Summary:

Program Description

Launching a competitive process for the selection of up to three franchisees who will promote the transfer and commercialization of academic knowledge (from Israel and abroad) to Israel’s high-tech industry. The franchisees will operate under the Innovation Accelerators Fund –Promoting and Accelerating the Commercialization of Academic Knowledge to Israeli Industry  
 
Selected franchisors will work to identify mature academic knowledge, originating from institutions in Israel and abroad, with the aim of commercializing it to Israeli high-tech companies or establishing startups based on it. 

Goal of the incentive program 

The objective of the program is to promote and accelerate the transfer of academic knowledge to Israeli industry through designated Israeli corporations, aiming to: 

• Increase the number of commercialization or licensing agreements between Israeli/foreign academia and existing Israeli companies engaged in R&D for commercial purposes.
• Increase the number of startups established based on knowledge developed in Israeli/foreign academia.

Who Can Apply

Entrepreneurs or Israeli for-profit corporations (excluding research institutions or TTOs).

Required Activities

• Signing business development agreements with academic TTOs and/or scouting agreements with Israeli industrial companies engaged in R&D. 
  
• Mapping and identifying academic knowledge in Israel and abroad relevant to Israeli industry.
• Facilitating commercialization or licensing agreements between Israeli industry and academic TTOs.

Finance

The selected Franchisees will be eligible for an approved budget of up to NIS 5,000,000 for a 3-year license period, subject to compliance with the Incentive program’s requirements.

The grant may be used for establishing the corporation, hiring experienced staff and consultants, contracting external service providers for due diligence and administrative services, employing a managing director, and forming strategic partnerships with investors, the high-tech industry, and academia. 

Support Components include 

1. Establishment and Operational Grant:
   • Year 1: Up to NIS 1,000,000 (80% grant rate)
   • Year 2: Up to NIS 1,000,000 (50% grant rate)
   • Year 3: No grant for this component
2. Grant for Signing Scouting or Business Development Agreements:
   • Year 1: NIS 40,000 per agreement or the lower of the actual consideration, up to NIS 400,000 total
   • Year 2: NIS 25,000 per agreement or the lower of the actual consideration, up to NIS 400,000 total
   • Year 3: NIS 10,000 per agreement or the lower of the actual consideration, up to NIS 250,000 total
3. Grant for Commercialization or Licensing Agreement or Establishment of Academic Spin-off:
   • NIS 100,000 or the lower of the actual consideration

Criteria

Eligibility

• The applicant must be:
  • An entrepreneur; or
  • A for-profit corporation legally registered in Israel (excluding research institutions or TTOs).
• The applicant and its controlling shareholders must comply with the Encouragement of Industrial R&D Regulations (Minimum Wage Conditions), 2011.
• The applicant or its key partners must not be under receivership, liquidation, or have restricted bank accounts.
• No financial support has been received for the proposed activity from a governmental source or the Innovation Authority, directly or indirectly, outside the framework of this Benefit Track and Sub-Track. 

Evaluation Criteria:

• Business plan (25%)
• Experience and quality of the applicant and/or partners (30%)
• Added value of strategic partners (10%)
• Experience and quality of the proposed managing director (15%)
• Funding sources (10%)
• Overall impression by the evaluation committee (10%)

Application Process

Timeline 

• Clarification Questions Deadline: September 1, 2025, 12:00 PM
• Answers Publication: By September 15, 2025
• Proposal Submission Deadline: September 28, 2025, 12:00 PM 
  

  *Late submissions will not be accepted*

Submission Instructions

• Register/login to the personal area on the Innovation Authority portal. Only proposals submitted via the online system will be accepted.
• Complete the online form and attach all required annexes.
• Additional documents may be uploaded as needed. 

The Innovation Authority reserves the right to change any of the dates listed above at its sole discretion. Applicants are responsible for checking the Authority’s website for updates.