BIRD Energy to Invest $4.4 Million in Cooperative
Israel-U.S. Energy Projects

The awarded projects represent a total investment of $9.7 million,
including private sector contributions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoE), and the Israel Innovation Authority held an Executive Committee meeting resulting in the selection of three energy projects that were approved to receive $4.4 million under the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program. The selected projects address energy efficiency, recycling, and water energy Nexus.

BIRD Energy was launched in 2009 under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to foster collaborative research and development projects between the United States and Israel. This program focuses on advancing sustainable energy technologies to promote economic competitiveness, create jobs, and strengthen energy security.

Projects that qualify for BIRD Energy funding must include one U.S. and one Israeli company or a company from one of the countries paired with a university or research institution from the other. The partners must present a project involving energy innovation that is of mutual interest to both countries. BIRD Energy has a rigorous review process and selects the most technologically meritorious projects and those most likely to commercialize and bring about significant impact. Qualified projects must cover at least 50% of total project costs and commit to repayment obligations contingent on commercial success.

The total value of the approved projects is $9.6 million, including $4.4 million in cost-share funding.

The approved projects are:

• Capow (Beer Sheva, Israel) and Avridh Technologies (d.b.a Peer Robotics) (New Haven, CT) to develop the first perpetually operating autonomous pallet jack
• EVA Environmental Viable Solutions (Haifa, Israel) and Bayshore Recycling Corp (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) will collaborate to develop a low-energy cement alternative from construction and waste material
• IDE Water Technologies (Kadima, Israel) and Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) will collaborate to develop the reuse of municipal wastewater via integrated PFAS separation and concentration

Eli Cohen, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “The collaboration between the United States and Israel in the fields of energy and innovation will contribute to the economies of both countries, create jobs, and strengthen our position as global leaders in innovation and AI. The projects we advance together will enhance energy security and enable the production of energy at competitive costs. Together with the Trump administration, we will work to expand ties between the two countries and strengthen the strategic alliance.”

Dror Bin, Israel Innovation Authority CEO, said: “The projects approved under BIRD Energy highlight the strength of Israel-U.S. cooperation in accelerating energy innovation. This joint investment will advance breakthrough technologies that promote clean energy, strengthen energy security, and support growth and job creation in both countries. By uniquely connecting Israeli and American industries, the platform enables Israeli technologies to scale and enter the world’s largest market while providing American companies with access to Israeli cutting-edge technologies. Partnerships like these reinforce Israel’s position as a hub for advanced energy solutions, accelerating the commercialization of solutions with economic and environmental impact.”

Mr. Jaron Lotan, Executive Director, BIRD Foundation, said: “This new round of BIRD Energy projects highlights the power of U.S.- Israel cooperation in advancing innovative energy technologies with clear pathways to commercialization. By strengthening energy resilience, efficiency, and security, these collaborations will help accelerate the transition from R&D to market-ready solutions with real economic and societal impact. We are grateful to our partners at the U.S. Department of Energy, and in Israel, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Israel Innovation Authority, for their continued support and shared commitment to impactful energy innovation.”

BIRD – Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial R&D Foundation to Invest $5.5 Million in Five New Projects

The approved projects, with a total budget of $14 million, span innovations
in hardware, medical devices, mental health, and rehabilitation

October 12, 2025- Tel Aviv, Israel – During its meeting on September 16, 2025, the Board of Governors of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation approved grants totaling $5.5 million for five new projects between U.S. and Israeli companies. In addition to the grants from BIRD, the projects will leverage private-sector funding, resulting in a combined investment of $14 million across all projects.

The BIRD Foundation facilitates collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological sectors for joint product development. In addition to providing conditional grants of up to $1.5 million, the Foundation assists companies in identifying strategic partners and facilitating introductions.

The submitted projects are reviewed by BIRD staff and evaluators appointed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Israel Innovation Authority.

The five newly approved projects bring the total number of BIRD-supported collaborations to over 1,100 during the Foundation’s 48 years of activity. To date, BIRD’s investment of more than $406 million in joint projects has helped generate direct and indirect revenues exceeding $10 billion.

The projects approved are:

• Accubeat (Jerusalem, Israel) and FieldLine Industries/Medical (Louisville, CO) to develop compact low-power, miniature atomic clocks and magnetometers using innovative quantum technology
• An Israeli Company and Resolution Medical (Minneapolis, MN) to develop specialized catheters for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis.
• Mentaily Innovations (Or Yehuda, Israel) and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (Bethesda, MD) to advance an automated assessment to improve post-traumatic stress diagnosis (AI PTSD)
• Newton Tech (Tel Aviv, Israel) and the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (Boston, MA) to develop high-throughput gait and movement analysis for clinical evaluation
• Tuned (Gan Yoshiya, Israel) and Novidan (Golden Valley, MN) to develop AI Audiologist Coupled with High-Performance, Low-Cost Hearing Aids.

Dr. Alon Stopel, Chief Scientist of Innovation at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and co-chair of BIRD’s Board of Governors, said: “The BIRD Foundation continues to spark groundbreaking collaborations, this year spanning atomic clocks, advanced catheters, AI for PTSD diagnosis, VR-based rehabilitation, and intelligent hearing aids that address global health and technology challenges. I warmly congratulate all award recipients, thank the Foundation’s dedicated staff and our partners, and extend my best wishes for a successful year ahead. I also congratulate our newly appointed board members and express deep appreciation to those concluding their service after years of devoted contribution.”

Mr. Mike Molnar, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Office at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and co-chair of BIRD’s Board of Governors,  said:  “The BIRD Foundation accelerates innovation through partnerships between U.S. and Israeli companies, and its company matchmaking has had a profound impact on those who have participated. I hope that the collaboration facilitated through these new R&D projects will lead to positive developments for the companies behind these exciting technologies. We wish the awardees great success!”

Mr. Jaron Lotan, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation, said: “This new round of projects highlights the creativity and determination of U.S. and Israeli innovators who continue to push the boundaries of science and technology. From healthcare to advanced hardware, these collaborations demonstrate how joint efforts can shape a better future. In these challenging times, BIRD’s mission to connect partners and support transformative innovation has never been more vital, and we are proud to stand behind companies that are driving progress and improving lives.”

The deadline for submission of Executive Summaries for the next BIRD cycle is November 20, 2025.  Approval of projects is scheduled to take place in March 2026.

About the BIRD Foundation

The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation encourages and facilitates cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies across a wide range of technology sectors, offering funding to selected projects.

The Foundation supports projects without taking any equity or intellectual property rights from the participating companies or the projects themselves. BIRD funding is repaid through royalties from sales of commercialized products that were developed with support from BIRD. The Foundation provides funding of up to 50% of a project’s budget, covering activities from R&D to the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project does not reach the sales stage.