In July, the Israel Innovation Authority announced a NIS 100 million investment in new national quantum computing R&D infrastructure. The facility is expected to integrate at least three different quantum processing technologies and provide Israeli companies and researchers with capabilities spanning hardware, control systems, error correction, software, algorithms, and applications.

It is the latest step in a much larger investment. Israel’s national quantum science and technology program has been backed by a budget framework of approximately NIS 1.25 billion, alongside investments in research, infrastructure, industry, and human capital.

Israel clearly recognizes the strategic importance of quantum technology. The challenge now is deciding what the country wants to achieve with these investments.

For a country of Israel’s size, competing with the United States, China, or Europe across every layer of quantum technology would be neither realistic nor necessary. Israel’s opportunity lies in deciding where it can have the greatest strategic impact.

Israel has already built a foundation

There is a tendency when discussing emerging technologies to focus on what Israel needs to do next and overlook what has already been built. Quantum is a good example.

Israel has developed research capabilities across quantum computing, information, communications, sensing, materials, photonics, and related fields. Institutions including the Technion, Weizmann Institute, Hebrew University, and Tel Aviv University have established significant quantum research programs and infrastructure.

Israel has also invested in physical infrastructure. The Israeli Quantum Computing Center gives researchers and companies access to multiple quantum computing technologies alongside classical high-performance computing and development tools.

An industry is emerging around that science as well. Israeli companies are developing technologies across different layers of the quantum stack, from control systems and computing infrastructure to software, error correction, and other enabling technologies. Several have attracted substantial international investment and are competing globally.

The challenge now is turning these capabilities into a national advantage.

The quantum race has many fronts

Quantum computing receives much of the attention, but the Quantum Era is developing across many fronts, including communications, sensing, security, photonics, control systems, software, algorithms, materials, and other enabling........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)