Grant Programs
Industrial R&D
The R&D Fund
The R&D Fund is the main instrument of the R&D Law. The fund provides financial grants of 20%- 50% of approved R&D programs. In geographical areas designated as NPRs the benefit can reach 60%. A research committee headed by the Chief Scientist is assigned with awarding the funds according to a predetermined set of terms and conditions. Israeli companies from all industry sectors which wish to develop, or upgrade, products or manufacturing processes may apply. A company supported by this program is obligated to pay royalties when a government- assisted R&D project results in commercially successful product.
Large Companies’ R&D Centers in Israel’s Periphery The target companies are Israeli companies that wish to set up an R&D center in Israel’s periphery, and have annual sales of more than 100 million USD in Israel. Qualified companies will receive multi-annual (24-36 months) support of 65%-75% for their R&D center’s approved expenses. If the project is profitable then royalty payments need to be paid.
Generic R&D Program (Long Term R&D Support) The target companies are Israeli companies with annual sales of more than 70 million USD and over 200 R&D employees in Israel; or alternatively, with an R&D budget in Israel that exceeds 20 million USD. Qualified companies will receive financial support of up to 50% of their R&D approved expenses. No royalty payments are mandated.
International Cooperation in R&D
Global Enterprise R&D Collaboration Framework This flagship program aims to encourage partnerships between multinational corporations (MNC) and startup companies in Israel, in order to maximize the synergy between the partners’ strengths.
Within this framework, both the OCS and the MNC commit to invest equally in pre- selected R&D projects, conducted jointly by the MNC and the Israeli company. The MNC can invest in cash and/or in kind, i.e. it can provide the startup with facilities such as technological guidance, loan of equipment, use of laboratories, discounted software licenses, regulatory advice, etc., instead of / or in addition to cash funding. Eligible MNCs must have annual revenues exceeding 1.5 billion USD, significant investment in R&D, and worldwide presence. To date, over 40 corporations have joined the program. The participating MNC is not required to pay royalties.
Multinational Corporations Project Centers in Traditional Industry The target companies are Israeli companies and MNCs which collaborate on an R&D project. The MNC must have annual sales of more than 2.5 billion USD and must be from the traditional or the medium technology sector. The Israeli partner must be an Israeli company or academic institution unaffiliated with the MNC. The financial support for qualified companies will differ between the projects. No royalty payments are mandated for the MNC.
Cooperation with Countries and Regions
Israel has an extensive R&D cooperation network with different countries and regions.
Bi-national Funds
Israel has 4 bi-national funds with the U.S.A, Canada, Korea and Singapore. In this framework, two nations contribute a predetermined sum to a bi-national foundation intended to support cooperative projects.
International Industrial R&D Cooperation Programs Israel has entered into more than 40 bilateral industrial R&D support programs all over the world. The programs encourage cooperation between Israeli and foreign companies by helping in finding a suitable partner and by financial support of up to 50% of the approved project budget. Most of the OCS industrial R&D cooperation programs are implemented by MATIMOP, an OCS executive agency.
European Union R&D Programs
Israel also participates actively in several multinational European R&D programs. The suggested programs in this framework are: Eco-Innovera, FetFlagships EraNets, M-ERA. NET, MANUNET II, ERA-NET TRANSPORT III, Era-Net RUS, ENIAC, Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), EUROSTARS. The programs are managed by ISERD (The Israeli R&D Directorate for the European Research Area (ERA)), which is responsible for the integration of Israel in the ERA and in other European Organizations.
MAGNET (Industry Academia R&D Cooperation)
A group of programs intended for industrial companies cooperating with academic institutions for a long term R&D process. Qualifiers can apply for grants covering up to 66% of the R&D project budget in an industrial company and up to 80% of the R&D budget in a research institution. A MAGNET project is usually approved for a 3-year period with extensions of 1 to 3 years possible. Main MAGNET programs include:
MAGNET Consortia
The program supports the formation of consortia made up of industrial companies and academic institutions in order to jointly develop generic, precompetitive technologies. Industrial companies are granted up to 66% of their approved budget and academic institutions are granted up to 100%. The duration of a MAGNET consortium is three to five years. No royalty payments are mandated for this program.
MAGNET
The program promotes technology transfer from academia to industry. The program is intended for Israeli industrial companies wishing to receive new technologies from academia and for approved academic research groups wishing to conduct new applied research in cooperation with a relevant company. Qualified participants will receive a grant of up to 66% of the approved budget. No royalty payments are mandated.
Nofar – Industrial Application of Academic Research
The program is designed to bridge the gap between know-how within academia and the needs of the industry. It does so by encouraging the support of applied academic research activity by an industrial company. It is intended for academic research groups wishing to perform applied research which is still in its early stage, hence, is not fit to receive support under the framework of other OCS programs. The participating companies benefit from the option to influence academic research that might be useful.
A research institution will receive 100% of the approved budget (80% as a grant, 20% from the consortium companies).
Technological Incubators
The primary goal of this program is to transform innovative technological ideas in their early, high-risk stages into viable startup companies capable of raising money and operating on their own. A grant of up to 85% of the approved budget up to a maximum budget of NIS 3.5 million, for an perative period of up to 2 years (according to the project type and the incubator's geographical location). A further grant for a third year according to the program's regulations. Investment financing from the incubator to supplement state funding, of up to 15% of the approved budget, thereby completing 100% of the total budget. No financial investment is required by the entrepreneur. The Incubator is operated by a licensee who was elected and approved by the relevant OCS committee. The licensee invests only 15% of the project budget (the state invests the remaining), and receives in return 50% of the shares of the companies in the incubator.
Sectorial Programs
The OCS operates additional support programs in several high-potential sectors: Cyber, Renewable Energy, Life Sciences, Alternative Fuels, Space Technologies, Dual Use (Military and Commercial) Technologies and Agritech. These programs offer support for companies and investors operating in these fields.
Tax Benefits
R&D Expenses Deduction
Clause 20A of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance enables companies to deduct their R&D expenses in the year they were paid from their current income. The deduction is contingent on the Chief Scientist’s confirmation that the expenses are indeed research and development expenses.
The Angel’s Law
The law, which was first enacted in 2010 and then amended in 2016, provides tax benefits to single investors who invest in Israeli companies in their initial R&D stage (seed). The law’s goal is to increase the available financing sources for Israeli early phase R&D-intensive companies.
The law enables single investors’ investments in eligible companies to be recognized as expenditures for tax purposes. Eligible companies are companies which fulfill certain criteria. For example, Israeli companies with R&D expenses that are at least 70% of the total company expenditures for the relevant tax year. Companies must receive approval from the OCS for their R&D expenditures.
The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) in the Ministry of Economy, empowered by the Law for the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development (1984), oversees all government supported R&D in the Israeli industry. The OCS activates grant programs and also takes part in the approval of tax benefits for entitled companies.