The BIRD Foundation approved a total value of $10.3 million
in the areas of fuel cells, electric vehicles,
energy efficiency and water-energy nexus
(Philadelphia, PA – December 11, 2014) – The Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC), a Representative of the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial R&D (BIRD) Foundation and BIRD Energy for Pennsylvania and Delaware congratulates Arkema Inc. and Advanced MemTech on being awarded a 2014 BIRD Energy grant. Arkema Inc., based in King of Prussia, PA partnered with Advanced MemTech of Ness Ziona, Israel, to develop a carbon nanotube composite membrane that is electrically conductive.
Arkema is a global chemical company and France’s leading chemicals producer with U.S. headquarters and a research center located in King of Prussia. The company produces state-of-the-art specialty chemicals that provide customers with practical solutions to such challenges as climate change, access to drinking water, the future of energy, fossil fuel preservation and the need for lighter materials.
Advanced MemTech develops game changing membranes for wastewater treatment, with ultra-high fluxes that dramatically reduce the cost of both CapEx and OpEx in water and wastewater treatment. The PICC, the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia, and the Israeli Economic Mission in NYC hosted Advanced MemTech last summer as part of a delegation of advanced water technology companies that visited companies in PA, Southern New Jersey and Southern Delaware.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Israel’s Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources (MIEW) have selected five projects to receive $4 million under the 2014 Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program. Each of the cooperative projects includes a U.S. and an Israeli partner and addresses energy challenges and opportunities of interest to both countries, while focusing on commercializing clean energy technologies that improve economic competitiveness, create jobs, and support innovative companies. The selected projects will leverage private sector cost-sharing for a total project value of $10.3 million. This is the sixth year for BIRD Energy which has, so far, approved 22 projects with a total investment of about $18 million (including the projects in this cycle). Read a press release issued by the BIRD Foundation about the approved projects, and BIRD Foundation and BIRD Energy funding opportunities.
Since 2013, BIRD has approved projects in Pennsylvania and Delaware with regional companies including: Mekorot (Tel Aviv, Israel) and ANP Technologies (Newark, DE), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Haifa, Israel) and Aquion Energy, (Pittsburgh, PA), and Freshpoint Quality Assurance Ltd (Israel) and West Pharmaceutical Services (Exton, PA).
Please contact the PICC for information about regional BIRD Foundation and BIRD Energy funding seminars and learn more about this outstanding joint development funding opportunity.
About the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial R&D (BIRD) Foundation
The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation works to encourage cooperation between Israeli and American companies in a wide range of technology sectors by providing funding and assistance in facilitating strategic partnerships for developing joint products or technologies.
During its 37 years, the BIRD Foundation has invested in close to 900 projects, which have yielded direct and indirect revenues of about $10 billion.
The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or IP rights in the participating companies or in the project itself. The funding is repaid as royalties from sales. The Foundation provides support of up to 50% of a project’s budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage.
About the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
The Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC) is the go-to independent organization facilitating connections between Israeli and Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware based businesses, governmental agencies and economic development organizations.
The PICC also represents the U.S.-Israel Binational R&D (BIRD) Foundation and BIRD Energy in Pennsylvania and Delaware.