Our seed grants support collaborative research teams of California and Israeli scientists to initiate major research projects.
Our program funding allows researchers to travel to work together (Israeli researchers come to California, and California researchers go to Israel), formulate broader plans for joint research efforts, and conduct research to generate initial pilot data. Pilot data that demonstrate the feasibility of novel research methods are often crucial in securing large follow-on grants.
We fund research in the mathematical and physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering, agriculture and medicine.
Our program was founded in 2016. All administrative functions for the program are established at the UC Davis and UC Berkeley Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. We have established a financial home for the program at the Jewish Community Foundation of the West.
Beginning in 2025, our program includes special grant supplements to support the participation of undergraduate student researchers in funded projects.
Our program functions both as a cultural exchange and as an incubator of collaborative research.
Campus Initiatives
Since 2017, we have completed 5 rounds of funding at UC Davis, where the program is facilitated by the Office of Research.
In 2026, UC Berkeley will have its first call for proposals. We are grateful to local faculty and the UC Berkeley Office of Research for support in our first major expansion.
We are growing our program to all major research institutions throughout California
“The California-Israel fund definitely got me started on a very fruitful and close collaboration with two Israeli institutions, and we are continuing to collaborate.”
Helen Dahlke, Land, Air and Water Resources, UCD