BARD Fund – R/D Collaboration on Food and Nutrition (Israel)

Deadline: 09-Sep-2026

The BARD Fund 2026 supports collaborative applied research and innovation projects between Israeli and U.S. academic and industry partners in food, nutrition, and agricultural systems. The initiative provides funding through two tracks—Applied Research in Industry and Applied Research in Academia—to accelerate commercialization, improve public health, strengthen food systems, and promote technological innovation in agriculture and nutrition.

Overview

The BARD Fund 2026 is a joint initiative launched by the Israel Innovation Authority and the BARD Foundation to strengthen research and development cooperation between Israel and the United States.

The program supports applied research projects that address critical challenges in food quality, nutrition, agricultural productivity, sustainability, and chronic disease prevention. Through partnerships between academia and industry, the initiative seeks to transform scientific research into commercially viable solutions that improve public health and strengthen food systems.

Program Details

• Program Name: BARD Fund 2026
• Organizers: Israel Innovation Authority and BARD Foundation
• Collaboration Model: Israel–United States research partnerships
• Focus: Applied research and commercialization
• Target Sectors: Food, nutrition, agriculture, health, biotechnology, and agritech
• Eligible Participants: Israeli companies, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and U.S. research institutions
• Funding Structure: Two dedicated funding tracks

Funding Allocation

The program budget is divided into two categories:

Applied Research in Industry

• Total Budget: NIS 5.6 million
• Focus: Industrial validation and adaptation of research for commercial application
• Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Advancement from TRL 4 toward market implementation

Applied Research in Academia

• Total Budget: NIS 10 million
• Focus: Advancing academic research toward commercialization
• Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Development toward TRL 5

Funding may be reallocated between tracks depending on application demand and evaluation outcomes.

Key Focus Areas

The BARD Fund 2026 supports innovation across several strategic areas.

Food and Nutrition Improvement

Projects may focus on:

• Food quality enhancement
• Food safety technologies
• Nutritional composition improvement
• Personalized nutrition solutions
• Functional food ingredients
• Health-focused food innovation

Food Diversity and Availability

Supported activities include:

• Innovative cultivation methods
• Biodiversity enhancement
• Sustainable food production
• Reduction of post-harvest losses
• New food source development
• Climate-resilient agricultural practices

Healthy Consumption and Public Health

Relevant topics include:

• Personalized dietary systems
• Nutrition management technologies
• Food allergen detection
• Consumer health solutions
• Healthy eating behavior improvement
• Chronic disease prevention strategies

Alternative Proteins and Feed Innovation

Projects may address:

• Alternative protein production
• Sustainable feed ingredients
• Novel protein technologies
• Agricultural biotechnology applications

Agricultural Systems Innovation

Priority areas include:

• Agricultural robotics
• Farm automation
• Smart packaging technologies
• Precision agriculture
• Artificial intelligence applications
• Digital twin technologies
• Computational decision-support systems

What is Technology Readiness Level (TRL)?

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a framework used to measure the maturity of a technology.

TRL 4

At this stage:

• Technology has been validated in a laboratory environment.
• Initial proof of concept exists.
• Further testing is required before commercial deployment.

TRL 5

At this stage:

• Technology has been validated in a relevant operational environment.
• Commercialization pathways become more realistic.
• Industry adoption potential increases significantly.

The BARD Fund focuses on helping technologies move closer to market readiness and commercial application.

Funding Tracks Explained

Applied Research in Industry Track

This track supports Israeli industrial corporations collaborating with:

• Israeli Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs)
• U.S. academic institutions
• Research partners in the United States

The objective is to adapt and validate existing research outcomes for industrial use and commercial deployment.

Applied Research in Academia Track

This track supports:

• Israeli Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs)
• Supporting industrial corporations
• U.S. research institutions

The goal is to advance academic discoveries toward commercialization and market application.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants may include:

• Israeli industrial corporations
• Israeli Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs)
• Research commercialization entities
• Academic institutions participating through TTOs
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Industry-academic research partnerships

Applicants must:

• Meet eligibility requirements under the relevant incentive programs.
• Establish formal collaboration with eligible U.S. research institutions.
• Demonstrate clear commercialization potential.
• Align project activities with one of the program’s priority areas.

