A Natick project is one of four in the state that will be awarded grants under the first round of the Massachusetts-Israel Innovation Partnership (MIIP).
Announced by Gov. Deval Patrick and Israeli Chief Scientist Avi Hasson on Tuesday at the BIO International Convention in Boston, the grants total at least $1.3 million.
SBH Sciences of Natick and Improdia of Israel will work together on a Massachusetts Life Sciences Project to develop and manufacture therapy for chronic inflammation. SBH will get $184,000 from the center and Improdia will receive $202,000 from Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist.
Other Massachusetts awardees are in Needham, North Billerica and Wilbraham.
The grants are a result of Patrick’s 10-day trade mission to Israel in March 2011, where a coalition explored growth opportunities of common interest for Massachusetts’ and Israel’s innovation industries. During that mission, Patrick and Shalom Simhon, Israeli minister of industry, trade and labor, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Jerusalem. MIIP was established to implement the MOU’s framework.
MIIP is a formal collaboration between the commonwealth and Israel to encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship in life sciences, clean energy and technology sectors.
“This partnership represents a significant commitment to ensure the long-term success of our economy in Massachusetts by exploring growth opportunities and common interests within the Commonwealth’s and Israel’s innovation-based sectors,” Patrick said in a statement.
