Israel on Tuesday announced plans to advance the development of a national quantum computer, as countries around the world are vying for supremacy in what promises to be the new age of technology to solve significant scientific and engineering challenges in the years to come.

In a joint statement by the Prime Minister’s Office National Artificial Intelligence Directorate and the Finance Ministry Accountant General’s Department, Israel issued a tender to establish a locally produced quantum computer dubbed “Project Nexus.”

The stated goal of this step is to establish “Israeli technological sovereignty,” provide a significant boost to the local high-tech ecosystem, and strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness. Beyond launching the tender — part of a government push on quantum computing and advanced AI — the announcement gave no details on budget or implementation timeline milestones.

Speaking at a Knesset committee meeting in July, Erez Askal, Director of the National AI Directorate estimated that implementing the national plan would require an annual budget of about NIS 5 billion ($1.66 billion). The Finance Ministry was not available for comment when contacted by The Times of Israel.

The advancement on the multi-year plan was announced less than a month after the Israel Innovation Authority said it would invest NIS 100 million ($33 million) to establish national infrastructure for research and development that will help local companies and universities test, evaluate, and adopt advanced quantum computing technologies.

Israel’s initiatives come amid a global race to develop quantum computing capabilities that serve national needs, and amid concern that the nation could be missing out, as major countries from the US to China step up investments into the next wave of technologies. The technology is still in its infancy, with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Intel........

© The Times of Israel