Applications must be submitted together by at least one scientist from each country, but not more than six in total. Scientists who wish to apply for a grant must submit their application through an institution or agency with legal status. The BSF accepts research proposals from institutions of higher learning, government research institutions, hospitals and other non-profit research organizations. Proposals originating in industry are not considered.

Although proposals cannot be submitted by for-profit or industrial organizations, one of the principal investigators may be affiliated with such an organization. The research performed by for-profit organizations will not be funded by the BSF. The investigators should be familiar with BSF patent policy before completing the collaborative arrangements.

The Israeli and American principal investigators must have obtained a PhD, or MD, or an equivalent degree, and must be faculty members or equivalent. Graduate students or postgraduate researchers are not eligible to submit applications.

Investigators may submit only one proposal to each annual competition. Furthermore, since an investigator may hold only one BSF award at a time, a grantee may submit a new proposal only during the last year of the current award.  Nevertheless, occasionally the BSF may announce an exception to this rule in a special call for proposals, which has special support from an external source.

A revised application can be submitted a second time, if allowed by the BSF in the decision letter. A second revision (third submission) of an application, which was not awarded a grant previously, is not allowed.

A proposal that was submitted in one year is not eligible for submission the following year under another area of research (AOR) in the split program. If submitted, it will be rejected and also be prohibited from submission in the next competition cycle of the original area of research.

However, a scientist who is engaged in interdisciplinary research is permitted to submit proposals in consecutive years, provided they are on completely different topics.

According to the agreement between the two governments, cooperative projects sponsored by the Foundation may not be conducted in geographic areas which came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967 and may not relate to subjects primarily pertinent to such areas.

Prior to formal submission, the proposal may be discussed with the BSF staff either by letter, telephone, e-mail or in person.

Due to lack of adequate resources, not all science and technology fields are supported by the BSF. For the same reason, each Area of Research (AOR) is eligible to submit only every second year. For detailed lists of eligible AORs, click here.