About the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce

AICC Overview

The America-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC), established in 1987, is an independent member-based organization serving Pennsylvania, Delaware and Southern New Jersey that is exclusively devoted to promoting business development with Israel. Through its network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, government, academic and organizational representatives, AICC promotes trade and investment with Israel by facilitating business to business connections.

AICC educates its constituents about bi-national business development, provides information and referrals on U..S.-Israel business issues, creates B-to-B connections  between the region and Israel, and helps to support the business development needs of Israeli companies in or entering our region. AICC also serves as the Pennsylvania and Delaware representative to the BIRD Foundation that makes commercialization grants to U.S.-Israel company technology ventures. 

AICC members and partners are at the forefront of US-Israel business development.

• Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management and Wharton Global Consulting Practicum consult to Israeli companies that have subsequently entered into strategic partnerships and received venture funding. Drexel University's Co-Op program introduces students to Israel through 6 month internships in Israeli companies.
• Law firm Blank Rome LLP hosts an annual Israel Venture Conference attracting more than 15-20 Israeli companies and nearly 100 venture capitalists and strategic partners.
• Teva’s North America headquarters are in the region, joined by 11 major pharmaceutical firms.
• AICC has active cleantech, life sciences and high-tech committees that identify and implement initiatives to strengthen business ties between Greater Philadelphia and Israel.

AICC hosts programs and conferences that fulfill a networking function, educate constituents about business in Israel and introduce them to strategic partners and investment opportunities in Israel.

• AICC’s Israel Life Sciences Conference (Sept. 2008) and U.S.-Israel Cleantech Conference (Sept. 2009) brought together hundreds of industry-wide professionals from throughout the region to meet Israeli companies.
• AICC’s June 2009 Israel Business Mission headed by Pennsylvania State Treasurer Rob McCord enabled 23 regional business leaders to explore opportunities for investment and strategic partnering in Israel.
• Investment in Israel seminars, continuing professional education, briefings by Israel's highest-ranking government officials including Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, previously Israel's Economic Minister in Washington, D.C., presentations by trade representatives, award winning Israeli companies and venture fund representatives are examples of AICC's event agenda.
• Every year, AICC hosts its annual Rabin Awards Dinner, honoring business leadership in the region that has played a role in Israel's economic development. Winston J. Churchill, Founder and Managing Partner, SCP Partners, with investments aggregating in excess of $300M in Israel received the Rabin Award in 2010.

AICC publications and services help members and constituents to recognize their business goals.

• AICC's calendar lists regional, national and Israeli programs that provide opportunities to partner or invest in Israeli companies;
• AICC maintains and refers members to listings for Israeli companies seeking investment and strategic partnerships;
• AICC is the Pennsylvania and Delaware representative for the Israel-U.S. Bi-national Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD Foundation), www.birdf.com, that makes grants up to $1 million to joint ventures between U.S. and Israeli firms that develop and commercialize innovative technologies. AICC is available to meet with businesses that are interested in a BIRD grant and to support the company throughout the grant process. CIBA Specialty Chemicals Inc. in Delaware and Arkema Inc. in Pennsylvania were successful recipients of BIRD grants over the last two years;
• AICC is a direct link to valuable business and economic development resources in this region such as Pennsylvania's Office of International Business Development (www.newpa.com) the New Jersey-Israel Commission (www.state.nj.us/commerce/israel), Ben Franklin Technology Partners (www.sep.benfranklin.org), The Science Center (www.sciencecenter.org) and SELECT (www.selectgreaterphiladelphia.com) and trade specialists through AICC's partnerships with the the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and the U.S. Commercial Service:
• Through its monthly e-newsletter, AICC keeps members and constituents informed about important economic news from Israel, economic developments between this region and Israel, programs respecting business and Israel and member updates;
• AICC provides Certificates of Origin to exporters.

In 2005, AICC formed its Emerging Leaders Division to involve emerging business professionals — both American and Israelis — in the mission of AICC and to develop the next generation of leadership in the Greater Philadelphia region. ELD is a growing, self-governed network that identifies programs and initiatives that introduce its members and their guests to business and investment in Israel.

AICC maintains regular contact with Israel Chambers of Commerce in the U.S., offering members and constituents access to markets throughout the country.