I4F

I4F

Israel-India Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F)

On the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel, a MoU was signed on 5th July, 2017 to further strengthen the scientific, technological, industrial and economic cooperation in fields of common interest and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. 

The US$ 40 million (over a five-year period) India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) is a cooperation platform between the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), Government of Israel, to promote, facilitate and support joint Industrial R&D projects between companies from India and Israel, which would lead to successful commercialization and benefit for both countries within two years. 

In India, on behalf of DST, funding and other services will be provided through Technology Development Board (TDB) and in Israel, funding and other services will be provided through Israel Innovation Authority. The first call was launched jointly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 15 January 2018, at the “India Israel Business Summit 2018” at New Delhi. For details of the latest call for proposals please visit http://tdb.gov.in/israel/.

II. IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES:

Department of Science & Technology (DST):

The Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India , is the national agency for strengthening the base of Science and Technology in the country and has an important role in building a strong base for Research, Development and Demonstration in India and in addressing national concerns about strengthening science and technology.

For more information about DST, please visit www.dst.gov.in 

Technology Development Board (TDB):

The Technology Development Board (TDB) was constituted in September 1996 under the Technology Development Board Act, 1995, as a statutory body, to promote development and commercialization of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application. The TDB has the sole objective of commercializing the fruit of indigenous research and plays a proactive role by encouraging enterprises to take up technology-oriented products. The TDB provides financial assistance to Indian industrial concerns and other agencies, attempting development and commercial application of indigenous technology, or adapting imported technology to wider domestic applications.

For more information about TDB, please visit www.tdb.gov.in 

Israel Innovation Authority (IIA):

The Israel Innovation Authority, is an independent and impartial statutory public entity that operates for the benefit of the Israeli innovation ecosystem. Its mission is to invest in innovation in order to promote sustainable and inclusive growth. It provides conditional grants to support disruptive technological innovations and is engaged in creating the groundwork and infrastructure to prepare for future technologies in order to maintain both technological and economical leadership as well as to improve productivity and global competitiveness of the Israeli economy.

The Israel Innovation Authority provides a variety of practical tools and funding platforms aimed at addressing the dynamic and changing needs of the local and international innovation ecosystems. For more information about Israel Innovation Authority, please visit https://innovationisrael.org.il 

III. FUNDING OUTLINE

1. FEASIBILITY STUDY PROJECTS

Two companies (one from India and one from Israel) considering an R&D partnership may decide to perform preliminary investigations in order to determine the technical feasibility or market acceptability of a new product, technology concept, etc., before committing to a full R&D/Strategic project of much higher cost and longer duration.

In such cases, I4F may contribute to a maximum of USD 100,000 or 50% of the total project cost (70% for startups less than 5 years-old), whichever is lower, as a full (non-conditional) grant. Maximum duration of such project is nine months. Such grants are awarded with the understanding that a follow-up I4F R&D or Strategic Program proposal will be submitted by the companies, should the feasibility results prove positive.

Applications for Feasibility Study Projects are open twice a year. The exact dates will be published on the I4F website and on the Israel Innovation Authority’s and TDB’s websites respectively.

2. R&D PROJECTS

The I4F R&D Program aims to support Israeli and Indian companies looking to co-develop products or technologies for commercialization. An R&D project is defined as one in which the total project budget is over USD 200,000. The minimum duration is one year, and maximum duration is two years. I4F grants contribute to a maximum of USD 2,500,000 or 50% of the total project cost (70% for start-ups less than 5 years-old), whichever is lower.

Applications for R&D Projects are open twice a year. The exact dates will be published on the I4F website and on the Israel Innovation Authority’s and TDB’s websites respectively.

3. PILOT PROJECTS

The purpose of the I4F Pilot Program is to meet post-R&D gaps by supporting scale-up, pilot testing and commercialization of near-market technologies (e.g., TRL 6-8) by two or more companies through joint piloting or testing of the product with specific customers or global market. I4F grants contribute to a maximum of USD 1,000,000 or 50% of the total project cost (70% for start-ups less than 5 years-old), whichever is lower. The maximum duration of such a project is one year.

Applications for Pilot Projects are open twice a year. The exact dates will be published on the I4F website and on the Israel Innovation Authority’s and TDB’s websites respectively.

4. STRATEGIC PROJECTS

The I4F Strategic Program aims to achieve a technological breakthrough and promote intensive financial support for strategic sectors of India and Israel. I4F annually publishes a Call for Proposals for its Strategic Program with a specific industry/technology field, as decided by the Governing Board of I4F. The project should be undertaken by private companies in India and Israel, with the mandatory participation of academia/research institutes as sub-contractors. The maximum duration of such project is three years. I4F grants contribute to a maximum of USD 5,000,000 or 66% of the total project cost, whichever is lower (up to USD 2,000,000 per year, per project).

Applications for Strategic Projects are open once a year. The exact dates and focus sector will be published on the I4F website and on the Israel Innovation Authority’s and TDB’s websites respectively.

IV. CONTACTS

INDIA

Cdr Navneet Kaushik / Dr Jyotsana Dalal
Phone: 011-26511184
Email: indo-israel@tdb.gov.in

ISRAEL

Ms. Sarah Rozenberg
Phone:+972-3-7157986
Email: sarah.rozenberg@innovationisrael.org.il 

For more details, please refer to https://i4f.org/