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WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. Department of Energy, Israel’s Ministry of Energy, and the Israel Innovation Authority have announced a $16 million Call for Proposals of the U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy, Engineering and Water Technology (Energy Center). Commercial companies, research institutes, and universities from the U.S. and Israel are encouraged to form consortia of at least two unrelated entities from each country and apply for these awards.

The U.S. and Israeli governments will provide $8 million each for the initial two-year launch of the Energy Center.  With five-year awards envisioned, and 50 percent cost share required from awardees, the total value of the Energy Center awards could reach $80 million, subject to Congressional appropriations.

“The research, development, and testing to be completed by the U.S.-Israel Energy Center consortia will contribute significantly to science and innovation in the four technical areas, and will strengthen the unparalleled partnership between the United States and Israel,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Secretary Perry.

"It is an honor to announce the publication of the Call for Proposals for the U.S. Israel Energy Center, expanding the highly successful R&D collaboration between the U.S. DOE and the Israeli Ministry of Energy to areas such as exploration, production and utilization of natural gas, energy storage, energy-water nexus, and cybersecurity for energy infrastructure. I am certain the Energy Center will be a source of creative partnerships,” said Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israeli Minister of Energy:

"Promoting innovations in the field of energy technologies is a joint goal of the Israel Innovation Authority, and the US. This collaboration brings significant value for the development of the energy industry in both countries as well as the promotion of additional sectors through effective energy management,” said Dr. Ami Appelbaum, Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Economy and Industry and Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority.

Four awards will be made, one in each of four research topics. The 4 topics are:

1. Fossil energy;
2. Energy storage;
3. Energy cyber and physical security in critical infrastructure; and
4. Energy-water nexus.

The maximum award for a single consortium is $10M for a period of five years ($2M per year per consortium), subject to the availability of funding. The grant will be divided between the U.S. and Israel, according to their respective workshares.

The goal of the Energy Center is to promote energy security and economic development through the research and development of innovative energy technologies, while facilitating cooperation among consortia of U.S. and Israeli companies, research institutes, and universities.

The establishment of a joint U.S.-Israel Energy Center was first authorized by Congress in the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014. The U.S. DOE and the Israeli Ministry of Energy signed an Implementation Agreement on June 25, 2018, establishing the Center and its four initial topic areas. In FY 2018, and again in FY 2019, Congress appropriated $4 million for the Center, which will be matched with funding from the Israeli Government as well as a minimum 50 percent cost share from award recipients.

In February, DOE announced the BIRD Foundation as the operating agent of the Energy Center. The BIRD Foundation was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between U.S. and Israeli companies, including start-ups and established organizations. DOE manages the BIRD Foundation’s BIRD Energy program for the U.S. side.

The submission deadline for full proposals in August 15, 2019. More information on the Calls for Proposals and how to apply can be found on the BIRD Foundation website HERE.

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