MIBA Named Michigan Representative for the BIRD Foundation
Written by Casey Iaccino – Senior Director of Business Development, Michigan
MIBA is proud to announce a new partnership with the BIRD Foundation, having been formally appointed as its official representative in the State of Michigan. This designation strengthens our ability to connect Michigan companies with high-impact Israeli innovation and unlock new opportunities for collaborative R&D.
The BIRD Foundation is a unique U.S.–Israel program that supports joint industrial research and development between companies in both countries. Through conditional grants of up to $1.5 million—covering as much as 50% of project costs—BIRD helps companies de-risk innovation and accelerate commercialization, all without taking equity or intellectual property.
In this role, MIBA will actively promote BIRD’s funding opportunities across Michigan’s key industries, including mobility, health tech, advanced manufacturing, and energy. We will work directly with Michigan companies to identify strong Israeli partners, facilitate introductions, and guide teams through early-stage discussions and the application process.
The partnership also includes co-hosting educational webinars, coordinating visits from BIRD leadership to Michigan, and ensuring strong visibility for BIRD programs across MIBA’s events and network. Together, these efforts are designed to increase the number and quality of Michigan-based submissions into BIRD’s highly competitive funding pipeline.
This agreement reinforces MIBA’s role as a bridge between Michigan and Israel—helping local companies access global innovation, compete more effectively, and bring new technologies to market faster.
If you are interested in learning more about BIRD grants and how you can partner with a company to advance US–Israel innovation, do not hesitate to reach out.
