NVIDIA plans to triple its workforce with new campus in Israel

In a significant move for its operations, the California-based technology giant NVIDIA is planning to expand its presence in Israel, a country where it has already established its largest research and development operation outside the United States. This expansion is highlighted by a Request for Information (RFI) submitted by NVIDIA, seeking to acquire up to 120 dunams (about 30 acres) of land near Yokneam for a new campus that will significantly increase its workforce, potentially tripling the current number of employees from 5,000 to accommodate thousands more. The proposed new campus will not only serve as an expansion of workforce but will also house up to 180,000 square meters of research and development space. Specifically, the site is planned to have hundreds of labs and engineering teams that are focused on cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, communications software and hardware, alongside CPUs. The company aims to prioritize sites that are immediately available for construction and are easily accessible via major highways and public transport to facilitate its operations and workforce commuting. NVIDIA's existing relationship with Israel is strengthened by its previous significant investments in the region, including a $500 million investment earlier this year to establish a new data center in northern Israel. This facility will directly support the company's operations while also accommodating the Israel-1 supercomputer, which is among the world’s top 40 supercomputers and was developed locally. These developments indicate the crucial role that Israel plays in NVIDIA’s global success and technological advancements. The company credits much of its achievements in Israel to the 2020 acquisition of Mellanox, a company specializing in high-speed networking that is based in Yokneam. This acquisition not only enhanced NVIDIA’s hardware portfolio but also solidified its foundation for development in Israel, which has become vital for its artificial intelligence breakthroughs. NVIDIA's processors, particularly the A100 and H100 GPUs, have become essential tools for training large AI models, signifying Israel's central role in NVIDIA's strategic operations. With a market valuation over $3.9 trillion, NVIDIA’s growth trajectory appears significantly linked to its Israeli endeavors moving forward.