Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation

About CIIRDF

The Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation (CIIRDF) was established in 1994 to promote collaborative R&D between firms in both countries. With a sophisticated research base to draw on in each country, Canadian and Israeli companies are well suited to form productive partnerships.

CIIRDF is involved in three broad complementary activities:

• Promoting and marketing the benefits of joint Canadian-Israeli R&D collaboration;
• Matching companies in one country seeking a research partner in the other;
• Supporting projects by contributing up to 50% of the joint R&D costs.

For Canada, CIIRDF was an innovation and as a result of its success the Government of Canada created International Science and Technology Partnerships Program (ISTPP) to deliver the India, China and Brazil programs. For Israel, CIIRDF is one of over 30 bilateral initiatives of the Office of the Chief Scientist to promoting R&D for over 30 years.

Fostering Canadian-Israeli Partnerships

Companies worldwide are engaged in a growing array of strategic alliances in order to acquire the technological capacity to maintain competitive advantage. In this context, there is much untapped potential for Canada-Israel collaboration.

Why Israel and Canada?

Israel and Canada both have recognized strengths in areas such as photonics, wireless, nanotechnologies, life sciences and advanced materials. In addition, consider the following:

• Israel has become an international hub of technology flow by establishing foundations similar to CIIRDF with a growing number of countries in Europe, with India, and in the Pacific Rim;
• Israel's investment in R&D has consistently been among the highest in the world (approximately 3% of GDP);
• Israel has over 3,000 technology-based companies;
• Canada has low business and after-tax R&D costs, progressive social policies and a strong economy;
• Canada has a world-class communication infrastructure and ready supply of highly skilled workers.

Research and Development Funding

CIIRDF’s major role is that of sharing in R&D risk by investing up to CD $20,000 for feasibility studies and up to CD $800,000 for full-scale R&D projects undertaken as a joint project by Canadian and Israeli partners. To learn more about how we can assist your company with the application, selection and reporting requirements of CIIRDF R&D Funding, contact your Collins Barrow advisor.