BIRD Foundation
AICC is the Pennsylvania and Delaware representative of the U.S.-Israel Bi-national Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation, established in 1977 as a joint initiative between the US and Israeli governments. Operating from its main offices in Tel Aviv, with representatives throughout the US, the BIRD Foundation aims to stimulate, promote and support joint industrial R&D of mutual benefit to Israel and the United States. Through interest earned on a $110 million endowment and repayments from successful projects, BIRD funds joint development projects between US and Israeli companies.
BIRD offers conditional matching grants up to $1 million for joint development on a risk sharing basis to early stage and mature companies. BIRD funds up to 50% of each company R&D’s expenses associated with the joint project BIRD and claims no repayments if the project is not successful. BIRD claims repayments as royalties only if commercial revenues are generated from the project.
In the last 30+ years, BIRD has approved more than 700 projects and made grants aggregating more than $234 million that have led to more than $80 million in repayments, more than $4 billion in sales generated by BIRD sponsored projects and billions more in sales indirectly generated by BIRD sponsored activities.
In 2009, BIRD began making grants up to $1 million for renewable energy development through the BIRD Energy program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures and the BIRD Foundation.
BIRD has approved projects in Pennsylvania and Delaware with area companies including: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Arkema, Inc., B. Braun, Inc., CIBA Specialty Chemicals, Inc., GSK and Purolite, Inc.
As BIRD’s representative in Pennsylvania and Delaware, AICC helps US companies to find strategic partners and supports the grant application and management process. Additional information about the BIRD Foundation is available at www.birdf.com. Please contact AICC if your company is interested in exploring the feasibility of a BIRD project.
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