Israel unveils first domestically constructed quantum computer

Read this article in:

Israel's first domestically built quantum computer is now operational. The 20-qubit quantum computer is the product of a collaborative effort between The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Israel Innovation Authority, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Yissum, an academic technology transfer company.

The powerful supercomputer has been developed for both civilian and security-related applications.

Israel has positioned itself as a global leader in the rapidly advancing field of quantum computing technologies.

Hebrew University Director Yishai Fraenkel stated that the supercomputer would bolster Israel’s standing as a global scientific and technological powerhouse. This status has been significantly enhanced through close collaboration between academia, government authorities, and Israel's advanced tech sector.

“The research team working on this ambitious project is among the best at the Hebrew University. The collaborative, multidisciplinary nature of this project will yield critical outcomes for research and bolster Israel’s scientific and technological status," Fraenkel stated.

"As the Hebrew University enters its 100th anniversary, this achievement aligns with our founding mission: from establishing Israel’s first scientific research institute in 1925 on the Mount Scopus campus in Jerusalem to the launch of the country’s first quantum computer,” he continued.

Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin emphasized the importance of the supercomputer for Israel’s status among the world’s leading tech nations.

“While development of the quantum computer still has a long way to go, it brings with its tremendous technological potential to enhance the computing power available to humanity, accelerating the R&D process on an unprecedented scale. This power will have a dramatic impact on science and the global hi-tech industry," Bin assessed.

Despite the intense global quantum computer race, IAI CEO Boaz Levy argued that the development of supercomputers will ultimately benefit all of humanity as it merges with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and cyber tech.

“Quantum technologies are set to fundamentally elevate human capabilities across a wide range of fields. IAI is proud to lead Israel toward becoming a global quantum power. In recent years, IAI has developed initiatives in robotics, autonomy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, integrating them into our business lines, some in collaboration with startups and academia," Levy stated.

"Sustaining the strength of Israel’s defense industries relies on partnerships among academia, startups, industry, and government bodies," he continued.

Levy said that "to win on future battlefields, Israel needs advanced technologies. IAI’s mission is to stay one step ahead of our adversaries, anticipate emerging threats, and develop solutions even before these threats materialize."

In June, the Israel Innovation Authority announced the opening of the Israeli Quantum Computing Center (IQCC) at Tel Aviv University.

Known as the “Start-Up Nation,” Israel has developed into one of the world’s leading tech hubs outside of Silicon Valley in California.

In May 2023, the U.S. tech giant, NVIDIA, revealed its intention to invest millions of dollars in constructing an Israeli supercomputer named “Israel-1,” slated to become one of the world’s most powerful computers.