Sources inform "Globes" that Israel United States Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD-F) is currently launching a new program to fund joint projects between Israeli and US companies in the renewable energy sector.
As part of the program, called BIRD Energy, $3 million will be invested over the next year. BIRD-F executive director Dr. Eitan Yudilevich believes that the program's budget will be doubled in 2010.
Launching the financing program was made possible by the approval of the Law to Promote Security and Energy Independence, which was approved by President George W. Bush and the US Congress in December 2007. The Law included a clause about cooperation between the US and Israel on the subject of renewable energy.
In August 2008 the Israeli government decided to invest in renewable energy. The decision included a reference to cooperation with the US in the industrial sector through BIRDF and in academia through the US Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF). An agreement was also signed between the US Department of Energy and Israel's Ministry of National Infrastructures to realize this cooperation.
BIRDF's governing council approved the new program in December 2008 and then set up BIRD Energy. A call for proposals is currently being published, and the target date for discussing and approving the chosen projects is October/November 2009.
The multi-year funding program and maximum size of grants will be $1 million per project, which is similar to those grants given out in BIRDF's traditional fields.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 17, 2009
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