Israel to invest over $60 million in country’s first quantum computer

The investment in quantum computing is added to the investments of tens of millions of shekels that has been carried out so far as part of the National Quantum Science and Technologies Program

The Israel Innovation Authority and the Israel Ministry of Defense – Directorate of Defense Research & Development (IMOD DDR&D) will fund the establishment of the State of Israel’s first quantum computer, with a budget of around NIS 200 million (approximately $63 million).

 

The investment in the quantum computer will be directed towards two parallel and complementary tracks: the Israel Innovation Authority will focus on building and developing a quantum computational infrastructure for running calculations directly or via cloud access, mainly for optimization purposes, or to improve different elements in quantum computing. The infrastructure will facilitate the assessment of existing algorithms and will be available for implementing research and development in all layers of software and hardware but will not include (Fabless) production facilities. Initially, for the purposes of establishing and operating the infrastructure, there may be partial usage of overseas technology. Going forward, the infrastructure will be integrated with Israeli-developed quantum processors and technologies.

Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin. Photo: Amit Shaal

 

The IMOD DDR&D will establish a national center with quantum capabilities that will be at the center of an Israeli ecosystem that will establish local capabilities. The center will collaborate with academia, the industry, and with all the National Research and Development Infrastructure (TELEM) entities and will deal with the numerous layers in developing a quantum processor, including hardware, control, optimization, algorithmics and interfacing aspects, and more. This is with the goal of developing a complete quantum computer.

 

Quantum computer, unlike a classic computer, is based on an advanced processing system that builds on quantum mechanical phenomena and enables simultaneous processing of a vast number of calculations. Quantum computing significantly reduces calculation time frame and therefore constitutes a significant leap in computational capabilities.

 

“Quantum computing is a technology Israeli industry cannot ignore,” said Israel Innovation Authority CEO, Dror Bin. “The industry must develop knowledge and access to infrastructure in which it can develop growth engines for activities in which it will decide to lead.”

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Dr. Danny Gold, Head of IMOD DDR&D, added: “Quantum computing, on all levels, is showing signs of being an important future component of the state’s security and its technological superiority. Starting this process in the framework of the national program constitutes a significant step towards achieving Israeli independence in this area.”

 

The investment in quantum computing is added to the investments of tens of millions of shekels that has been carried out so far in the technological development among companies and researchers, all as part of the National Quantum Science and Technologies Program, which was launched around two years ago by the TELEM Forum (National Research and Development forum), with a budget of NIS 1.25 billion.