inc. (Golden Valley, MN) is tasked with developing an AI-based audiologist coupled with high-performance yet cost-effective hearing aids.

Impacts of the BIRD Foundation

Dr. Alon Stopel, Chief Scientist of Innovation at the Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and Co-chair of BIRD's Board of Governors, emphasized, "The BIRD Foundation continues to spark groundbreaking collaborations that address pressing global health and technological challenges. Each project is a testament to the creativity of our innovators."

Mr. Mike Molnar, Director at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), also expressed optimism regarding the positive impact of these partnerships. He noted, "The BIRD Foundation has made tremendous strides in accelerating innovation through its collaborative efforts, and I anticipate exciting developments from these projects."

Future Opportunities

The BIRD Foundation has a long-standing history of supporting joint projects, with over 1,100 collaborations initiated since its establishment 48 years ago. Through investments exceeding $406 million, the Foundation has significantly contributed to generating over $10 billion in direct and indirect revenues.

In light of this new funding round, the next opportunity for companies to submit Executive Summaries for BIRD projects will be November 20, 2025, with a review scheduled for March 2026.

About the BIRD Foundation

The BIRD Foundation is dedicated to promoting cooperation between U.S. and Israeli enterprises across a spectrum of technological sectors. Importantly, it offers financial support without claiming equity or intellectual property rights from its partnering companies. By covering up to 50% of a project's budget and sharing the risks, the Foundation ensures that repayment is only required when product sales commence.

For further information on collaboration opportunities and project proposals, potential applicants are encouraged to reach out to Limor Nakar-Vincent, the Deputy Executive Director for Business Development at the BIRD Foundation.

Together, the BIRD Foundation and its partners are paving the way for innovative advancements that can potentially transform numerous industries, and ultimately, enhance quality of life across the globe.