Amazing Israeli Success:  Israeli researchers and companies awarded over 1.1 billion euros between 2021-2024 as part of the Horizon Europe program 

The data demonstrates outstanding Israeli excellence across all sectors:

• Academia: 605 researchers received grants totalling approximately €592 million. 
• Industry: 386 companies received grants totalling approximately €228 million. 
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): 40 companies received grants totalling €95 million. 
• EIC Accelerator program: An additional €242 million was awarded to Israeli companies participating in the European Union's EIC Accelerator program. 
• ERC grants: Israel remains among the leading countries in securing prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants, with 390 researchers receiving funding amounting to €489 million. 
• Consortium projects: 626 Israeli researchers and companies have successfully integrated into collaborative European projects, contributing to initiatives worth approximately €234 million. 
• Green Deal (Climate & Sustainability): In an area of growing global importance, 195 Israeli researchers received €110 million in funding for projects addressing climate and sustainability challenges.

ISERD, the Israeli Horizon Directorate at the Innovation Authority, and the European Union Delegation to Israel will hold a ceremony this evening, recognizing these achievements presenting an award to the Israeli researchers and companies who won Horizon Europe grants during 2021-2024.

ISERD management and its steering committee, which includes the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education (CHE), the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Israel Innovation Authority, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will recognize awardees’ achievements at tonight’s event. The event will highlight the important cooperation with Europe, a partnership that significantly contributes to establishing Israel as a leading country with international reputation in research, development, and innovation - from breakthrough basic research to practical applications benefiting Europe and the world.

The program has opened opportunities for Israeli companies and researchers to establish strategic collaborations with European partners, enabling a combined approach into addressing technological, environmental, and social challenges. Additionally, Israel is integrated into a broad network of European research infrastructures and participates in flagship projects in disruptive fields such as quantum technologies, graphene, and brain research.

Gila Gamliel, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology: "Israel’s success in the Horizon Europe program is a powerful testament to our scientific and technological excellence. More than €1.1 billion awarded to Israeli researchers and companies in just three years is not merely an impressive economic achievement—it is global recognition of Israel’s status as a leading innovation nation.

In these challenging times, scientific collaboration with Europe serves as a strategic bridge, enhancing our capabilities and contributing to global climate, health, and technology solutions. I am particularly proud that 390 Israeli researchers have been awarded the prestigious ERC grants, positioning Israel at the forefront of groundbreaking research.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, together with the Israel Innovation Authority, will continue to invest in building these scientific bridges —delivering unparalleled returns to Israel’s economy, academia, and industry."

Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, Chairman of ISERD’s Steering Committee, and Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology: "Israel’s broad participation in the Horizon Europe program is a testament to its status as a global innovation hub—one that transcends borders and drives global impact. Collaborations with academic institutions, research labs, and leading industries across Europe open new doors for Israel to develop groundbreaking technologies, advance cutting-edge scientific research, and solidify its position as a key player in the global economy. These achievements are proof of Israel’s innovation and excellence, underscoring its role as a strategic partner in shaping the future of science and technology."

Prof. Yossi Mekori, Chairman of the Council of Higher Education Planning and Budgeting Committee: "The European R&D programs are of paramount strategic importance in advancing Israeli research, strengthening cooperation with the European community, and ensuring Israel's position as a leader at the forefront of global science. We are particularly proud of the impressive successes of Israeli researchers in European Research Council (ERC) grants, among the most prestigious and competitive grants in the world. These achievements reflect the high level of academic research in Israel, and we are committed to continue encouraging the participation of our researchers in such programs."

Mr. Dimiter Tzantchev - EU Ambassador to the State of Israel: "Israel’s high-tech leadership and the EU’s strong research base make Horizon Europe a win-win. Together, we accelerate green and digital transitions, boosting resilience and competitiveness. This partnership is not just about funding projects—it’s about building a more sustainable, resilient, and knowledge-driven future for both Europe and Israel.  This is a win-win cooperation for Europe and Israel, where the final result is greater than the sum of its parts. I would like to encourage talented researchers and innovators to continue using all available opportunities offered by Horizon Europe. I would like to underline the importance of Science Diplomacy in addressing common challenges as a means to bring peace and stability to the Middle East region. The EU strongly supports Israel’s engagement with regional partners for advancing solutions to global and regional challenges.

Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority: "Despite geopolitical shifts and global challenges, excellence and innovation are universal languages—and the ongoing success of Israeli researchers and companies in the Horizon Europe program proves this time and again. Israel continues to lead in innovation, and the impressive number of prestigious grant awards reflects its standing as a key strategic partner in Europe and worldwide.

Scientific and technological collaborations are not only a growth engine for Israel’s economy but also strengthen our international ties, cementing Israel’s position as a global knowledge hub at the forefront of research and development.

Despite attempts by certain actors to hinder Israel’s integration into the global arena, the results speak for themselves—scientific and technological cooperation with Europe has not only persisted but expanded. Israel is recognized as a leading partner, thanks to its groundbreaking innovation and unique capabilities, and the Israeli industry remains an integral force in developing cutting-edge technological solutions that will benefit the global economy and society as a whole.

Examples of projects and research that received funding

[Consortiums]

ICT

IBM Israel is participating in the TEADEL project, which began in September 2022. The project includes 17 partners and focuses on "data lakes" where large amounts of data are stored and processed. The project offers cloud innovation to improve data analysis capabilities while maintaining privacy and security. The project also works towards energy efficiency and improves the operation of "data lakes."

Mellanox, an Israeli company, is participating in the SMARTEDGE project, which began in January 2023. The project involves 14 partners and focuses on building a distributed artificial intelligence network, prioritizing privacy, personal security, and reliability. The project develops fast processing capabilities, data fusion, and the ability to share between different devices using dynamic communication networks. The work in the project is diverse and involves demonstrations in various sectors including healthcare, automotive, cities, and factories.

Security

EKON is participating in the B-prepared project, which began in October 2023. The project involves 14 partners and is designed to improve civil preparedness for natural disasters. To address the danger posed by various natural disasters, the B-prepared project has chosen to use innovative technologies to teach citizens useful skills for dealing with disasters. The project focuses, among other things, on developing platforms for mobile phones and virtual reality (VR) where various games can be developed and played to teach participants how to behave during natural disaster events. The project also includes a system for monitoring and measuring the readiness of platform users.

EIC Accelerator

Health

GENETIKAPLUS LTD received an EIC Accelerator grant that began in June 2022. The company works to develop innovative tools for dealing with depression. To upgrade medicine's ability to deal with depression, in this project the company is developing innovative blood test analysis using a broad screening method against existing medications. The screening helps promote personalized medicine in which each patient will receive tailored, rapid treatment to improve work processes and coping with depression.

EIC Pathfinder

Energy

Storage Drop and Professor Gershon Grossman from the Technion received an EIC Pathfinder grant as part of a consortium of 7 partners that began operating in September 2024. The project involves developing an innovative and efficient cooling system using carbon dioxide. The development of energy-efficient cooling technologies can impact our lives in various areas, including: food storage, computing centers, cooling with air conditioners, and improving environmental quality.

ERC

Social Sciences

Professor David Friesem from the University of Haifa received an ERC grant active from October 2022. The research aims to study Neolithic societies in the Eastern Mediterranean and examine cultural impacts of environmental changes that led to social changes. The research conducted around the Carmel area includes analysis of soil samples and subsurface samples and combines bio-archaeology, geo-archaeology, and offers innovation in these research fields.

Professor Shulamit Michaeli from Bar-Ilan University and Professor Yitzhak (Tsachi) Pilpel from the Weizmann Institute of Science received an ERC grant that began in May 2023. The project, led by the Pasteur Institute in France, focuses on studying evolutionary mechanisms and their impact on human diseases. The researchers are examining how Leishmania parasites, which cause severe diseases in humans, exploit genomic instability to improve their survival. The project aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that allow these parasites to regulate their gene expression through changes in gene dosage, including amplification of whole chromosomes, chromosomal regions, or individual genes. Understanding these mechanisms may provide new insights into the development of diseases such as cancer, where genomic instability plays a central role.

Dr. Shira Chapman from Ben-Gurion University received an ERC grant that started in October 2024. The project focuses on developing innovative quantum models for understanding quantum gravity theory in space. Its goal is to create a quantum analogy using advanced tools from the field of quantum information, including measures such as entanglement, complexity, and chaos. The project is expected to significantly impact the study of quantum gravity and offer practical applications in this field.

https://innovationisrael.org.il/iserd/

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