Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) today announced plans to combine its R&D facilities in Tel Aviv and Haifa into a single strategic center: Google - Israel R&D Center.
The new Google Israel R&D center in Tel Aviv will oversee the Tel Aviv and Haifa facilities, which will both continue to function, and will be headed by Prof. Yossi Matias, previously head of the Tel Aviv R&D center. Prof. Matias, an expert in algorithms, data analysis and Internet technologies will have overall responsibility for Google R&D and Technology Innovation in Israel.
When asked if the opening of the new strategic center in Tel Aviv meant that the Haifa R&D center might be closed Prof. Matias said, "At this stage we are keeping the existing situation. There can always be changes regarding one or two development centers and what is ahead of us nobody knows. But that's the decision for the moment."
At present Google Israel has 80 employees - 50 in Tel Aviv and 30 in Haifa.
The new center will have additional responsibilities including data analysis and search. The expanded search responsibility will be lead by Dr. Yoelle Maarek, a specialist in search technologies.
The elevation of the company's engineering activity in Israel into a single strategic center further strengthens Google's presence in Israel. As a world-class engineering operation, the new engineering center will continue to develop innovative products and research work that serves global users as well as local Israeli users.
Google VP Engineering EMEA Nelson Mattos said, "For Google, engineering is everything. We have spent a lot of time structuring our engineering operations to make the most of the exceptional talent that's available across EMEA."
Mattos added, "Google has had now for a couple years two autonomous R&D centers in Israel, tapping on Israeli talent and innovation. These two centers in Haifa and Tel Aviv have delivered highly visible and innovative products and technologies, such as Google Trends, Google Suggest, Google Visualizations, and YouTube Annotations. Our long-term goal is to continue to make our engineering centers even stronger, ensuring that innovation and speed remain at our core. With the new Israel engineering center, we are taking another important step to bring this strategy to life."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 8, 2009
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