Quantum Machines to establish Israeli quantum computing center in $30 million deal
The Israel Innovation Authority has chosen the Israeli startup, in collaboration with Classiq, to establish the center which will allow researchers to conduct R&D on a universal quantum computer
The Israel Innovation Authority has chosen Israeli startup Quantum Machines to establish the Israeli quantum computing center with a budget of NIS 100 million (approximately $29 million) for three years. Israeli company Classiq will act as a consultant, with Elbit Systems serving as a strategic partner in the venture.
The quantum computing center will enable access to conducting research and development in all layers of hardware and software on three different quantum processing technologies (superconducting qubits, cold ions and optic computer). The center will provide services to the Israeli quantum computing community in both industry and academia by providing a full stack quantum computer at their service, to run direct computations with a future option for cloud accessibility.
A quantum computer is based on the properties of quantum particles, and can perform many calculations using the same algorithm at a great speed, such as image processing, simulations and the decoding of codes.
Quantum Machines has raised $83 million to date from investors Avigdor Willenz, the investment arm of Samsung, Samsung Next, and Israel’s Red Dot Capital Partners. Quantum Machines was founded in early 2018 by CEO Dr. Itamar Sivan, Dr. Yonatan Cohen, who serves as the company's CTO, and Dr. Nissim Ofek, who serves as the VP R&D.
All three are doctors of physics with a specialization in quantum computing and quantum electronics, who conducted their research in the field of quantum computing, with an emphasis on quantum electronics, at the Submicron Institute in the Faculty of Physics at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Moty Heiblum.
Elbit Systems is a strategic partner in the venture, and will be part of the center's Advisory Board. Elbit will lead the development of security for quantum applications, and will allocate dedicated personnel that will work on the development of quantum applications for complex problems in the field of defense.
From day one, the center will include technology infrastructure by Israel’s Classiq and Quantum Machines alongside leading technologies from around the world, to enable full operation of a working infrastructure within 12-18 months with a processing power of over 50 qubits. The center will integrate dedicated quantum computing solutions with research challenges such as optimization, simulations, machine learning or various components for dealing with size and noise levels limitations of quantum computing.
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The center will provide R&D services to the entire Israeli innovation ecosystem, for developments such as designated quantum processors for various algorithms, development of processing topologies for VQA to solve optimization challenges, algorithms for control of signals' engineering to improve handling of noise and signal processing performance, development of interconnect technologies between components, development of techniques, algorithms to correct errors and more.
As part of the National Quantum Initiative, run by TELEM Forum (National Infrastructure for R&D), the Israel Innovation Authority and MAFAT - The Israeli Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) will finance the development of quantum technologies and the establishment of applied quantum computing center for the State of Israel at a total budget of NIS 200 million. The investment was directed in two complementary channels. The first step, which was completed on Sunday, is designed to provide a solution for several quantum computing research and development groups that operate in Israel, while collecting both knowledge and relevant human capital. The main vision is to establish Israeli capabilities in key future technology designed for financial and security dual applications.
Dr. Ami Applebaum, Chairman of the Innovation Authority: "The goal of this program is to establish Israel's capabilities in a future infrastructure technology and support the development of both Israeli industry and academia via quantum computing. The center will provide services in response to technological needs that will enable Israeli industry and academia accessibility to R&D infrastructure that will advance existing technological innovation in the industry by leaps and bounds. This center is the answer to an existing strategic market failure and is part of the Authority's policy of enabling the industry to maintain its leading position at the forefront of breakthrough and disruptive technologies."
