The Board of Governors of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has awarded funding to three homeland security projects, selected by DHS and the Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS), between U.S. and Israeli companies to advance technologies for first responders.
In addition to the grants from BIRD, the projects will access private sector funding, boosting the total value of the three projects to approximately $7 million.
The program funds technology collaborations between U.S. and Israeli partners that have significant commercial potential to meet the most pressing requirements of first responders.
This joint research effort supports the development of Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) technology capabilities that will increase the safety and efficiency of all first responders (law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical services).
These research and development efforts will lead to new technologies that ensure first responders are better protected, connected and fully aware.
(Law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical technicians are facing challenges today that no one envisioned fifteen years ago. DHS S&T’s Next Generation First Responder program Responder Technology Alliance is working to anticipate responder needs five, 10, even 15 years from now and develop integrated solutions. Courtesy of DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube)
The BIRD Foundation promotes collaboration between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological fields for the purpose of joint product development.
In addition to providing conditional grants of up to $1 million for approved projects, the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions.
Projects submitted for consideration are reviewed by representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Israel Innovation Authority and experts from the Israel Ministry of Public Security.
(The Next Generation First Responder program seeks to harness the best existing and emerging technologies to enable responders to be protected, connected, and fully aware. Courtesy of DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube)
The joint projects that received approval include:
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Beeper Communications Israel (Ramat Gan, Israel) and Mantaro Networks Inc. (Germantown, Maryland) to develop an unmanned search and rescue system.
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Elbit Systems Land and C4I Ltd. (Netanya, Israel) and M87, Inc. (Bellevue, Washington) to develop public safety off-network broadband communications using multi-hop WiFi/LTE/D2D communications (ProSE) technology.
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Simlat, Ltd (Petah-Tikva, Israel) and Sinclair Community College (Dayton, Ohio) will develop an autonomous drone-based search & rescue solution.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to work with the Israeli Ministry of Public Security and the BIRD Foundation to bring the best of U.S. and Israeli technology companies together to develop capabilities to support our first responders,” stated Acting Under Secretary William N. Bryan, for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate.
“First responders across the world share common needs and capabilities, and the benefits of these partnership activities will enhance first responders’ safety and effectiveness across the globe.”
“The Office of the Chief Scientist sees the cooperation with the BIRD Foundation as one of the main mechanisms to develop and commercialize innovative Israeli technologies which will enhance the emergency preparedness abilities of First Responders,” said Dr. Gad Frishman, Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Public Security.
“The process of identifying the needs and selecting projects in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security allows for mutual benefit and paves the way for success.”
“This second cycle of projects relating to first responder technologies reflects the potential of Israeli and American companies to jointly develop products and technologies that will keep tomorrow’s first responders more protected, connected and fully aware,” explained Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation.
“We look forward to continue working closely with DHS and MOPS to foster and facilitate partnerships that respond to the capability gaps that exist in this market.”
The BIRD Foundation works to encourage and facilitate cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies in a wide range of technology sectors and offers funding to selected projects. BIRD has approved over 900 projects over its 40-year history.
The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any equity or intellectual property rights in the participating companies or in the project itself.
BIRD funding is repaid as royalties from sales of technology products that were commercialized as a result of BIRD support.
The Foundation provides support of up to 50% of a project’s budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing.
The Foundation shares the risk and does not require repayment if the project fails to reach the sales stage.
