Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen: “The agreement we approved in the government will further strengthen the strategic alliance between Israel and the United States and the cooperation between the two countries. There is no doubt that under President Trump’s leadership, the ties between Israel and the U.S. will expand in all areas. As part of the agreement, we will work together to develop innovative energy projects that will help produce clean and affordable energy.”
Gila Gamliel, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology: “This decision is another milestone in deepening the ties between Israel and the United States. It serves as a technological bridge for advancing innovative energy solutions. It also reflects our mutual commitment to developing solutions that will advance the U.S. and Israeli energy sectors and support each country’s private sector efforts to promote energy innovation and access both domestically and globally. I am proud of this collaboration and the benefits it brings to companies and researchers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, has submitted for government approval an extension of energy agreements to further strengthen energy collaboration between the United States and Israel. If approved by the Government of Israel, the extension paves the way for Israel to provide its half of the funding for joint U.S.-Israel energy projects over the next five years. The funds are expected to promote innovation, research, and groundbreaking energy projects, according to the draft Government decision submitted for approval.
The Israeli government approved the decision proposal, led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Israel Innovation Authority, and submitted by Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen. The decision seeks to renew Israel’s role in the energy partnership between Israel and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for at least five more years, extending through the end of the decade. Under the existing agreements, each country allocates up to $6 million annually to support innovative energy projects and research.
This cooperation encompasses multiple areas, with a primary focus on joint research and development (R&D). It includes several unique and groundbreaking programs, involving governmental bodies to develop and implement advanced energy technologies. Renewing this agreement will encourage breakthrough initiatives to reach the market and further strengthen U.S.-Israel government and commercial ties in the energy sector.
For decades, Israel and the United States have collaborated in energy, leading to numerous pioneering joint technological projects. In recent years, the BIRD Energy program has spearheaded bilateral cooperation, fostering partnerships between Israeli and American researchers and companies. Established in 1978, the BIRD Foundation is a bi-national fund supporting industrial R&D collaborations, managed jointly by the two countries.
Another significant avenue of collaboration is through US-Israel Energy Center of Excellence, a program initiated in 2018 by the Israeli Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Israel Innovation Authority, and the U.S. Department of Energy. This program focuses on R&D partnerships in areas such as fossil fuels, cybersecurity for infrastructure, energy storage, and the energy-water nexus, including water and wastewater treatment. The U.S., home to some of the world’s premier energy research institutions globally, provides Israeli researchers and their US counterparts with unparalleled opportunities to advance their research projects into viable products.
The joint efforts in energy technologies enhance market competitiveness, create jobs, and drive technological innovation across various sectors.
