A new NIS 9 million (£1.8 million) program has been established to offer researchers from Israel and the UK the opportunity to work together on mutual research priorities. Under the International Science Partnerships Fund, the UK-Israel Research Collaboration is the first initiative funded by the UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MOST) to support joint research.
The program is building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries last year to deliver faster and deeper collaboration on science, innovation, and technology. It will fund three-year collaborative research projects of up to NIS 960,000 (£200,000) focusing on quantum technologies, AI in drug discovery, and foodtech. The first call for proposals for Israeli and UK scientists was recently launched and will close on 30 September 2024.
“The UK and Israel have built a strong relationship on science and technology; the launch of the first UK-Israel bilateral research call marks a significant milestone, elevating the already fruitful collaboration between our research communities,” said British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters. “It provides a unique opportunity for top scientists from both nations to develop cutting-edge research in quantum, foodtech, and artificial intelligence in drug discovery. I’m looking forward to seeing the scientific achievements and growth that will no doubt be generated from this collaboration.”
For more than 10 years, the British Council in Israel and the British Embassy, together with the Science and Innovation Network in Israel, have managed a portfolio of scientific collaboration programs to bring together the scientific research of both countries. Other programs include the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange (BIRAX), with the support of the Pears Foundation and other partners, which has invested over £13 million (NIS 62.6 million) in 26 collaborative scientific research.
The UK-Israel Research Collaboration is part of the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work on issues relating to the planet, health, tech, and talent with peers around the world. The total fund is £337 million and managed by the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology; delivered by a group of the UK’s research and innovation bodies, including the British Council.
“I am delighted by the launch of this new initiative which will bring together scientific excellence in the UK and Israel,” added Adrian Chadwick, British Council Regional Director, Wider Europe. “The international scientific partnerships will enhance bilateral collaboration, creating innovation and groundbreaking research across some of the most relevant areas of our time. The UK and Israel are renowned for world-class science; the ISPF creates new opportunities to increase skills and knowledge sharing in both countries.”
The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It works with people in more than 200 countries and territories to support peace and build connections between the UK and regions around the world.
