Edmond de Rothschild Foundation Launches AI Grants for Higher Education
The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation offers 500,000 shekel grants for up to five AI ventures aimed at reducing academic dropout rates and supporting peripheral students.
The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation has launched a dedicated call for proposals targeting academic institutions, tech companies, and social enterprises to harness artificial intelligence in bridging socioeconomic divides within higher education. The initiative seeks to integrate AI solutions across the entire academic journey, from admissions and retention to employment.
Grants and Professional Support
Under this initiative, the foundation will award development and implementation grants of up to 500,000 shekels for up to five AI-based ventures that demonstrate practical feasibility and measurable impact. Selected projects will focus on easing academic access, preventing dropout rates, and connecting students from the geographic and social periphery to quality employment.
In addition to the financial grants, chosen ventures will receive up to 60,000 shekels worth of professional mentoring from industry experts. This program allows AI entrepreneurs to validate their technological models within the Israeli academic ecosystem while generating measurable social impact.
Leveraging AI for Academic Equality
Elad Buch, Head of Philanthropy at the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, noted that current barriers for peripheral youth, reservists, and conflict victims can be directly addressed through modern technological solutions.
Advanced AI tools currently enable us to reduce entry barriers, provide active support during admissions, identify at-risk students early, offer real-time mentoring, and connect graduates to the labor market on an unprecedented scale, said Buch.
Dana Bar, Higher Education Utilization Manager at the foundation, added that global academic institutions integrating AI report a 15% to 22% drop in dropout rates alongside improved graduate employment outcomes.
