US-Israel Foundation To Invest $2.3M In 3 Joint Projects To Develop Homeland Security Tech

The Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation announced on Monday that it has awarded $2.3 million in funding to three joint projects between US and Israeli companies which aim to develop technologies for homeland security.

The projects were selected by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) and approved by the BIRD Foundation’s Board of Governors to advance technologies for homeland security.

DHS, MOPS, and S&T have partnered to fund technology collaborations between US and Israeli partners that address the homeland security needs of both countries and present significant commercial potential since 2016, the foundation said.

This joint research effort currently supports the development of technologies in the following areas: Advanced First Responder Technologies; Border Protection, including Maritime Security; Cyber Crime; Secure Critical Infrastructure and Public Facilities; Safe and Secure Cities; and Unmanned Aerial Systems.

The foundation said the three projects will have access to private sector funding in addition to grants, boosting their total value to approximately $4.8 million.

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 joint projects are the following:

• The Tel Aviv-based firm Blue White Robotics will partner with New York autonomous monitoring unmanned aerial systems firm Easy Aerial to develop a multi-mission, multi-type HLS drone command, and control capability.
• Israeli company S.H. Goren Management and Innovation will team up with New York-based sensor and communication tech company 3AM Innovations to develop a wearable device for the indoor positioning of first responders.
• The Hod HaSharon-based frim Cawamo will partner with Utah’s LiveView Technologies to develop a fully turn-key AI-based analytics video security solution for remote sites.

The BIRD Foundation was created in 1977 to foster collaboration between Israeli and American industries and currently promotes these collaborations in various technological fields for the purpose of joint product development.

“The BIRD HLS program enables US and Israeli partnering companies to develop innovative technologies for homeland security. The program contributes to both countries, specifically providing the US Department of Homeland Security and the Israel Ministry of Public Security, with opportunities to develop technologies that can solve current challenges,”
Dr. Gad Frishman, chief scientist of the Israel Ministry of Public Security said, “The approved projects are a result of a comprehensive selection and review process that focuses on innovation, operational needs and the ability to implement the technologies developed.”

“Expanding the BIRD portfolio to the broader homeland security mission has been a welcome addition,” said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, executive director of the BIRD Foundation. “We are pleased this new cycle helped recruit new companies to the BIRD ecosystem while continuing to build our strong working relationship with DHS and MOPS.”