BICOM

The Israeli security and intelligence agency, Mossad, has announced the launch of a technological innovation fund to develop its capabilities in partnership with civil society.

The fund is intended to provide innovative capability for maintaining and developing the Mossad’s “technological superiority” through connecting to civilian technological start-up companies.

Speaking at the launch of Libertad, Mossad Director Yossi Cohen said: “Libertad will find its place between the covert Mossad and the open world of technology. Through Libertad we want to connect to you – market leaders, entrepreneurs, companies, industries and research institutes. Libertad will provide the Mossad with a strong, direct and productive link with technological brain trusts and leading pioneers here in Israel in designing tomorrow.”

Cohen continued that the fund was established to “support freedom of operation by visionary entrepreneurs,” whilst “the Mossad will do its part by financing research and development and, in exchange, will receive technology for its needs”.

Libertad will be an additional arm of the Mossad’s technological force build-up, and is aimed to enable rapid research and development for meeting the Mossad’s various goals in an innovative and challenging environment.

Mossad’s investment will be equity free – in return for financing research and development programs, it will receive a licence to use the technology developed without imposing any restrictions on the intellectual property developed and without paying royalties.

The agency is calling for companies and entrepreneurs involved in cutting-edge technological research and development to submit proposals in a variety of fields including flexible robotics, miniaturised systems and all-terrain capabilities.

It is also calling for proposals on innovative technologies for encrypting information at high speed and automatic identification of personality characteristics based on online behaviour and activity.