On May 25, Brazil and Israel have launched the first Call for Proposals for cooperation in research and development (R & D) between Brazilian and Israeli companies. This Call is the result of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2007 on Bilateral Cooperation in Industrial Research and Development in the Private Sector.

This initiative is being coordinated and implemented by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade - MDIC and the Israeli Industry Centre for R&D - MATIMOP and provides funding for joint research and development technological projects between Brazilian and Israeli companies, using resources from the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS), from the Israeli side, and the National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Financing of Studies and Projects (FINEP) and Bank of Northeast of Brazil (BNB), from the Brazilian side.

An announcement of this nature should be introduced into the market annually with estimated two calls inviting Brazilian and Israeli companies in all industries sectors to draw up a proposal for cooperation in R&D that results in the development of new products, processes or services of industrial application leading to commercialization in the domestic and/or global markets.

The partner search process ("matchmaking") between these two countries will take place continuously assisted by the Brazilian Committee, coordinated by MDIC in Brazil and MATIMOP in Israel and will include a meeting agenda at conferences and missions of different industries sectors to create opportunities to Brazilian and Israeli businessmen to meet their potential partners.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Brazil
Ana Paula Goellner
Department of International Negotiations
MDIC - Ministry of Development,  Industry and Foreign Trade / www.mdic.gov.br
Tel: +55 (61) 2027-7038
Fax: +55 (61) 2027-7385
ana.goellner@mdic.gov.br

Israel
Mrs. Merav Tapiero
Program Manager / Asia-Pacific & Latin America Desk
MATIMOP - Israeli Industry Center for R&D www.matimop.orq.il
Tel: +972 3 5118169
Fax: +972 3 5177655
merav@matimop.orq.il