Foundation provides grants to US companies who are currently
or interested in partnerships with Israeli Innovators
(Philadelphia, PA, April 20) – On April 20th, the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial R&D Foundation (BIRD), Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (PICC), the Consulate General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region, and University Science Center in Philadelphia hosted a BIRD Foundation Funding Seminar. The focus of this seminar was to introduce businesses throughout the region that are currently conducting R&D with Israel or are interested in partnering with Israeli innovators to the BIRD foundation and their funding opportunities. Andrea Yonah, the East Coast Representative of the foundation provided remarks along with a successful BIRD recipient Mark W. LeChevallier, Ph.D., Director, Innovation & Environmental Stewardship at American Water. American Water received two grants which were used to jointly develop and implement advanced water technologies in their nation-wide facilities.
Caption (L-R): Vered Nohi-Becker, Executive Director of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the BIRD Foundation Representative in PA and DE; Andrea Yonah, U.S. East Coast Representative of the BIRD Foundation Mark W. LeChevallier, Ph.D., Director, Innovation & Environmental Stewardship at American Water; Shari Williams, Community Outreach Manager, SEPA at the Marcellus Coalition, and John Churchill, Director of Economic Affairs at the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia.
The BIRD Foundation encourages cooperation between Israeli and American companies by annually awarding between 20 and 30 grants of up to $1 million per project to jointly develop disruptive 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. Qualifying business partnerships focus their business activities in areas such as life science, clean-tech & energy, healthcare IT, cyber and homeland security and more.
“The BIRD Foundation provides business friendly funding opportunities for Israeli-American jointly developed disruptive technologies. Locally awarded BIRD grants create innovative local jobs, increase our region’s competitiveness, foster economic growth, and ultimately attract Israeli innovators to consider opening their U.S. operations in the Greater Philadelphia region,” remarked Vered Nohi-Becker, Executive Director of the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the BIRD Foundation Representative in PA and DE. “BIRD grants strengthen the commercial and research ties between Israel and the U.S.,” she added.
In 2014, grants were awarded to ANP, Newark, Delaware and Arkema, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, both to work on water technology projects. Annually, BIRD has two grant cycles and BIRD Energy one. In the recent March BIRD Foundation’s executive summary deadline, four regional local companies applied.
For additional information, please email picc@phillyisraelchamber.com.