Two South Florida Companies Selected for Prestigious U.S.-Israel BIRD Innovation Awards
South Florida companies are increasingly finding themselves at the center of global innovation and two local technology leaders are the latest examples joining international partnerships advancing cybersecurity and biotechnology solutions.
This is impressive, considering only 7 U.S. companies received grant awards.
Solitude Labs, based in West Palm Beach, and OrganaBio, headquartered in Miami, have been selected as U.S. partners in the latest funding cycle from the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation, a program designed to accelerate collaboration between American and Israeli companies developing breakthrough technologies.
The May 2026 BIRD Foundation awards approved $7.5 million in grants supporting seven new U.S.-Israel technology partnerships, with the projects expected to leverage approximately $20 million in combined investment. The selected collaborations span industries including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, healthcare, agriculture, food technology, and advanced biotechnology.
“These projects represent a combined investment of $20 million. By sharing development risks, BIRD is enabling these joint R&D partnerships to advance critical technologies across vital sectors. Whether developing AI-powered smart spraying systems, next-generation operational technology security, or breakthrough cell therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis, these companies are tackling pressing industry challenges, “ shared Mike Molnar, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Office at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and co-chair of BIRD’s Board of Governors.
For South Florida, the announcement represents more than individual company milestones, it reflects the region’s expanding role in building and commercializing technologies with global impact.
Solitude Labs Tackles Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
West Palm Beach-based Solitude Labs was selected to partner with Israel-based Ensights AI Renewable Energy on the development of next-generation cybersecurity solutions designed to protect operational technology (OT) systems within critical infrastructure.
Operational technology powers the physical systems that communities and industries rely on every day, including energy, utilities, manufacturing, and industrial environments. As these systems become increasingly connected, protecting them from cyber threats has become a national and global priority.
Solitude Labs’ work focuses on strengthening cybersecurity for these environments, helping organizations address vulnerabilities in the systems that support modern infrastructure.
The company’s selection through BIRD places a South Florida cybersecurity company into an international network of innovators working on one of the most pressing challenges facing governments and industries worldwide.
Miami’s OrganaBio Supports Next Generation Cell Therapy
Miami-based OrganaBio was also selected as part of the BIRD Foundation program through a partnership with Israel-based Neurogenesis to develop a cell therapy approach for progressive multiple sclerosis.
OrganaBio supports the development of advanced cell and gene therapies through specialized biological materials, clinical cell processing, cryopreservation, and manufacturing services for biotechnology companies.
Founded in Miami, the company has built a platform designed to help accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to clinical application. Its work represents another side of South Florida’s growing innovation economy, one focused not only on software and digital technologies, but also on life sciences and biotechnology.
The partnership with Neurogenesis highlights how South Florida companies are contributing to global efforts to address complex medical challenges, including neurological diseases.
The Significance of the BIRD Foundation Award
The BIRD Foundation has spent nearly five decades supporting collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies, helping translate research and innovation into commercial products. Projects are evaluated through a rigorous process involving BIRD staff and experts appointed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Israel Innovation Authority.
“The seven selected new projects highlight the depth and vitality of the technological partnership between the U.S. and Israel,” said Dr. Alon Stopel, Chief Scientist of Innovation at Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and co-chair of BIRD’s Board of Governors. “In an era of complex global challenges, the cooperation between the industries and technologies of both nations generates groundbreaking solutions in the fields of healthcare, cybersecurity, and foodtech.”
The Foundation has supported more than 1,200 collaborations since its creation, with previous investments helping generate significant commercial outcomes across industries.
Unlike traditional investment programs, BIRD funding helps companies share the risk of research and development while maintaining ownership of their intellectual property.
“The projects approved this cycle demonstrate the unique power of true collaboration between American and Israeli companies. By combining complementary expertise, technologies, and entrepreneurial capabilities, these partnerships create outcomes far greater than the sum of their individual parts, “ stated Jaron Lotan, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation.
“Through these joint efforts, the participating companies are accelerating impactful technologies, addressing evolving market needs, and generating long-term economic and commercial value for both the United States and Israel.”
South Florida’s Next Chapter: From Destination to Innovation Engine
The selection of both Solitude Labs and OrganaBio signals a broader shift taking place across South Florida.
The region has long been recognized as a hub for finance, international business, and entrepreneurship. Increasingly, however, South Florida is becoming home to companies working on advanced challenges, from securing the energy infrastructure of the future to developing new medical treatments.
Solitude Labs established its headquarters in West Palm Beach, positioning itself within a region that is becoming increasingly focused on resilience, innovation, and next-generation infrastructure.
Through 35 Mules, an innovation ecosystem, which brings together entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and industry leaders focused on energy innovation and infrastructure solutions, Solitude Labs has been able to engage with stakeholders focused on the future of energy, including grid modernization, distributed energy resources, and infrastructure resilience.
The connection reflects a larger trend: South Florida is increasingly becoming a place where technology companies are not only relocating, but collaborating with universities, industry partners, and global innovation networks to solve real-world problems.
“A big congratulations to James Wolf, Nikita Volynskiy, Daniel Kawiecki and the entire Solitude Labs team on being awarded a BIRD Foundation grant,”shared 35 Mules in a social media post. “With only about 20 projects funded each year, the BIRD Foundation is one of the most selective innovation programs supporting the U.S.-Israel collaboration. This recognition is a strong validation of both the team and the cybersecurity technology they're building.”
Together, these companies represent a more mature technology landscape emerging across the region: one where South Florida is not only attracting innovation from around the world, but creating companies capable of competing globally.
From cybersecurity to biotechnology, South Florida is becoming a place where ideas are moving from research labs to real-world impact.
