Israel opens Quantum Computing Center at Tel Aviv University

Center to serve as hub for collaboration for research, development and implementation of quantum tech

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

IQCC is a national initiative to advance Israel's capabilities in quantum computing by focusing on research, development, and the implementation of quantum technologies. The center serves as a hub for collaboration among academic institutions, industry leaders and government agencies to drive innovation in the area of quantum tech. The IQCC also aims to position Israel as a global leader in the emerging field of quantum technology, where there is fierce competition between the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and other global tech powers.

The research and demonstration facility is equipped with two small quantum computers - one from a French company and the other from a Dutch firm - and expects to receive a third small computer in the near future.

The new IQCC in Tel Aviv is designed to foster cutting-edge research, train a skilled workforce and develop quantum computing applications to benefit various industry sectors, such as cybersecurity, communications, healthcare and finance.

Quantum computers are significantly powerful computing machines that are expected to have a dramatic impact on the development of future technologies. In 2022, the global quantum market was estimated to be worth around $13.67 billion. However, the rapidly growing market – with an average annual growth of 26.5% – is expected to be worth a whopping $143.44 billion by 2032.

The Israeli company Quantum Machines has urged Israeli authorities to quickly acquire large quantum computers and supercomputers and warned that strong international competition could push global powers to impose restrictions on the export of quantum technology to other countries.

Despite its small size, Israel is technologically advanced and – with the exception of China – invests the highest proportion of its gross domestic product (GDP) in quantum computing.

Israel is internationally known as the Start-Up Nation due to its high concentration of start-up companies and research centers for global tech companies.

In May 2023, the American tech company NVIDIA announced it would invest millions of dollars in an artificial intelligence supercomputer in Israel. Known as “Israel-1,” it is designed to become one of the fastest and most powerful AI-based supercomputers in the world.