Role of U.S. Research Institutions

U.S. partners play a critical role in the initiative.

Eligible collaborations typically involve:

• Academic research institutions in the United States.
• Institutions with approved research activity under the U.S. National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
• Joint research and commercialization partnerships.
• Cross-border knowledge transfer and innovation activities.

How the Program Works

The initiative encourages collaboration between research institutions and industry partners.

Step 1: Build a Partnership

Applicants establish collaboration between:

• Israeli industry partners or TTOs.
• Eligible U.S. research institutions.

Step 2: Identify a Research Opportunity

Partners select an innovation challenge within food, nutrition, agriculture, or public health.

Step 3: Develop a Joint Project

The consortium prepares a project focused on applied research and commercialization potential.

Step 4: Demonstrate Technology Readiness

Applicants show that the technology meets the required TRL level for the selected funding track.

Step 5: Submit the Application

The consortium submits a proposal according to program guidelines and eligibility requirements.

Step 6: Evaluation and Funding

Applications are assessed based on innovation, impact, commercialization potential, collaboration strength, and technical feasibility.

Why This Program Matters

Food systems, nutrition challenges, and agricultural sustainability require global collaboration and innovation.

The BARD Fund helps:

• Strengthen Israel–U.S. research cooperation.
• Accelerate commercialization of scientific discoveries.
• Improve food security and nutrition outcomes.
• Support healthier populations.
• Advance agricultural technologies.
• Strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Reduce barriers between academia and industry.
• Promote sustainable and resilient food systems.

Benefits for Participants

Successful applicants may gain:

• Access to research funding.
• International collaboration opportunities.
• Industry-academia partnerships.
• Commercialization support.
• Market validation opportunities.
• Technology development acceleration.
• Enhanced innovation capacity.
• Access to specialized expertise and infrastructure.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Establish a strong and well-defined U.S. partnership.
• Clearly demonstrate commercialization potential.
• Show how the project addresses food, nutrition, or agricultural challenges.
• Present a realistic technology development roadmap.
• Explain expected economic and societal impact.
• Demonstrate clear industry engagement.
• Provide evidence of technology readiness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to secure an eligible U.S. research partner.
• Submitting projects with unclear commercialization pathways.
• Insufficient demonstration of TRL readiness.
• Weak collaboration frameworks.
• Limited market relevance or impact.
• Incomplete documentation.
• Poor alignment with program priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BARD Fund 2026?

The BARD Fund 2026 is a collaborative Israel–U.S. applied research funding initiative focused on food, nutrition, agricultural innovation, and commercialization.

Who manages the program?

The initiative is jointly operated by the Israel Innovation Authority and the BARD Foundation.

What are the two funding tracks?

The program offers Applied Research in Industry and Applied Research in Academia funding tracks.

How much funding is available?

The program allocates NIS 5.6 million for Applied Research in Industry and NIS 10 million for Applied Research in Academia.

Are U.S. research partners required?

Yes. Applicants must demonstrate formal collaboration with eligible U.S. research institutions.

What industries are supported?

The program supports food technology, nutrition, agriculture, agritech, biotechnology, alternative proteins, automation, robotics, and related innovation sectors.

What is the main objective of the program?

The primary goal is to accelerate applied research, strengthen Israel–U.S. collaboration, and advance technologies that improve food systems, nutrition, public health, and agricultural sustainability.

Conclusion

The BARD Fund 2026 provides a valuable opportunity for Israeli and U.S. partners to collaborate on high-impact research and innovation in food, nutrition, and agricultural systems. Through dedicated funding for both industry and academia, the initiative supports technology commercialization, strengthens international research cooperation, and promotes solutions that can improve public health, food security, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

For more information, visit Israel Innovation Authority.