Government agencies in Israel and the US have announced plans to invest $3.85 million in projects meant to improve the security of critical infrastructure in both countries.
The investment is made through the BIRD Cyber Program, a joint initiative from the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), the Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation, and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).
As part of the program, four grants will be awarded for security projects targeting the maritime sectors, airport and air traffic, and industrial control systems (ICS).
Rescana and Trend Micro will work on a threat intelligence capability for the maritime sector; Salvador Technologies and Bastazo will build a solution for ICS vulnerability management, monitoring, and recovery; and Cyber 2.0 and Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport will develop a cyber visibility, monitoring, and data traffic detection solution.
The fourth project will focus on the creation of a cyber protection solution that will cover the entire attack surface of airports.
Submitted in response to the first BIRD Cyber solicitation, these projects were approved after being rigorously reviewed by DHS S&T, INCD, and the BIRD Foundation.
Through private-sector funding, the total value of these projects will be increased to approximately $10 million.
“The first year of the BIRD Cyber program has yielded projects that will deliver cutting-edge solutions to pressing cybersecurity challenges facing the U.S. and Israel,” DHS S&T director Megan Mahle said.
Promoting collaboration between US and Israeli companies, the BIRD Foundation not only awards grants for approved projects, but also works with organizations to identify potential strategic partners.
The foundation provides funding of up to 50% for any approved project, repaid in royalties from sales of the products resulting from the BIRD support. No repayment is required if the project does not reach the sales stage.
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