Israel-US BIRD-BLUE (Blue Economy)

Israel-US BIRD-BLUE (Blue Economy)

Supports joint United States and Israel founders in blue economy ventures through binational collaboration and maritime technology commercialization pathways.

Eligibility · United States, Israel

The Israel-US BIRD-BLUE (Blue Economy) program is a joint initiative administered by the BIRD Foundation — the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 — targeting maritime, ocean, and blue-economy technologies. The program funds joint industrial R&D projects between one U.S. and one Israeli company (or company-university pair), covering up to 50% of each participant's R&D costs on a conditional grant basis. Awards range from approximately $250,000 to $1,000,000 per project, with a median around $500,000. BIRD takes no equity in participating companies. Repayment is due only upon commercial success, making this a royalty-back, risk-sharing instrument.

Eligible pairings require one U.S.-registered and one Israeli-registered entity — companies, startups, or university-research organization partners — able to demonstrate combined capability to define, develop, manufacture, and commercialize an innovative product. The blue economy and maritime sector focus means relevant technologies include maritime security, ocean monitoring, port and shipping logistics, aquaculture, and coastal infrastructure. Projects should sit at TRL 3 to 7, moving from validated proof-of-concept toward initial commercial readiness. BIRD's Board of Governors approves projects twice per year, with proposals evaluated by expert reviewers from the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Winning applications demonstrate a credible binational partnership with distinct, complementary R&D capabilities on each side. The program's track record — roughly 1,200 BIRD projects approved since 1977, yielding more than $10 billion in direct and indirect revenues across the general program — signals a rigorous selection process that rewards commercial viability alongside technical innovation. BIRD-BLUE applicants should emphasize how the joint project generates mutual commercial benefit for both the U.S. and Israeli partners in the maritime or blue-economy domain.