Call for Joint Project Proposals: Italy-Israel Scientific Research Program

The aim of this program is to support the development of scientific and technological cooperation between Italy and Israeli researchers and to strengthen the scientific partnership between research groups from both countries, by establishing bilateral research networks, enhancing research cooperation, and promoting the exchange of knowledge between Italian and Israeli scientists.

The joint research shall focus on one of the main areas of cooperation and its subtopics as detailed in Section A, and concentrate on fundamental science and/or technology transfer of research outputs. Qualifying scientific applicants in this framework may receive research grants from MAECI and MOST, respectively, according to the applicable national funding procedures, regulations, and requirements as detailed in this Call.

Main Areas of Cooperation

• Italian-Israeli research teams are hereby invited to submit joint proposals for scientific research projects in any of the following areas:
  • Technologies for healthy soils (i.e. – novel fertilizers, soil implants, soil microbiome etc.)
  • Water technologies, including: drinking water treatment, industrial and sewage water treatment and water desalination
  • Precision optics, electronics and quantum technologies, for frontier applications, such as next generation gravitational wave detectors

Mode of Cooperation

• Cooperation will take the form of planning and performing joint research as well as conducting mutual visits between laboratories for the purpose of facilitating the research. Each joint research team may submit only one project within this program.
• Cooperation may also take the form of:
  • Joint research activities in which interdependent subprojects of a single project are conducted in Italian and Israeli laboratories;
  • Complementary methodological approaches to a common problem;
  • Joint use of research facilities, materials, equipment and/or services by cooperating scientists;
  • Mutual visits between laboratories for the purpose of facilitating the research.

Level of Funding and Duration of Projects

• It is the intention of the Parties to fund research proposals selected hereunder for a term of three years (36 months) and contracts will be signed accordingly. However, funding shall be approved in accordance with the provisions of the research contracts and protocols in each country.
• At this time, the Parties plan to support up to 11 joint projects, at a maximum, after considering budgetary considerations, including the passing of the State Budget on the Israeli side. The final number of projects to be funded will be determined based on such factors as the merits of the proposals upon scientific evaluation, and budgetary considerations.
• The total maximum funding for all research projects approved under this Call is 1,100,000 Euros (equivalent to 4,400,000 ILS), for a 3-years-period.
• The maximum funding for every single project will be up to 100,000 Euros for the Israeli side (equivalent to 400,000 ILS), and up to 100,000 Euros for the Italian side for a 3-years-period.
• In accordance, research projects should be planned over a 3-year basis beginning approximately in the last semester 2024/first semester 2025. Contracts will be signed accordingly in each country.
• In Italy: The financial contribution by MAECI will cover up to 50% of the eligible costs incurred by the applying Italian institution and, as mentioned above, cannot exceed 100.000 euros.
• In Israel: MOST will cover 100% of the documented and eligible costs of the research up to the amount of the approved budget.

Eligibility Criteria

• Proposals must meet the following preconditions. Proposals not meeting the preconditions will be automatically rejected and will not be passed on to the scientific committee for review and evaluation.
• Projects must be conducted by collaborating Italian and Israeli scientific research teams.
• Proposals must be for research projects in one of the main areas of cooperation and its subtopics as well as meet the required Technology Readiness Level (TRL2-4).
• Each joint research team must be led by a Principal Investigator (PI) from each country.
• The PI on each side must be affiliated with an academic institution or a research institute (“Affiliated Institution”), or be a professor emeritus who continues working on research in affiliation with the Affiliated Institution.
• Principal Investigators from both countries cannot submit more than one project proposal under the present call.
• Special eligibility provisions for Israeli Researchers:
  • In compliance with MOST’s Procedures Regarding Scientific Projects Funded by MOST, an Israeli PI that has or will have an active grant from any of MOST’s international cooperation programs, whose funding will be concurrent to the funding of this program, is not eligible to apply.
  • A researcher who has submitted a proposal for any MOST international cooperation call for funding in the 2024 calendar year, may not submit another proposal for any other MOST international cooperation call for funding in 2024.
• Special eligibility provisions for Italian teams:
  • The project will not be eligible for funding if the signed “Cooperation Agreement” has not been received together with the other required documents within the requested term.

For more information, visit Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MOST).