Bringing Top Global Talent to Israeli Bio-Pharma Industry (Israel)

The Israel Innovation Authority (through its Human Capital for High-Tech Fund) is inviting proposals to source, prepare, screen, and place experienced international “Top Talent” into Israeli biopharma companies. The call addresses a shortage of senior executives with relevant experience in managing Israeli drug development companies and aims to strengthen management, fundraising, and drug development capabilities. The deadline for submission is 13 October 2026 at 12:00 PM (Israel Time). Opportunity at a Glance

- Opportunity name: Bringing Top Global Talent to Israeli Bio-Pharma Industry

- Funding organization: Israel Innovation Authority (Human Capital for High-Tech Fund)

- Opportunity type: Call for proposals to support recruitment and placement programs

- Who this is for (designated audience): - Recruitment and placement agencies - Nonprofit organizations - Companies with relevant biopharma recruitment and professional network experience in Israel and abroad

- Primary purpose: Identify, prepare, and place experienced senior executives/directors (“Top Talent”) from abroad into Israeli biopharma companies

- Eligible applicant locations: Applicants must be incorporated and registered in Israel

- Deadline: 13 October 2026, 12:00 PM (Israel Time)

- Funding level (grant rate):

- Up to NIS 1,000,000 requested budget: grant of 50% / 60% / 70% of the approved budget (Committee decision)

- Above NIS 1,000,000 requested budget: grant of 30% / 40% / 50% (Research Committee decision)

- Exceptional cases: Research Committee may approve 60% or 70% of the approved budget if the program shows particularly high innovation and uniqueness

- Possible additional support: Research Committee may add up to 10 percentage points to the grant rate if predefined measurable targets are met (targets specified in the approval letter)

About the Opportunity

The Israeli biopharma sector faces a shortage of senior executives with relevant experience in managing Israeli drug development companies. According to the call, this shortage limits the ability of Israeli startups to raise capital, grow, and advance their development programs, and makes it more difficult to develop the next generation of senior biopharma executives. To address this, the Israel Innovation Authority is launching a call for proposals to identify and place experienced senior executives and directors (“Top Talent”) from abroad into Israeli biopharma companies. The program includes components that cover the full pipeline—from sourcing through placement and follow-up measurement. Funding and Benefits This call provides grants for programs that recruit and place international biopharma Top Talent into Israeli companies. Grant rates - Requested budget up to NIS 1,000,000: Grant may be 50%, 60%, or 70% of the approved budget (based on the Committee’s decision). - Requested budget exceeding NIS 1,000,000: Grant may be 30%, 40%, or 50% of the approved budget (Research Committee decision). - Exceptional innovation/uniqueness cases: Research Committee may approve 60% or 70% of the approved budget. - Performance-based uplift: The Research Committee may add 10 percentage points to the grant rate if the recipient meets predefined measurable and assessable targets. The additional rate and targets will be stated in the approval letter. Placement scope and role types

Placements may include:

- Executive and board positions in Israeli biopharma companies, including C-suite and VP roles - Full-time or part-time engagements - Roles may be on-site, hybrid, or remote, depending on company needs and role nature Program elements may include - Mechanisms to build a pool of qualified Top Talent for future matching - An effectiveness measurement mechanism with measurable annual targets and follow-up after 12 and/or 24 months Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicant types (designated audience)

The call is directed to:

- Recruitment and placement agencies - Nonprofit organizations - Companies with relevant experience in biopharma recruitment and professional networks in Israel and abroad Mandatory eligibility criteria Applicants must meet all of the following: - Israeli incorporation and legal compliance: The applicant must be a corporation duly incorporated and registered in Israel and operate in accordance with Israeli law. - Nonprofit/public-benefit requirement (if applicable): If the applicant is a nonprofit organization or a public-benefit company, it must hold a valid Certificate of Proper Management issued by the Registrar of Associations. - If less than two years have passed since the organization began operating, it must hold a certificate confirming submission of the required documents. - Human capital challenge focus: The proposal must address one or more challenges related to development of skilled human capital for Israel’s knowledge-intensive industry, as defined in the call’s Benefit Track.

- International Top Talent in biopharma: The program must involve identifying and/or placing international biopharma Top Talent, as specified in the call.

- No duplicate government support: No financial support may have been received from another government entity or from the Israel Innovation Authority, directly or indirectly, for the implementation of the proposed program, except according to provisions under the Benefit Track. - Financial standing: The applicant must not have restricted bank accounts and must not be subject to receivership, a stay of proceedings, liquidation, or similar proceedings. - Minimum-wage compliance: The applicant and its controlling shareholders must comply with requirements related to minimum-wage approval conditions under the Encouragement of Industrial Research and Development Regulations. Important ongoing requirement The call states that these eligibility criteria must be met: - at the time of submission, and - throughout the entire implementation period of the approved program. Failure may lead to rejection or cancellation. Eligible Activities or P