Computer and software giant Hewlett Packard said its largest research and development center will be located in Israel in the wake of its acquisition of Mercury Interactive. HP bought Mercury for about $4.5 billion in stock in a deal that was completed earlier in November. Thomas Hogan, senior vice president of HP Software's technology solutions group, said HP has <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2061430,00.asp?kc=EWEWEMNL112006EP20D">opted to keep Mercury's 700 employees</A> that had worked in its offices in Yehud, a town near Tel Aviv, which will bring HP's workforce in Israel to more than 3,000--the second largest tech firm after Intel.