Program Description

Application Content 

The application, including its appendices, must address and respond—among other things—to the following aspects. This list is not exhaustive and constitutes only a partial outline of the requirements detailed in the official application form. Applicants may expand upon or include additional elements beyond those listed below. 

Requirements for the Establishment and Operation of the R&D Laboratory 

In accordance with the Incentive Program guidelines, the R&D laboratory must meet at least the following minimum requirements: 

1. Professional Services – Provision of expert staff serving as a source of knowledge and possessing domain-specific expertise, enabling access to unique capabilities and services developed within the R&D lab, to support users throughout all R&D stages. 
2. Design and Development Capabilities – The ability to design and develop a satellite capable of carrying payloads intended for technological demonstrations or experiments in orbit, while ensuring that the payload does not interfere with the operation of other onboard payloads. 
3. Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) – Provision of AIT services for complete space systems, up to the final stage of satellite launch with the integrated payloads. 
4. Pre-Launch Preparations – Full management of integration and execution processes, including coordination of all logistical aspects, provision of supporting infrastructure for transporting the satellite and payloads, and execution of comprehensive validation and demonstration procedures prior to launch. 
5. Launch Services – Provision of launch services to outer space for at least 15 payloads during the program period (three years). 
6. Satellite Operation for Technology Demonstration – Support for planning and executing the demonstration of technologies/experiments in outer space for all payloads, including satellite operation services, interfacing with ground stations, and ensuring continuous functionality in orbit. 
7. Data Management and Analysis – Reception, storage, and transfer of data obtained from the technology demonstrations/experiments in outer space, including preparation of data for further analysis and delivery to third parties, where applicable. 
8. Service Level Agreement (SLA) – Publication of service performance metrics and timely response to eligible clients, ensuring that response times meet the standards defined for all users of the R&D lab. 
9. Price Lists:
   • Publication of a full price list for all services provided by the lab, including those specified in items 1–8 above. 
   • Publication of pricing for additional services offered by the lab, including maximum hourly rates for human technical support and technological assistance, in line with accepted global market prices. 
   • These price lists must remain publicly available throughout the program duration and for at least an additional 24 months thereafter. 
10. Discounts for Eligible Clients 
    • Services must be provided to eligible clients at a discount of at least 35% below market price. 
    • The discount must apply from the start of service provision and remain in effect throughout the program duration. 
    • A quarterly review will monitor the demand from eligible clients versus the lab’s committed service supply. All discount requests must be reviewed and approved by the Israel Innovation Authority’s Research Committee prior to application. 

 

Obligations of the Grant Recipients 

The grant recipients shall comply with all requirements outlined in the Incentive Program guidelines and as detailed above regarding the establishment and operation of the R&D laboratory. 

Compliance with the above requirements may be achieved independently or through integration with subcontractors or suppliers, whether in Israel or abroad. 

 

Optional R&D Services Provided by the Lab 

In addition to the mandatory services listed above, the R&D laboratory may propose the following optional services: 

1. Integration of Experiments on the Space Station – Support for the planning, integration, and execution of technology demonstrations/experiments involving payloads on the space station. 
2. Startup Acceleration – Initiatives to support the growth and acceleration of space-tech startups, entrepreneurship promotion, and ecosystem expansion. 
3. Regulatory, Licensing, and Insurance Consulting – Expert-led workshops and training in areas such as regulatory frameworks, frequency licensing, export control, insurance structures, and legal advisory services. 
4. Strategic Partnerships – Facilitation of partnerships with relevant stakeholders in Israel and abroad to advance the space-tech industry. 
5. Academic Collaboration and Ecosystem Development – Support for academic projects aimed at developing professional talent and expanding the national space-tech ecosystem through future industry integration. 

Note: The above services are provided as examples and are not mandatory for applicants. 

 

Finance:

The total grant for an application approved under this process will be up to NIS 40 million for the duration of the approved program. The approved grant rate will be either 55% or 66% of the approved budget, as specified in the Incentive Program guidelines. 

 

Criteria

Eligibility Criteria 

The following eligibility criteria are cumulative. Applicants must meet all criteria at the time of application submission and throughout the entire implementation period of the program. Failure to meet any one of the criteria may result in the disqualification of the application or the cancellation of an approved program: 

• The program, in all its components, must be executed in Israel by Israeli residents, unless the Research Committee is convinced—with written justification—that it is essential for part of the program to be carried out outside of Israel or by non-residents. 
• The approved program must be carried out by the applicant or by an entity explicitly designated in the application to execute the program (in whole or in part), or by an implementer approved in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Program. 
• The program may not be conducted on behalf of a third party, in exchange for full or partial payment, in return for granting full or partial ownership rights in the knowledge or product developed. 
• The applicant must not have an existing application for funding of an identical or substantially similar program—either pending or rejected—under any of the Israel Innovation Authority’s incentive programs (including sub-programs) within the six months preceding the submission of the current application. 
• No financial support—direct or indirect—has been received from a governmental body or from the Israel Innovation Authority for the implementation of the proposed program, outside of the scope of this specific Incentive Program. No additional benefit will be granted for a program that has already received support under this program. 
• The applicant must not have restricted bank accounts and must not be under receivership, bankruptcy proceedings, liquidation, or similar legal or financial processes. 
• The applicant and its controlling shareholders must comply with the requirements of the Encouragement of Industrial R&D Regulations (Approval Conditions – Minimum Wage), 2011. 
• The applicant must commit to full ownership of all knowledge and intellectual property generated as part of the approved program, from the moment of its creation, including any related rights. 
• If the Israel Innovation Authority has designated a specific submission procedure pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Incentive Program, the applicant and/or the application must comply with any exclusivity requirement set therein, as applicable.

 

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals that meet the eligibility criteria will be evaluated according to the following standards: 

• The extent to which there is a technological need for the infrastructure equipment required by industrial corporations for R&D purposes. 
• The existence of a market failure, technological gap, or limitation in access to advanced-stage technology demonstration capabilities—specifically regarding the described infrastructure—and the degree to which the proposed program addresses these issues. 
• The applicant’s capabilities, including management skills and the ability to complete and commercialize the proposed program. 
• The technological and employment contribution of the proposed program to the Israeli economy. 
• The technological and commercial growth potential of the applicant or relevant user group members as a result of the program’s success. 
• The terms of use of the infrastructure for industrial corporations, including service availability and pricing (where applicable). 
• The degree of technological innovation reflected in the proposed program. 

 

Application Process

1. Applications must be submitted no later than September 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM (noon). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted. 
2. Applicants must carefully read the full text of the Incentive Program guidelines and all relevant procedures and ensure full compliance with the eligibility criteria outlined therein. 
3. Applications must adhere to all instructions provided in the Incentive Program guidelines, relevant procedures, and this Call for Proposals notice. 
4. Applications must be submitted via the applicant’s Personal Area using the official application form of the Incentive Program.
5. Applicants are advised to monitor this Call for Proposals page, where updates regarding the process, if any, will be published. 
6. This notice does not constitute a commitment to approve any application submitted under this process. 

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Important Note

All matters concerning the application submission, review process, decision-making on approvals or rejections, provision of benefits, and the rights and obligations of the grantee (including those related to intellectual property, reporting, and royalty payments) will be subject to the provisions of the Israel Innovation Law, as outlined in the Hebrew version of this call for proposal.