EXPLORATION PARK, Fla.—July 9, 2024—Today Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, and the Israel Innovation Authority, an independent publicly funded agency dedicated to fostering innovation ecosystems, announced the award recipients of the 11th round of funding from the Space Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership Program.
The program has supported the research, development, and commercialization of aerospace and related technology projects for the benefit of Florida’s and Israel’s economy since 2013. To date, Florida and Israel have helped fund over $22 million in valuable and innovative research.
This year’s award recipients are:
- KBR Wyle Services (Titusville, Florida) and Purammon LTD (Israel): These two companies will collaborate to develop a novel wastewater treatment system for use in crewed spaceflight. This is based on electrochemistry that provides significant size, weight, and operational advantages over existing biological/chemical technologies.
- Lockheed Martin (Merritt Island, Florida) and StemRad (Israel): These two companies will work together to further develop systems and technologies to protect astronauts from dangerous radiation that can pose a significant risk during crewed human spaceflight. Future human spaceflight missions will have an urgent need for radiation shielding to help prevent acute radiation-induced illnesses and cancers.
- Guident Autonomous Intelligence (Boca Raton, Florida) and Novelsat Limited (Israel): These two companies will research, develop, and demonstrate an advanced autonomous vehicle communication system focusing on low-latency satellite services. The project aims to advance teleoperation safety by using research-based methods and testing to ensure the system works well in various situations.
- SRF Consulting Group (Tallahassee, Florida) and Mobility Insight (Israel): These two companies will develop, deploy, and manage a pilot of Mobi’s Traffic Management as a Service (TMaaS) system in Central Florida. The TMaaS system uses artificial intelligence to ingest transportation and related data to build comprehensive network level awareness, predict traffic issues and provide plans to mitigate or prevent the issue.
“Congratulations to this year’s award recipients. The Space Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership Program stands as a testament to the power of international collaboration in driving technological advancement and economic development,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “This program has consistently paved the way for groundbreaking innovations that benefit both Florida and Israel. Our continued commitment to this partnership ensures that we remain at the forefront of aerospace and technology innovation.”
Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, said, “The partnership between the United States and Israel is a beacon of international cooperation in the aerospace sector. It provides a unique platform that fosters cross-border innovation and technological advancements, with a specific focus on the high-impact field of space technology. The companies selected feature the cutting edge of novel technologies and are set to make significant contributions to the global space industry. This collaborative program between Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority builds on the synergies between the two stakeholders to enhance global impact and to drive forward international collaboration and technological innovation in the aerospace sector.”
“We are thrilled to announce the award recipients of the Space Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership Program. This initiative not only strengthens the collaboration between Florida and Israel but also drives forward the research, development, and commercialization of groundbreaking aerospace technologies,” added Rob Long, president and CEO, Space Florida. “We look forward to seeing the continued advancements and economic benefits that these projects will bring to both of our regions.”
The joint funding program was established 11 years ago in cooperation and ongoing support of Enterprise Florida (known as Select Florida today) and continues to fund projects that have transformative implications for the aerospace industry. Through this collaboration, Florida-based companies have gained access to Israeli technological prowess and innovation, while Israeli companies have benefited from the state’s thriving aerospace ecosystem.
More information can be found at www.spaceflorida.gov/israelpartnership.
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Media Contact:
Alayna Curry, APR, acurry@spaceflorida.gov
About Space Florida
Space Florida is where leading aerospace companies get everything they need to see their new ideas take off. As the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, Space Florida brings a mix of unrivaled experience, unmatched financial tools, and unbeatable location to the table by providing critical business financing opportunities for the aerospace industry, managing infrastructure investment in the state’s spaceport system, and facilitating research and development, workforce, education, and investment programs.
