Deadline Date: September 09, 2026
The BARD Fund 2026 initiative invites collaboration between Israeli and U.S. research and industry partners to advance applied research and innovation in food, nutrition, and agricultural systems for improved public health and chronic disease prevention.
The focus areas of this program include food and nutrition improvement through enhanced food quality, safety, composition, personalized nutrition, and development of functional ingredients; increasing diversity and availability of food sources through innovative cultivation, biodiversity enhancement, and reduction of post-harvest losses; healthy consumption through personalized dietary systems, allergen detection, and improved consumption habits; production processes for alternative proteins for animal feed; agricultural systems innovation including robotics, automation, smart packaging, and computational decision-support models such as digital twins.
The program is jointly launched by the Israel Innovation Authority and the BARD Foundation, aiming to strengthen R&D cooperation between Israel and the United States. It supports collaboration between Israeli Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), industrial corporations, and U.S. academic institutions, particularly those with approved research activity under the U.S. National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Under the Applied Research in Industry track, support is provided to Israeli industrial corporations working with TTOs and U.S. research partners to validate and adapt existing research at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 for industrial application. Under the Applied Research in Academia track, Israeli TTOs, together with supporting corporations, are encouraged to advance academic knowledge toward commercialization at TRL 5, in collaboration with U.S. research institutions.
The total budget is allocated across two categories: NIS 5.6 million for Applied Research in Industry and NIS 10 million for Applied Research in Academia.
The initiative seeks to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises in the food and nutrition sectors by facilitating access to academic knowledge and applied research outcomes from both countries. It also promotes innovation that can contribute to healthier populations and address long-term dietary and agricultural challenges.
Funding is allocated separately for the two tracks, with dedicated budgets for applied research in industry and academia, and reallocation possible depending on demand and evaluation outcomes. Applicants must meet eligibility conditions defined under the relevant incentive programs and demonstrate formal collaboration with U.S. research institutions.
For more information, visit Israel Innovation Authority.
