Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority (OCS) have issued a new joint call for project proposals valued at $2 million in research and development funding. This is the fifth year that Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority (OCS) are conducting the competition.
In October 2013, Florida and Israel initiated an annually recurring $2 million joint program to support research, development and commercialization of aerospace and related technology projects that benefit both Israel and the State of Florida. The projects approved to date encompass a wide range of promising research, including the development of next generation 3D printed circuit systems, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), innovative radiation shielding technology, next-generation capacitors to power spacecraft, and identifying specific changes in human muscle and immune cells to model disease in reduced gravity environments.
Israeli and Florida-based for-profit companies are asked to present cooperative proposals, which will be vetted for feasibility. Funding will be awarded to those companies demonstrating promising partnerships and near-term potential for commercialization and economic benefit to both states.
Applying teams must submit a completed application, including a Bi-Lateral Cooperation form that describes the project and the collaboration envisioned between the Florida company and the Israeli company. Applications open on August 30, 2017, and are due to Space Florida and Israel Innovation Authority (OCS) no later than January 17, 2018. The applications are independently evaluated and scored by Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority (OCS), which then jointly agree which applications will be funded.
Applicants must present a proposal that incorporates joint R&D projects in any of the following technological fields:
- Satellite Communication
- Small Satellite Technology and Small Launch Vehicles
- Space Research Related Sensor Technology (including bio-sensors)
- Nano-Materials and Coatings for Space Applications
- Electric Power Resources for Space Applications
- Microgravity Research related to Human Life Sciences
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Nano-, Flex- and Low-Power Electronics
- Micro- and Nano-Robotics
- And other Space and Aerospace-Related Research
Space Florida President Frank DiBello said that for a fifth year, Space Florida is pleased to partner with the Israel Innovation Authority in generating partnerships that benefit the aerospace and technologies industries as well as the economy in both Florida and Israel, and that Space Florida looks forward to another successful round full of innovative research applications.
Aharon Aharon, Israel Innovation Authority CEO said the Israel - Florida strong collaboration has demonstrated great success stories since its establishment in 2013, and that as they are now announcing the fifth call, he is sure this cooperation will generate even greater partnerships and innovative technologies with a global influence. The Israel Innovation Authority is looking forward to expanding industrial and technological collaborations and strengthening the economic ties between Israel and Florida.
More information can be found at.