Knowledge Commercialization Franchisees

Given the lack of synchronization between research conducted in academia and the needs of companies, we are witnessing a global phenomenon in which only a portion of academic knowledge is commercialized. In addition, researchers in academia are only allowed to work with their institution’s TTO, and not all institutions have a ‘strong’ commercialization company with skilled human resources and thematic expertise for all areas in the institution. 

At the same time, we witness another phenomenon related to high-tech companies (small and medium-sized) that have great difficulty locating quality knowledge in academia and signing commercialization agreements. 

To bridge this gap, the Innovation Authority is launching this program to locate knowledge commercialization franchisees. Their goal will be to work with academic centers of excellence in Israel and around the world for the benefit of robust business activity with the commercialization companies of the research institutions in order to further drive the Israeli high-tech engine. 

Encouraging and accelerating the transfer of knowledge from academia to Israeli industry, using franchisees, which will operate with the goal of: 

• Increase the number of commercialization and licensing agreements for knowledge developed in Israeli/foreign academia to existing Israeli companies. 
• Increase the number of successful startups that will be established based on knowledge developed in academia. 

Franchisees eligible for this program can be either of the following entities:

• Entrepreneurs 
• Companies  

As part of the benefit program, franchisees will be selected, through a competitive process, to establish and operate corporations. 

The franchisee(s) will receive, for the purpose of the activity, a grant of up to NIS 5,000,000 for the entire franchise period of up to three years. 

The grant is divided between: 

• Operating budget, decreasing over the years.
• Output grants for signing scouting, business development, licensing, and commercialization agreements. 

Franchisees will be selected through a competitive process to establish Israeli companies. These companies will encourage the transfer of knowledge from academia to the Israeli high-tech industry, and work towards the following goals: 

• Identifying academic knowledge needed by the high-tech industry in Israel or that can be the basis for establishing Israeli startup companies. 
• Bridging between the industry seeking new technologies and knowledge and the research institutions’ Technology Transfer Offices (TTO’s), either in Israel or abroad, to reach commercialization agreements or licensing agreements. 

This program was established to increase and accelerate the commercialization of knowledge originating in academia, either in Israel or abroad, to Israeli industrial companies. Franchisees in this program are required to demonstrate prior experience in commercializing knowledge in industry, in commercializing knowledge from academia to industry, and in commercializing knowledge by establishing start-up companies. Applicants for this program are expected to demonstrate relevant prior experience, including in business development in industry, an understanding of what is required for commercializing knowledge from academia to industry, in establishing start-up companies, presenting a business plan including clear goals and activities required to implement the plan in the best possible way, and connecting with relevant partners who will respond to the variety of activities required to achieve the goals of the track in the best possible way. 

This program has an open call for proposals – deadline for submissions – September 28, 2025.

Israeli companies seeking further information on the requirements and application process to this program should refer to the Hebrew website and version.