Google closes the biotechnology company’s research and development centers in Israel

Google is ending operations of its biotechnology company Verily in Israel. Verily launched in Israel in August 2021, but about 30 of the company’s remaining employees in Tel Aviv and Haifa will be laid off amid Google’s decision to concentrate all R&D in the U.S.

Verily has raised more than $3.5 billion to date and has been trying to emerge from the shadow of Google parent company Alphabet for years. It has undergone several rounds of layoffs in recent years as it prepares for a potential IPO as an independent company.

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Google offices in Tel Aviv.

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“As part of our ongoing review of business needs, Verily has made the difficult decision to begin the process of closing its research and development center in Israel, located in both Haifa and Tel Aviv,” a Verily spokesperson told The Guardian, which first reported the news. “This decision is consistent with our strategy as we continue to improve the overall operations of our company.”

“Israel’s war on Gaza had no influence on our decision,” the spokesman added.

“The Verily Israel team has made important innovations and advances over the past few years, particularly focusing on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to biomedical problems,” the spokesperson said. “We plan for this critical work to continue across our U.S. facilities.”