Scientific Entrepreneurship

The Innovation Visas Pilot program enables foreign entrepreneurs to stay in Israel for up to 24 months, during this time they are eligible to receive support from the Innovation Authority under the Tnufa program.

Entrepreneurs from abroad willing to establish a technologically innovative project in Israel are invited to submit an application for the grant of an Innovation Visa.

An innovation Visa shall enable the entrepreneur to develop a technologically innovative project in Israel, for a period of up to 24 months, with the purpose of establishing an Israeli company. During the development of the technological concept, the entrepreneur will be able to receive support from the Innovation Authority's Tnufa Incentive Program.

Entrepreneurs who are holding an Innovation Visa may also be granted an Expert Visa by the time the project is already developed and mature enough to receive support through one of the incentive programs of the Innovation Authority. In order to be granted an Expert Visa, the foreign entrepreneur must establish a company and apply for one of the incentive programs at the Innovation Authority.

Foreign entrepreneurs who opt to establish a company in Israel and granted approval in one of the Innovation Authority's incentive programs will be entitled to receive an Expert Visa that shall enable the entrepreneur to work in the company he established.

The foreign entrepreneurs will be hosted within a landing pad, which will offer exposure to Israel's Eco-System, working spaces, technological infrastructure as well as business and professional support.

As part of a call for proposals, 12 Landing Pads will be selected from the first 15 proposals.

• Foreign entrepreneur shall apply to the landing pad with the project he is willing to develop.
• The landing pad shall approve/reject the project for development - provide Appendix 4 'Statement of the Landing Pad Regarding the Acceptance of a Foreign Technology Entrepreneur.
• In the event that the landing pad approves the project, the entrepreneur shall apply, with the landing pad approval attached, for the grant of an Innovation Visa - provide Appendix 5 'Application for recommendation to issue an innovation visa for a foreign technology entrepreneur'.
• A professional evaluator shall examine the project.
• The project will be brought up for discussion at the Israel Innovation Authority Committee, which will reach a decision on whether to approve the project and recommend the grant of an Innovation Visa to PIBA.
• The entrepreneur will receive a reply from the Committee - provide Appendix 6 'The Committee's Recommendation to PIBA to Issue an Innovation Visa'.
• In the event that the Committee approves the project, the entrepreneur will continue the application procedure as per procedure 5.3.0029 of PIBA (Hebrew)- Residency Permit for foreign innovation entrepreneurs.

• The foreign entrepreneur shall establish a company in Israel.
• The company established by the entrepreneur shall submit an application for grant of approval in one of the incentive programs of the Innovation Authority, in per with the provisions and procedures of the pertinent incentive programs.
• A professional evaluator shall examine the project.
• The project's application will be brought for discussion at the Committee, who shall decide whether to approve the project application and recommend the grant of an Expert Visa to PIBA.
• The entrepreneur will receive a replay from the Committee, regarding the application – provide Appendix 8 - Appendix 8 'The Committee's Recommendation to PIBA to Issue an Expert Visa'.
• If the Committee approves the project application, the entrepreneur will continue the application procedure in per with Appendix 9 -procedure 5.3.0041 of the PIBA - Procedure for handling applications for employment permits and work licenses for foreign Experts.

The Innovation Labs Program - provides support via innovation labs spanning various sectors and operated by leading corporations.

The goals are to provide entrepreneurs with access to unique technological infrastructure, market insights, marketing avenues, and industry expertise, in order to reach a proof of concept and transform technological ideas into products. The lab offers corporations an opportunity to implement open innovation, take part in the leading Israeli ecosystem, and gain exposure to a plethora of innovative developments.

Tools for Startups:

An opportunity to gain access to technological infrastructure to reach a proof of concept and market value offered by the corporate;

The entrepreneur is not required to establish a company before the project is approved;

The incentive program offers participation in the risks involved in the company’s development process but not in future profits or successes.

The Incubators Incentive Program - is designed for entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing a startup company based on an innovative technological concept.

The goal of the incentive program:

Supporting newly established start-ups to reach a fundable milestone

Benefits: 20-50% equity in the incubated companies in return for a complementary 15% investment of the R&D costs. The Israel Innovation Authority funds the other 85% of R&D costs for no equity.

• Incentive Programs for Innovation with Government Entities - enable Israeli technology companies to receive support in their R&D programs or trial programs (pilot – a trial for assessing feasibility/proving the value of existing technology in a work surrounding that simulates the target market) in selected fields:

• Support for trial programs in the field of transportation,
• Support for trial programs in the field of environmental protection
• Support for trial programs and R&D programs in the field of digital health
• Support for trial programs in conjunction with the Government Companies Authority
• Support for encouraging R&D in the field of space technologies
• Support for Groundbreaking R&D Programs in the Field of Cyber
• Support for Pilot Programs in the Field of Cyber
• Support for agricultural R&D and pilots
• Assistance for investment in projects for energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Early Stage Incentive Program- is designed for startup companies seeking to develop and promote an innovative technological project, as well as penetrate the market by raising investments from the private sector.

Goal of the incentive program:

To provide an incentive for private investments in early stage companies engaging in R&D and encouraging the growth and development of the high-tech industry in Israel.

The incentive program is for Israeli startup companies from all industrial sectors, that raised up to $ 10 million and with revenues up to $ 1 million in the previous year, and are interested in developing or upgrading innovative products and penetrate their target markets. The incentive program offers preferential terms for companies held by Minority/Ultra Orthodox entrepreneurs.

The conditional grant provided is 50%/30% of the approved budget, up to NIS 10 million each year. A company receiving the committee’s approval for its first year in the program will be given the opportunity to raise the supplementary funding needed for the project, up to six months after the date of approval.

The Ideation (Tnufa) Incentive Program is designed for fledgling entrepreneurs to develop and validate innovative technological concepts.

The goal of the incentive program:

Support entrepreneurs reaching proof of concept and business feasibility of early-stage projects.

Entrepreneurs and new Israeli startup companies can receive a conditional grant of up to 85% of the approved budget.

The funds will be used for building an initial prototype, intellectual property protection and business development, including materials, degradable components, sub-contractors and consultants, patent attorneys and exhibition expenses (not intended for salaries and overhead expenses).

Renewable Energy (Cleantech) Technology Center - supports technological ventures and R&D projects starting from the stages of applied academic research and early stage entrepreneurship. The center enables testing and trials for products undergoing development and demonstration. The Center is operated by a licensee from the private sector, together with a strategic investor and an academic research center.

The goal of the incentive program:

To assist companies and entrepreneurs that are developing, or interested in developing, a product integrating an innovative technology that has economic potential in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. In addition, the incentive program is designed for teams that can carry out the proposed R&D by themselves, on the technological and managerial levels. This support is conditional upon the project’s ability to contribute to the development of the Eilot region.

The assistance is carried out via three sub-programs:

Initial sub-program: Funding and support of applied R&D activities, via cooperation between academia and industry.

Advanced sub-program: Funding and support of technological projects of early-stage companies in the pre-seed and seed stages.

Testing areas sub-program: Funding and support of demonstrations and experiments in the fields of renewable energy, through facilitating of testing areas and required infrastructures.