The Israeli newspaper said the maker of iPods, iPads and iPhones has already hired Israeli high-tech veteran Aharon Aharon to run the centre.
Globes said that although Apple was a global innovation leader, it is a small investor in R&D. It invested $2.4 billion in R&D in 2010, just two per cent of its revenue and less than other high-tech firms, it said.
The R&D centre in Herzliya, Israel's version of Silicon Valley, would be Apple's first outside California, Globes said.
The newspaper said Apple vice-president of R&D Ed Frank was currently visiting Israel.
Earlier this week, Israeli media reported Apple was in advanced talks to buy Anobit, an Israeli maker of flash storage technology, for $400 million to $500 million.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Apple+open+research+centre+Israel/5864695/story.html