MINISTRY OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Their core work

Israel's national ministry responsible for science and technology policy, acting as a funding agency in European research cooperation. In H2020, the Ministry participated exclusively in ERA-NET Cofund actions, pooling national research funds with other countries to launch joint transnational calls in areas like nutrition science, gender in research, and materials innovation. Their role is strategic: they decide which research themes Israel co-funds at the European level, shaping the country's international R&D priorities rather than performing research themselves.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The Ministry's ERA-NET participation shifted noticeably over time. Its earliest engagement (2016) focused on life sciences — specifically gut microbiota, diet, and prevention of lifestyle diseases. By 2017-2021, the focus pivoted toward societal and industrial priorities: gender mainstreaming in research funding, and then advanced materials and battery technologies tied to climate and sustainability goals. This trajectory mirrors broader European policy shifts toward the Green Deal and SDG-aligned research agendas.

The Ministry is aligning Israel's co-funded research toward energy materials and sustainability — expect continued engagement in Green Deal-adjacent ERA-NETs.

How they like to work

The Ministry never coordinates — it joins as a participant, which is typical for national funding bodies in ERA-NET Cofunds. With 76 unique partners across 37 countries from just 3 projects, its network is exceptionally broad, reflecting the large multi-country consortia inherent in ERA-NET structures. Working with them means accessing Israel's national research funding streams for transnational calls, not a bilateral research partnership.

Despite only 3 projects, the Ministry connects to 76 partners across 37 countries — a consequence of ERA-NET Cofunds assembling dozens of national funding agencies per consortium. Their reach spans virtually all of Europe plus associated countries.

What sets them apart

As Israel's science ministry, they are a gateway to Israeli national co-funding in European research initiatives. For consortium builders, including them means that Israeli research teams can receive national funding through joint transnational calls. This is particularly valuable for ERA-NET proposals where broad geographic coverage and non-EU associated country participation strengthens the application.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GENDER NET Plus
  Demonstrates the Ministry's engagement beyond hard sciences — co-funding research on gender equality and sex/gender analysis integration across national funding systems.
• M-ERA.NET3
  Their most recent and strategically significant project, aligning Israel with European priorities on battery technologies, circular economy, and the Green Deal through 2026.