Motorola is considering to open another research and development center in Israel, but the decision has not been approved by Motorola's executive board yet, and the company's Chairman and CEO Ed Zander said hew would not deal with the matter during his visit in Israel.
Nevertheless, during a reception held in Zander's honor last Saturday, Vice Premier Shimon Peres lauded the CEO for the company's decision to set up an additional R&D center in the country.
Zander, an American Jew from Chicago, arrived in Israel with Richard N. Nottenburg, Motorola's executive vice president and chief strategy officer in charge of the firm's investments in high-tech companies across the world.
Players in the local high-tech industry wish to see Israel becoming Motorola's largest R&D center outside the United States. Elisha Yanay, president and CEO of Motorola Israel, has been pressuring the American corporation to entrust the Israeli engineers with developing the next generation of mobile technology for the company.
Motorola Israel's annual revenues stand at USD 800 million. The factory, located in the southern town of Arad, employs 420 workers and develops radio communication and electronic equipment for the IDF and large shipping companies.
Over the last two years, Motorola has invested some USD 20 million in eight Israeli startups.
_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brener")
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