Israeli Government to Fund Quantum Computer Development with a Budget of 200 Million Israeli New ...

The project was announced by Israel's Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Research and Development (MAFAT) and the Innovation Authority and will consist of two tracks. The first will be led by the Innovation Authority with a project to develop a quantum processor with about 20 qubits. The Innovation Authority intends on forming a consortium and will invite commercial companies and researchers to provide a proposal to participate. In this track non-Israeli companies will also have the opportunity to participate, however they would be required to establish an Israeli subsidiary to do so. A concern is that a goal of the project is to train Israeli engineers in quantum technology and develop Israeli IP.

The second track, led by MAFAT, will establish a national quantum capabilities center with support from the industry and academia. The center will deal with the variety of levels of development of the quantum processor, which include hardware, control, optimization, algorithmics, interface and other areas with a goal of fully develop a quantum computer without reliance on foreign companies. The agencies believe it is a national security issue to have this quantum independence capability, so they don't get left behind or prevented from utilizing quantum technology due to another country's export controls.

Of the total budget of 200 million shekels, approximately 140 million is expected to be provided by the government and the remainder supplied by the participating companies. Additional information about this project can be views in articles written by The Jerusalem Post here and Haaretz here.

February 17, 2022