Cyber revolution in Israel

The Israel Innovation Authority, the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, and the National Cyber Directorate launch a dedicated program to strengthen Israel’s cyber industry at a scope of NIS 90 million over the next three years

August 14th, 2018, Jerusalem. Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry, Eli Cohen: “The joint program launched by the Israel Innovation Authority and the Cyber Directorate will ensure that Israel continues to meet the cyber sector’s biggest challenges, secure our place at the forefront of innovation, and bolster Israel’s global leadership in this critical industry.”

 

Director General of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, Yigal Unna: “This program expresses the government’s ongoing commitment to preserving and strengthening Israel’s global cyber leadership, one of the most significant engines of the hi-tech industry’s growth. The program is dedicated to addressing the cyber industry’s unique challenges, with an eye towards the future. A significant part of the investment will be directed toward upgrading CyberSpark, the Israel Cyber Innovation Arena in Beersheba, to further strengthen its position as a global cyber hub. Together with the Israel Innovation Authority, we will enable Israel’s cyber industry to continue leading the way in global technological innovation.”

 

The program consists of three parts: investment in technologies with “gamechanger” potential on a global level; funding support for companies moving from the development stage to the testing and demonstration stage; and the allocation of resources to CyberSpark.

 

As part of the program, cyber defense companies will be able to receive funding in two central areas:

• Support for long-term, groundbreaking R&D – A program intended to support the development of technologies with significant potential to influence the global market, with the aim of establishing additional foundations upon which Israel’s cyber industry can build in the future.
  • This program is intended for Israeli cyber technology companies that deal with high-risk R&D.
  • As part of the program, companies can receive up to 66% of their R&D expenditure for a given project, and up to NIS 5 million per year for the project.

 

• Support for pilot programs – A program intended to enable trial runs of innovative cyber technologies, examine their scalability and viability among major clients, to enable companies to prepare go-to-market strategies, and facilitate market penetration by implementing their technologies in test sites. As part of this program, companies are eligible to receive:
  • Up to 30% financing for a program with an approved budget of up to NIS 1 million for a single pilot in Israel.
  • Up to 50% financing for a program with an approved budget of up to NIS 1.5 million for a single pilot outside Israel.
  • Up to 50% financing for a program with an approved budget of up to NIS 2.5 million for two pilots outside Israel.
  • The program is intended for Israeli cyber technology companies who have developed a product/service that has not yet been launched in Israel and is still undergoing development. In terms of technology readiness level (TRL), the program aims to promote cyber companies with a TRL of 4/5 (validation in laboratory) to a level of TRL 7/8 (actual system qualified through test and demonstration).

 

In addition, the Israel National Cyber Directorate and the Israel Innovation Authority will jointly promote the creation of innovation arenas in sectors undergoing significant digital transformations that expose them to cyber threats (e.g. health, transportation, finance, etc.). The innovation arenas will convene international industrial players, regulators, academics, and Israel’s cyber industry to create solutions for tomorrow’s cyber challenges and preserve Israel’s global cyber leadership.

 

The new programs are designed to encourage the creation and growth of whole, sustainable cyber companies in Israel through the promotion, development, and commercialization of innovative technological solutions. This program is an additional tier of the new support programs offered by the Israel Innovation Authority in cooperation with government ministries and other agencies, which already include support for pilot programs in environmental protection, health, and transportation.

 

CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, Aharon Aharon: “The local cyber ecosystem is very developed and wins acclaim around the world. Despite significant investment from VCs who have expressed faith in the local cyber market, many companies face challenges in finding suitable sites to test their technologies. This new program solves this issue and will significantly accelerate companies’ growth and penetration into the global market.”

 

Chief Scientist, Ministry of Economy and Industry, and Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, Dr. Ami Appelbaum: “The Israel Innovation Authority has done a great deal to promote the impressive cyber ecosystem that has grown in Israel over the past few years. The Authority stresses the importance of groundbreaking cyber defense technologies to preserve Israel’s unparalleled prowess in the field. Additionally, in proving the viability of new technologies, cyber companies often need access to information and systems that are not always readily accessible to developers. This program will make it easier for companies to gain access to test sites which are not currently available to them.”