Intel Executive Highlights Untapped Tech Talent in Israel’s Periphery Amid Industry Growth
The Israeli high-tech sector is experiencing record growth in investments and output, yet a 2026 Innovation Authority report warns of a human capital shortage, noting "more output, fewer developers." While much attention focuses on talent leaving Israel or being recruited abroad, Daniel Ben Atar, Intel’s Global Corporate Vice President and Co-CEO of Intel Israel, urges recognition of overlooked talent within the country, especially in peripheral regions like the south and north.
Ben Atar recounts how Intel’s "Ofek Darom" (Southern Horizon) program in Kiryat Gat identified and trained local residents, many without traditional academic credentials or military tech backgrounds, to fill technical roles. Over 130 people were trained in electrical, electronics, and robotics skills, with many excelling and advancing to four-year mechatronics engineering programs. This approach challenges the industry’s conventional recruitment model, which prioritizes candidates with specific degrees or elite military experience, and instead focuses on potential, motivation, and technical aptitude.
He emphasizes that expanding talent pools beyond established channels is both a business and social imperative. The program’s success has inspired families and communities, fostering local economic growth and strengthening national resilience. The initiative is now expanding beyond Intel to include other companies and public and social partners in the Kiryat Gat industrial park.
Ben Atar stresses that maintaining high standards is compatible with broadening access, as training bridges knowledge gaps and supports long-term career development. He calls for a shift from judging candidates by their starting point to evaluating their potential and providing opportunities accordingly. This inclusive strategy, he argues, is vital for Israel’s tech industry to compete globally and for the country’s overall future.
In conclusion, Ben Atar frames the challenge as transforming the human capital in Israel’s periphery into a key growth engine, turning "Ofek Darom" into a model of opportunity that can unlock thousands of untapped talents nationwide.
