Israeli Initiative Moves Hundreds of High-Tech Families to Negev and Galilee Kibbutzim

After decades of unsuccessful attempts to relocate high-tech companies to Israel's periphery, Israeli tech pioneer Dov Moran, inventor of the USB flash drive, is promoting a new model focused on moving people instead of companies. Together with serial entrepreneur Tom Lavi, Moran is spearheading the "High-Tech Kibbutz" project, which aims to establish communities of high-tech workers and their families in kibbutzim in the Negev and Galilee regions, starting with Ein Hashlosha near Gaza and Ma'ayan Baruch in the Upper Galilee. Hundreds of families have already registered for the initiative.

The project responds to the failure of previous government efforts that offered tax incentives and infrastructure investments to attract companies to the periphery, which largely remained centered around Tel Aviv. Moran explains that people move for community, not just jobs or tax benefits, and that high-tech professionals prefer to be together to share knowledge and culture. The initiative encourages groups of families to relocate together, maintaining their current hybrid or remote work arrangements with companies based in central Israel.

The program includes a trial absorption period of one to two years, allowing families to assess their fit with the community before committing fully. It also requires participants to contribute two hours weekly to local education, such as teaching STEM subjects, to foster integration with existing residents. Annual public lectures by community members are also planned to strengthen ties.

Supported by the Jewish Agency, local authorities, philanthropic organizations, and tech companies including Cisco, Nvidia, and Grove Ventures (owned by Moran), the initiative also highlights economic benefits. Families can save up to 20,000-25,000 shekels annually in taxes and enjoy lower living costs. Many participants express Zionist motivations and a desire to help rebuild areas affected by recent conflicts, especially after the October 7 attacks and ongoing security challenges.

Moran and Lavi emphasize that the project is not profit-driven but a patriotic effort to revitalize Israel’s periphery through high-tech. They envision scaling the model to thousands of families over time, aiming to decentralize Israel’s high-tech industry and strengthen the country’s social and economic fabric. The initiative reflects a broader vision of a liberal, high-tech-oriented Jewish state with a more balanced geographic distribution of its workforce.