WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Israeli Energy Ministry signed the Implementation Agreement to establish the U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy, Engineering and Water Technology (“the Center”).

In March 2018, the United States Congress appropriated $4 million for the Department of Energy to establish the Center for joint research and development with Israel. This sum will be matched by the Israeli government as well as by private sector partners, for a total targeted initial sum of $16 million dedicated to this project.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz signed the agreement today at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Energy of the State of Israel and the Department of Energy of the United States of America have signed an agreement establishing a new U.S.-Israel Center of Excellence in Energy, Engineering, and Water Technology to advance energy research and energy security between our two nations,” said Secretary Perry. “The partnership between our two countries has long advanced the cause of freedom, dignity, and peace and, as we are highlighting today, the joint quest for science and innovation.”

The Implementing Agreement provides the foundation for the establishment of the Center, which aims to accelerate development and more rapid deployment of critical and innovative technologies for fossil energy, energy cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, the energy-water nexus, energy storage, and other areas of energy that are needed to diversify energy supply and promote higher efficiency.

Further areas of collaboration include: additional R&D cooperation, technology transfer best practices from academic institutions and National Laboratories for application by industry in the United States and Israel, workforce training and educational programs, as well as student and postdoctoral exchange.

The Center’s activity will be in addition to that of the BIRD Energy program, which has been active since 2009.

The Center is a meaningful strengthening of the cooperation between the United States and Israel in the field of energy and will provide the foundation for further strengthening of this relationship in the future.