Call for Proposals

THE CENTER FOR CYBER, LAW & POLICY and its BIOMETRICS SUBCENTER

CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2025

 The Center for Cyber, Law and Policy (CCLP), in collaboration with the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, invites scholars, researchers from academia and industry (including faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students) with expertise in cyber/biometrics law, policy or technology, to apply for research grants in the tracks described below. Applications must be submitted no later than Thursday, 31 July 2025.

Research proposals should follow the instructions and relate to the themes as detailed below. Be sure to specify the track for consideration and matching funds (if applicable).

1. Research Track

Eligibility: Faculty members of any accredited academic institution in Israel and prominent academics or professional experts, from Israel or abroad, working in collaboration with a faculty member as Co-PIs on a joint proposal.

Funding: The CCLP offers research grants up to NIS 100,000 (in addition to the researcher’s matching budget) for one calendar year. There will be a possibility to request one additional year of funding towards the end of the initial grant period. Proposals addressing aspects prominently related to biometrics (on its own or in relation to cyber) may receive up to 150,000 NIS.

To further encourage researchers to approach their research in an interdisciplinary manner, we allow Research Track proposals to collaborate as a Research Group of at least three researchers. The Research Track proposals shall be submitted together with an additional document (up to one page) emphasizing the expected synergy between the projects.

2. Fellows Track

Eligibility: Graduate students of any accredited academic institution in Israel interested in pursuing a research project towards an academic publication.

Funding: up to NIS 50,000 (in addition to the hosting researcher’s matching budget) for one calendar year. There will be a possibility to request one additional year of funding towards the end of the initial grant period. 

3. Visiting Researchers Track

Eligibility: Faculty, fellows, and doctoral students of any accredited foreign academic institution interested in visiting CCLP for two weeks or more.

Funding: CCLP will cover travel and accommodation expenses throughout the visit.

RESEARCH THEMES

CCLP will support selected proposals related to cyber, biometrics, or the intersection thereof. Priority will be given to proposals with a primary focus on biometrics. Proposals may approach these topics from legal, ethical, or technological perspectives, including (but not limited to) the following themes:

Cyber and Biometrics Technologies:

• Digital Identity technologies, including digital identity wallet, centralized and decentralized systems.
• Authentication, Verification, Data Security and Detection Technologies: Facial recognition, voice, gait, and fingerprint in both public and controlled environments; Online ID verification, mobile documentation tools, identity through blockchain; Presentation attack detection, morphing detection, deepfake identification; Protection at device, organizational, and cloud levels; Anonymization, cryptography, big data collection and fusion.
• AI & Smart Systems: Use of machine/deep/generative learning for identification and decision-making (e.g., smart cities, transportation, human enhancement).
• Quantum Technologies: Quantum computing’s interaction with biometrics, surveillance, and cybersecurity.
• Role of Governments and Platforms, Cyber & Biometric Strategy: National digital identification systems, infrastructure protection, executive authority, and legal frameworks; Cyber deterrence, state sovereignty, national crisis management, and cyber-armed conflicts; Sovereignty disputes between global tech platforms and governments.
• Information Warfare: Use of biometric and cyber tools in conflicts and geopolitical influence.
• Public Policy Challenges: Managing risks in cyber and biometric technologies, including disaster and pandemic scenarios.
• Ethics by Design: Building ethical considerations into biometric and digital ID systems.
• Trust, Governance and Democratic Impact: Role of civil society, corporations, and public-private partnerships in cybersecurity; Influence on democratic institutions, elections, and public freedoms.
• Local Law, International Law, and Corporate Responsibility: Sovereignty, jurisdiction, transnational regimes (e.g., EU), laws of war, and human rights; Regulating multinational tech companies and cross-border digital activities; How supranational bodies shape cybersecurity and biometric norms.
• Innovation Economy, Cyber/Biometrics and Regulatory Challenges: Fintech, Web 3.0, monetization, and economic shifts driven by cyber/biometric tech; Cooperation in R&D, exports, and platform governance; Balancing innovation with consumer protection, privacy, and fair competition.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Generative AI:

• AI in Identification: AI-powered biometrics, decision-making algorithms, and deep learning applications.
• Sector-Specific Use: AI used in healthcare, education, security, defense, etc.
• Risks & Governance: Disinformation, AI misuse, adversarial attacks on biometric systems, Public Policy.
• Comparative AI Regulation: International models of AI governance, including “AI by design” and ethical standards.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

All applications must be completed in English and submitted electronically, clearly stating the submission track.

Applications should include:

1. A Research Proposal: up to a three-page description of the proposed research and its relevance to the current call (plus one page for references). Additional supporting material may be submitted and read at the reviewers’ discretion.

The research proposal should include:

• A clear presentation of the research questions, their relevance to a specific theme, state of the art, the proposed solutions, methodologies, or technical approaches the research intends to set forth, and their novelty.
• The qualification of the research team to perform the proposed research.
• A research plan and timetable demonstrating the feasibility of conducting the proposed research within the time and funding limitations.
• A Research Budget: please see Annex for guidelines. Where applicable, indicate whether other sources provide additional support. More specifically, if you have non-Israeli-government funds which may be, or are, allocated to support the proposed research or components thereof, please be sure to state the sum and source, as this increases the chances of funding.

2. Curriculum Vitae of PIs, including a list of selected publications (up to 5 pages).

3. List of 3-5 international experts in the field of research (cannot be: affiliated with the institutions of the researcher(s) submitting the proposal, supervisors/supervisees of the researcher(s), co-authored in the last 3 years, or personal relationship).

REVIEW PROCESS

All proposals will be peer-reviewed. Selection for funding will be determined by CCLP’s Scientific Committee on the basis of academic excellence and the availability of resources. All funding decisions are subject to approval by the CCLP and the Biometrics’ sub-center Steering Committee. CCLP reserves complete discretion regarding awarding grants, including the option of not awarding any grant under this CfP.  Decisions on funding are expected in November 2025.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Grant recipients will be expected to:

1. Lead their research agenda, as well as collaborate with the CCLP faculty and fellows, and contribute to the building of its academic community and reputation.
2. Participate in and present their work at a CCLP event.
3. Submit a final research report describing the outcome of the research and/or intermediate report, upon request.
4. 4. Submit a paper for publication resulting from the research. Each publication supported by the grant will include an acknowledgment.

SUBMISSION

Completed applications must be sent to cyber@univ.haifa.ac.il and received by 31 July 2025.

For any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via the same email.

ANNEX

Please note: The research grant cannot be utilized for the salary of tenure-track faculty members.

The research budget should be formulated subject to the following limitations:

1. Stipends/Scholarships:
2. Scholarships to graduate students (including post-doctoral): at least 35% b. Salaries for researchers and technical personnel: up to 65%.
3. Travel expenses (in Israel and abroad): up to 10%.
4. Hosting foreign researchers in Israel: up to 7.5%.
5. Research Equipment: up to 10%.
6. Equipment and Professional Services up to 10%
7. Events 2.5-10%
8. Teaching: up to 25% and not exceeding four teaching units altogether for a year and all researchers taking part in the research. And will not exceed 40,000 NIS per teaching unit.
9. Proposals with an additional budget, independent of the Israeli government (i.e., not the ISF, Israel’s MOST, etc.), will be preferred. The proposed budget should detail the external support and the requested matching from the CCLP.