BIRD – Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial R&D Foundation to Invest in a Groundbreaking Homeland Security Project

The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has awarded funding to a breakthrough homeland security project.

The BIRD HLS (Homeland Security) program has approved a $1.75 million joint project between CyberBee (Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel) and EyeCloud.AI (San Jose, California) to develop a personal mini AI autonomous indoor UAV fit for HLS-wide deployment. The project will combine CyberBee’s vision-based spatial intelligence, enabling indoor navigation in GPS-denied environments, with EyeCloud’s improved edge-AI camera capabilities and real-time cloud processing solutions, to a high-accuracy indoor navigation, light-weight, and low-cost autonomous UAV platform, designed specifically for first responders.

The project was selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS), and was approved by the BIRD Foundation’s Board of Governors.

Since 2016, DHS S&T and MOPS have partnered to fund technology collaboration between U.S. and Israeli R&D companies, addressing the homeland security needs of both countries and demonstrating significant commercial potential. This joint research effort supports technologies in the areas of Cyber Crime, Critical Infrastructure and Public Facilities, Safe and Secure Cities, Border Protection, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Advanced Technologies for First Responders.

The BIRD Foundation promotes collaboration between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological fields for joint product development. In addition to providing conditional grants for approved projects, the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions.

Projects submitted for consideration are reviewed by representatives of the DHS S&T, the Israel Innovation Authority and experts from the Israel Ministry of Public Security.

 “DHS S&T is pleased to mark the seventh year of partnership with MOPS and the BIRD Foundation with the 2022 BIRD HLS award selection of this innovative project, offering a significant leap in first responder capabilities,” said Ms. Megan Mahle, Director of DHS S&T Industry Partnerships, “We look forward to the continued success of the BIRD HLS program that brings together cutting-edge technologies and talent from the U.S. and Israel to develop homeland security solutions that benefit both nations.”

“Over the years, the Israel Ministry of Public Security has been looking for technological tools to enhance security in the public space,” said Dr. Gad Frishman, Chief Scientist, Israel Ministry of Public Security. “We wish success to the awarded companies to further develop their joint system that advances the training of First Responders and increase their response capabilities and operational effectiveness. We are thankful for the cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and the BIRD Foundation to invest in joint innovations that will lead to improvements in public safety.”

Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation, said, “Advanced technologies, like those developed within the BIRD HLS program, have proven to be a very important factor for improving public security, by supporting first responders in fulfilling their missions more effectively and providing U.S. and Israeli companies collaboration and new business opportunities.”

Eitan Yudilevich CEO of BIRD Foundation (Credit: BIRD Foundation)