CDR provides funding for Israeli and developing country scientists to cooperate in joint research on significant development problems, while strengthening the future ability of the non-Israeli scientists to do such research themselves.
Researchers can be from the private sector, a university or government labs.
CDR was created in 1985. CDR seeks innovative research ideas in natural sciences and engineering that aim to solve serious development problems. Research should contribute to economic growth, reduction of the burden of disease or undesired population growth, or protection of the environment. The program emphasizes areas in which Israeli technology and expertise could be particularly valuable to target countries, such as arid-lands and saline agriculture, irrigation and hydrology, biological control of insects, development of appropriate medical technology, solar energy and desalination.