GovTech Incentive Program renewed by Israel Innovation Authority and Israel National Digital Ministry

The Israel Innovation Authority, the Israel National Digital Ministry, and the national “Digital Israel” program are renewing its GovTech Incentive Program for the fifth consecutive year. The program was designed to promote innovative technologies for the public sector.

Since 2016, the GovTech Incentive Program has encouraged companies and non-profit organizations to provide solutions to some of the challenges faced by the public sector, including areas such as education, health, welfare, economics, or governance.

“In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, it is crucial now more than ever to bolster the capacity of the public sector to manage this crisis while responding to the needs of citizens by connecting government entities with private companies developing advanced technologies,” said Aharon Aharon, CEO, Israel Innovation Authority. “The GovTech incentive program supports the integration of such innovative technologies, whose goal is to improve the quality of day-to-day public services while encouraging high-tech companies to remain in Israel.”

“To date, NIS 100 million ($30 million) have been invested in some 200 initiatives through the GovTech incentive program, and 72% of these initiatives were successful thanks to the support they received, enabling them to develop solutions that will help the public sector provide better services to Israeli citizens,” said Asher Bitton, Director-General, Israel National Digital Ministry. “I see great importance in this program at a time when there is a need to simultaneously stimulate investment in the private sector and further digitize the public sector.”

The new 2020 Call For Proposals includes a NIS 10 million ($2.9 million) budget and invites companies to identify problems and provide technological solutions for areas in the public sector. These may include: medical assistance during the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, helping educators prior to the re-opening of schools, or digital solutions for local authorities.

The 2020 GovTech Incentive Program offers two levels of support. First, requests with a budget of up to 500,000 NIS ($147,000) will be eligible for a grant up to 75%, whereas requests with a budget between 500,000 to 1,500,000 NIS ($147,000 to $441,000) will be eligible for grants of 40%, 50% or 60%.

For the first time, additional funding will be available to highlight under-represented entrepreneurs such as minorities, ultra-orthodox, and women.

Companies that have received grants via the program in the past include Serenus.AI, the first AI-based platform assisting with medical decisions ahead of procedures; and MoodKnight developed by 4Girls Ltd. - a tech enterprise analyzing digital content to uncover mental distress in victims of violence by using AI.