The next US-Israel agreement should expand joint innovation - opinion

As the 2016 US-Israel MOU worth $38 billion expires in 2028, the author argues the successor should expand joint innovation beyond defense into civilian and dual-use technologies, citing the BIRD Foundation's 47-year track record as a proven model.

The 10-year memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel, signed in 2016 and worth $38 billion, expires in 2028, and discussions about its successor are already underway. The author, Jaron Lotan, executive director of the Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD), argues that the next agreement should expand joint innovation beyond defense into civilian and dual-use technologies. He notes that in January 2026, Israel became the first country to sign a joint declaration with the US on artificial intelligence and critical technologies, and that Section 224 of the House defense authorization bill would create a standing framework for joint development in missile defense, AI, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity. Lotan points to BIRD's 47-year track record: over 1,200 joint ventures, more than $450 million invested, and over $10 billion in direct and indirect sales, most in the US. He proposes extending this model to fields like AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, water, food security, and advanced manufacturing, arguing that a broader framework would help companies identify partners, conduct joint testing, and move projects from research to commercial deployment. The article is an opinion piece advocating for a specific policy direction, written by the head of the organization that would benefit from expanded funding.