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BIRD Foundation Funds New Orthopedic 3D-Printing Project

The Israel-U.S. foundation is providing grant support for an automated in-hospital 3D-printing system.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Healthcare

Isometric editorial illustration of an industrial additive manufacturing nozzle forming a titanium orthopedic implant in a sterile laboratory setting.
The BIRD Foundation has awarded Myrava Inc. a grant to co-develop automated 3D-printing systems for orthopedic surgical instruments with Tel Aviv-based CustoMED. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation has awarded a conditional research grant to Myrava Inc. for a new medical collaboration. The company is partnering with Tel Aviv-based CustoMED to develop automated 3D-printing technology for orthopedic tools.

Why it matters

The foundation supports strategic partnerships between American and Israeli firms to drive global innovation in medical technology. This specific grant aims to advance in-hospital production capabilities for essential orthopedic surgical instruments.

The BIRD Foundation approved $7.4 million to support seven joint projects, with individual grants capped at $1.5 million. These grants cover up to 50% of the project budgets, contributing to an expected total investment of $20 million across the cohort.

The players

Myrava Inc.

A company based in Winston-Salem that was formed following the acquisition of Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC.

CustoMED

A Tel Aviv-based medical technology firm collaborating on the development of orthopedic printing systems.

BIRD Foundation

The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation facilitates cross-border collaboration for industrial innovation.

The details

Myrava Inc., formed in July 2026 following the acquisition of Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC, is spearheading the development alongside CustoMED. The projects are vetted by experts from the U.S. Commerce Department and the Israel Innovation Authority to ensure technical feasibility.

Timeline

  1. The BIRD Foundation was established in 1977.

  2. Myrava Inc. was formed in July 2026.

  3. The research grant recipients were announced on October 30, 2026.

Market Landscape

This project continues the BIRD Foundation's legacy of facilitating industrial cooperation, building upon more than 1,200 collaborations supported since its founding. The initiative positions the participating firms to capitalize on the increasing demand for specialized, in-hospital 3D-printing solutions.

Hospitals may eventually benefit from faster access to customized orthopedic tools produced on-site through this automated technology. The grant support ensures that high-cost research and development can proceed, potentially lowering the barrier to entry for advanced surgical equipment.

The takeaway

This partnership highlights the growing integration of additive manufacturing in hospital environments to streamline orthopedic care. Investors and healthcare providers should monitor how cross-border collaboration influences the speed of bringing specialized medical hardware to market.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest innovations in Healthcare.

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