Opportunities for Funding US-Israel Cooperation for Renewable Energy and Efficiency

TEL-AVIV, Israel, March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BIRD Energy announced its third funding cycle with a call for US-Israel joint project proposals focusing on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

To be considered, a project proposal should include R&D cooperation between two companies or cooperation between a company and a university/research institution (one from the U.S. and one from Israel). The proposal should have significant commercial potential and the project outcome should lead to commercialization.

The following research and development topics are within the scope of this call: Solar Power, Alternative Fuels, Advanced Vehicle Technologies, Smart Grid, Wind Energy or any other Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency technology.

The maximum conditional grant per project is up to 50% of the R&D costs associated with the joint project, and no more than $1 million per project.

The application process is web-based and requires prior discussion with the BIRD Foundation. Initial concept submissions due by May 5, 2011, full proposals due by June 30 2011, and final project selection to be completed by mid September 2011. Please refer to BIRD's website for submission details - http://www.birdf.com.

BIRD Energy was established following an agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy/EERE and the Israel Ministry of National Infrastructures (MNI) to promote and support joint research and collaboration in the field of Alternative Energy and Energy Efficiency. BIRD Energy is administered by the BIRD Foundation who has been promoting cooperation between Israeli and U.S. companies in many different technology areas since 1977.

This new call for proposals is issued at a time in which rising oil prices are a reminder of the need to develop viable alternatives to oil-based fuels. In this regard, the Israeli government just announced a special program to advance research, development and demonstration of Alternative fuels and Mobile Power. The objective of the Israeli effort is to develop technologies that reduce the use of oil in transportation. The program emphasizes international cooperation, such as the one established with the U.S. through the BIRD Energy program.

For more information please contact Limor Nakar-Vincent, Director, U.S. Business Development & BIRD Energy, BIRD Foundation. Tel: +972-3-6988315

Kiryat Atidim - Building 4, 15th Floor; P.O. Box 58054, Tel-Aviv 61580, Israel: Tel: +972-3-6470710, Fax: +972-3-6498341, http://www.birdf.com

SOURCE BIRD Foundation