Israel has officially launched its national AI supercomputer, allowing hi-tech companies and academic researchers to train advanced AI models using discounted Nvidia B200 accelerators. The move, announced Sunday by the Israel Innovation Authority, is intended to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global race for computing power.
The supercomputer is part of Israel’s National Program for AI R&D Infrastructure (Telem Program). According to the Innovation Authority, AI cloud provider Nebius was selected to establish and provide access to the computing infrastructure, which is already live and operational.
Now, the authority is launching the next phase of allocating access to the computing resources.
Over the coming years, the program will distribute a total of 1,000 Nvidia B200 accelerators, with 70% designated for hi-tech companies training large-scale AI models and 30% reserved for academic research groups. The Innovation Authority says the allocation may expand if demand continues to grow.
Rinforcing Israel's AI ecosystem
The supercomputer launch is part of a broader national effort to reinforce Israel’s AI ecosystem.
Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, said the launch represents a major milestone in the country’s technological strategy and described the supercomputer as a critical step toward accelerating innovation and ensuring Israel remains a leader in AI.
“Following the establishment and operation of the infrastructure, we are now enabling companies and researchers to gain direct access to advanced computing resources through the allocation of discounted accelerators. This initiative is designed to enable the development and training of large models in Israel, accelerate industrial and research innovation, and strengthen Israel’s ability to continue leading in the global technological race,” he said.
Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Bin said that Israel wants to sustain its place in the AI race and that the Innovation Authority launched a program five years ago to make sure that all the R&D (research and development) infrastructure would be in the country.
“The race for AI is very fierce around the world,” he said. “AI is a transformative and disruptive technology that will change the hi-tech landscape globally and in Israel. It is a tool in developing tech solutions and also a tool to deliver the product.”
The initiative is intended to address the growing global constraints in AI computing. As worldwide demand for resources required to train large models surges, companies often face long waiting times and soaring costs for advanced GPUs (graphics processing units).
First supercomputer designed for AI in Israel
According to Bin, more than 90% of hi-tech workers use AI, and some 22,000 companies have integrated it into their products. Nevertheless, there were no supercomputers designed for AI models based in Israel, and companies used the global cloud to teach their models.
By offering guaranteed access to dedicated GPU clusters inside Israel, the Innovation Authority aims to remove these barriers and provide Israeli companies and researchers the opportunity to train large models and conduct R&D with lower costs, faster response times, and without reliance on foreign infrastructure.
Bin told the Post that this initiative is open for every Israeli start-up whose main R&D and intellectual property is registered in Israel – they just need to excel.
“Those who will receive the GPUs will be chosen based on excellence – the level of disruptiveness of the innovation, the economic potential, and the team with the capabilities to execute. We give the resources to the best that the ecosystem has to offer,” he said.
Applications for access will require a minimum usage period of one to six months, with companies requesting at least 16 B200 accelerators and academic groups requesting at least eight.
If demand exceeds supply, proposals will be evaluated based on technological innovation, business potential, and the applicant’s ability to make effective use of the resources. Allocations for academic researchers, coordinated with the Planning and Budgeting Committee, are expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Over the past year, the Innovation Authority has advanced several complementary initiatives, including the creation of national data repositories in health and agritech programs to expand the AI workforce.
These initiatives are designed to ensure that Israel not only develops cutting-edge AI technologies but also has the infrastructure, talent, and regulatory environment needed to deploy them effectively. Yet officials warn that continued leadership requires sustained investment in computing power and research infrastructure.