Quantum: The Consortium That Drives the Quantum Leap
The Israeli quantum ecosystem is booming. Based on a strong foundational layer of basic science, the formation of the Israel National Quantum Initiative (INQI) has heralded an impressive wave of dozens of new start-ups and industry groups
Quantum computing is one of the most disruptive and promising scientific and technological areas today. Recent initial demonstrations of ‘quantum advantage’ (the ability of quantum computing to surpass the capabilities of the most powerful classical, high-performance computers) point to the potential of quantum computers to solve problems currently considered unsolvable, in diverse fields such as materials science, finance, medicine, automotive industry, logistics, energy, defense, cyber, etc. Studies predict a global market size of dozens of billions of dollars within the next decade.
The quantum computing industry is advancing rapidly worldwide. Though still young, billions are invested by governments, corporations, VC firms, and industry. Overall governmental quantum initiatives surpassed the $30 billion mark in 2022 (usually for 5-year programs), and just a few weeks ago the UK announced yet another stage in its national strategy, with a planned investment of £2.5 billion over the next few years. Known private investments surpassed $3 billion and in spite of today’s harsh global reality, quantum computing investors have faith and confidence in this deep-tech segment.
The best of all worlds
The new Israeli start-ups that have been formed under the aegis of the Israel National Quantum Initiative (INQI) cover all layers of the quantum computing stack, as well as other quantum applications such as sensing and communication. INQI is a joint venture of the leading governmental R&D agencies – the Israel Innovation Authority, Council for Higher Education, and the Ministries of Defense, Science, and Finance, with a scope of more than $400 million. More than $250 million of venture capital funds have been raised, and hundreds of jobs created at the core of quantum technology within just a few years.
The Israel Innovation Authority leads the majority of applied quantum computing activities within the INQI. Its MAGNET consortia platform (a Hebrew acronym for ‘Generic Technological R&D’) has been active for many years in various technological areas in which governmental incentive is needed in order to push Israeli industry to leading positions in the competitive global market.
The Authority’s quantum computing consortium unifies the best of all worlds: it is a unique governmental platform of funding and professional guidance, together with industry and academic partners working together towards a common goal. The consortium, initiated early in 2023, with a budget of more than $33 million over a span of three years, is the largest ever of its kind – showing the Authority’s confidence in the consortium partners and the recognition of the significance of quantum computing as a growth channel for Israeli economy for years to come.
The consortium is built on two quantum hardware vectors – trapped ions, led by Quantum Art and the Weizmann Institute of Science, and superconducting circuits, led by IAI-Elta, the Hebrew University and Bar Ilan University. A third quantum software vector consists of Qedma leading compilation and quantum noise mitigation and Classiq leading quantum software and the applications, use-cases, and benchmarking layer, together with the Technion, Rafael, and Soroka hospital. In addition, the consortium collaborates with foreign companies from Europe and the US. The activity will culminate with two system-level full-stack demonstrations at the level of tens of qubits with ultimate performance. This combination of a single consortium with two hardware layers and a unified quantum software layer is unique, and allows for knowledge sharing and budget efficiency. The performance goals of these end-product demonstrations will position Israel with global leaders, and will enable the local eco-system to play in the global market.
Other unique characteristics include the combination of small and large companies, both hardware and software, and cross-technology, all within one project. Each of these, and their combination, enables maximal budget efficiency and knowledge sharing from the basic science level to applied engineering for future quantum computing products and services.
Looking ahead at Israel’s 75th birthday, we see a young and booming ecosystem of quantum computing. This deep tech field faces tremendous challenges, and the outcome of our consortium will only be one step on a long and exciting path. This joint effort of the private sector, academia, and the government is critical for Israel’s success, and long-term vision is necessary, as the technology and the Israeli ecosystem continue to evolve rapidly.
Partnered with the Israel Innovation Authority
