Nvidia Builds $1.5 B AI Campus in Israel, Calls it a ‘Second Home’

American technology company Nvidia confirmed it will build a major AI research and development campus in Kiryat Tivon, northern Israel, as part of a multiyear project reportedly valued at around $1.5 billion. The firm’s chief executive emphasized that Israel has become Nvidia’s “second home” due to its deep pool of technologists and existing research infrastructure.

The campus is expected to cover a large tract of land and eventually house more than 10,000 employees, making it one of Nvidia’s most significant international facilities outside the United States. The company plans to purchase land from the Israeli government for the site, marking a rare example of a global tech giant owning — rather than leasing — its campus in the country.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027, with the first phases of occupancy set for 2031, according to local reporting. The facility will house collaborative workspaces, labs, shared services, and amenities designed in the spirit of Nvidia’s well-known Silicon Valley headquarters.

Why Did NVIDIA Choose Israel?

Israel has emerged as a key hub for AI and semiconductor R&D, hosting one of Nvidia’s largest engineering workforces worldwide and serving as a major innovation base following the company’s 2020 acquisition of Israeli chip maker Mellanox. That acquisition helped establish the foundation for several Israeli Nvidia development centers focused on AI networking, high-performance computing, and hardware-software integration.

Beyond the campus plans, Nvidia has continued to expand its footprint nationwide. In the southern city of Be’er Sheva, the company is tripling the size of its R&D center and hiring hundreds of engineers. These expansions reflect how Israel, with thousands of Nvidia specialists already on the ground, plays a central role in the firm’s global AI research ecosystem.

The local tech ecosystem has also seen broader investment growth. By late 2025, Israeli tech funding reached record levels with $15.6 billion raised in the year, suggesting a rising valuation of its innovation economy even amid wider geopolitical challenges.

Economic and Regional Impact

The upcoming campus is expected to dramatically reshape Kiryat Tivon’s economic landscape, a town with fewer than 20,000 residents. Local reports estimate that the presence of Nvidia’s campus will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and push demand for housing, services, and infrastructure in the wider Haifa region.

Regional planning discussions have already touched on how small communities must adapt to accommodate large workforces, including improvements to transportation and urban services to support a new influx of professionals.

In economic terms, the campus represents a long-term commitment to Israel’s high-tech leadership, positioning Nvidia as a cornerstone investor in one of its most competitive sectors. The project also signals continued confidence by a major global corporation in Israel’s engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.

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