ISF PROGRAMS

Each researcher may submit only one research proposal per submission cycle.  If you currently hold an active ISF grant, please refer to the eligibility table:
https://www.isf.org.il/Files/Eligibility_Heb_3108_1.pdf

 Programs:

 Personal Research Grant

Registration (mandatory) by 28.10 (13:00) | RA submission: 5.11 | ISF submission by 10.11 (13:00)

Basic research in all fields of science. Grants are awarded to 1–4 investigators for up to 5 years.

Funding: No formal limit. The recent average was ~NIS 230K/year with national success rate of 31%.

https://isf.org.il/#/support-channels/1/10

ISF Mid-Career Equipment Grant

Registration (mandatory) by 30.11 (13:00) | RA submission: 10.12 | ISF submission by 14.12 (13:00)

The program offers funds for mid-career faculty at the status of Assoc. or Full Professor, to purchase scientific equipment.

Eligible are those who first joined the academic system in Israel, as a full-time faculty member, over the past 10-22 years (Oct. 2005 – Sept. 2017), and are applying in this round (fall 2026) to an ISF Personal Grant as sole PIs, and the equipment will serve the proposed research (more details on eligibility and application process in the ISF link below).

The program will fund up to NIS 910,000 per proposal, which will consist of no less than 25% and no more than 75% of the total equipment cost, contingent on a commitment from the host institution to match at least 25% of the ISF contribution.

Each institution may submit up to 10 proposals for this program; therefore, a preliminary selection process will be employed (to be published soon).

https://isf.org.il/#/support-channels/47/11  /  https://isf.org.il/Files/GuidelinesMidCareerEquipmentGrant_Heb_3114_1.pdf

Breakthrough Research Program (MAPATS)

Registration (mandatory) by 28.10 (13:00) | RA submission: 5.11 | ISF submission by 10.11 (13:00)

Large-scale support for basic, high-quality, groundbreaking, and high-risk/high-gain research.  In the current cycle, proposals may be submitted in all fields of study except the humanities.

Eligibility: Researchers with 10 or more years of academic experience as PIs. Each proposal may be submitted by one PI.

Main evaluation criteria:

• PI’s research record, particularly research activity during the past 10 years
• Proposal quality and suitability, including risk versus potential benefit
• Originality and innovation

Funding: Up to NIS 800K/year for experimental/empirical projects or NIS 400K/year for theoretical projects. Grant duration: 5 years.

https://isf.org.il/#/support-channels/50/10

MAVRI – Biomedical Research Grants Track

Registration (mandatory) by 28.10 (13:00) | RA submission: 5.11 | ISF submission by 10.11 (13:00)

Supports biomedical research expected to contribute to a profound understanding of human biology and health- and disease-related mechanisms. The track supports basic or translational research directly related to human biology and health, with potential medical implications.  The following research areas are included in the current cycle:

• Neurology and Mental Health
• Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
• Gastrointestinal, Urogenital and Reproductive Systems
• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Eyes and Vision
• Ear, Nose, and Throat
• Muscle, Skeletal and Dental Systems
• Skin and Connective Tissues

Funding: NIS 2M–4M in total, for up to 4 years. Approximately 20 research grants are expected to be awarded in each submission cycle.

https://www.isf.org.il/#/support-channels/52/10

ISF–Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Research Grant

Registration (mandatory) by 28.10 (13:00) | RA submission: 5.11 | ISF submission by 10.11 (13:00)

The program aims to encourage scientific research cooperation between Israeli and Swiss researchers. It supports proposals for basic research, selected based on scientific excellence and quality, in all fields of knowledge.

In this cycle, the ISF will be the lead agency for submission and evaluation.  The joint proposals will be submitted to and evaluated by the ISF. The Swiss researchers will also submit the required application through the SNSF system, in accordance with SNSF requirements.

Funding: Grants are awarded for 2-4 years. Amount of funding for the Israeli researcher: No upper limit specified. The expected grant amount is comparable to the average funding awarded for an individual research grant in the relevant submission field. In recent cycles the funding for the Israeli partner was in the range of NIS 240K-300K per year.

https://www.isf.org.il/#/support-channels/51/10

SNSF:

https://www.snf.ch/en/WAvYcY7awAUGolST/funding/projects/projects-in-all-disciplines

https://www.snf.ch/en/6NiRBOzRU75VH5as/funding/projects/weave-lead-agency

https://www.snf.ch/en/Shcb21B7T7hmJBwM/funding/projects/lead-agency-process

ISF-Czech Science Foundation (GACR) Research Grant

In this cycle, the ISF will be the lead agency for submission and evaluation.

Registration (mandatory) by 28.10 (13:00) | RA submission: 5.11 | ISF submission by 10.11 (13:00)

The deadline for submission by the Czech applicant through the GACR system is 18 November 2026.

The program promotes collaborative research between Israeli and Czech scientists and supports high-quality basic research.

Funding: No upper limit specified. Approximately 20% of proposals are expected to be funded.

https://www.isf.org.il/#/support-channels/60/10

ISF-Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Research Grant

In this cycle, the FWF will be the lead agency for submission and evaluation.

Registration (mandatory) by 28.10 (13:00) | Submission of full proposal on FWF online system by 10.12 (14:00, CET). ISF administrative proposal submission by 13.12 (13:00)

The program promotes collaborative research between Israeli and Austrian scientists and supports high-quality basic research.

Funding: No upper limit specified. Duration: 3–4 years. Expected success rate: Up to 20% of proposals.

https://www.isf.org.il/#/support-channels/61/10

ISF–DFG: Israel–Germany Collaboration

Mandatory ISF portal pre-registration deadline: 28.10 (13:00) | ISF submission deadline: 4.8.27 (13:00)

Applications may be submitted to the DFG at any time before 4.8.27. However, ISF pre-registration must be completed by 28.10.26 (13:00).

• The DFG accepts applications and conducts evaluations on an ongoing basis; in exceptional cases, the process may extend beyond one year.
• An Israeli researcher (PI) may hold only one ISF international grant at any given time. Therefore, a new proposal involving international collaboration may only be submitted to the ISF once the evaluation process for the current proposal has been completed and the results published.
• The Israeli PI must submit an administrative proposal through the ISF online system no later than seven days after the German PI has submitted the full proposal to the DFG.

The program supports Israeli-German joint research proposals in basic research across all fields.

Proposals must be prepared according to the DFG format and guidelines. The DFG will organize the review and evaluation of the proposals.

Grant duration: Up to 3 years.

Funding: Budgets should be prepared according to the rules and regulations of each foundation. ISF rules do not limit the budget amount; however, applicants should request a realistic amount and provide appropriate justification.  In recent cycles the funding for the Israeli partner was in the range of NIS 240K-300K per year.

ISF call: https://isf.org.il/#/support-channels/56/10

DFG guidelines: www.dfg.de/en/news/news-topics/announcements-proposals/2025/ifr-25-73