Israel launches plan for a national quantum computer
The National AI Directorate unveiled its first flagship initiatives, including a long-term quantum computing project and plans for a national physical AI testing center.
The National Artificial Intelligence Directorate has unveiled its first major initiatives, led by plans to establish a national quantum computing platform.
According to the Directorate and the Ministry of Finance, the project is designed to strengthen Israel's position as a global leader in quantum computing while supporting the range of quantum technologies being developed domestically. As part of the Nexus Project, the government will soon issue a tender for the establishment of a national quantum computer.
The initiative is intended to ensure that Israel eventually operates a domestically based quantum computer, reinforcing the country's technological sovereignty and long-term competitiveness. However, officials acknowledge that the project remains a long-term undertaking. The government is expected to procure a quantum computer only once the technology reaches sufficient maturity. The tender, which will involve several stages and international participants, is expected to take years to complete.
The announcement complements a separate initiative launched about six weeks ago by the Israel Innovation Authority, which issued a call to establish a national quantum research and development infrastructure. That project aims to make advanced quantum computing capabilities accessible to Israeli industry and academia by integrating at least three different quantum processing technologies into a single national platform.
The infrastructure will serve as a center for evaluating, integrating and adopting quantum computing technologies, allowing companies and researchers to test hardware, compare approaches and develop applications across multiple quantum platforms. The goal is to accelerate research and development while strengthening Israel's position at the forefront of quantum computing. The center is expected to begin operating by the end of the year, with an initial focus on supporting Israeli companies developing quantum technologies.
Related articles:
Alongside the quantum computing initiative, the Directorate announced several additional projects as part of its broader strategy to position Israel as a global leader in physical AI - the integration of artificial intelligence with the physical world.
As part of that effort, the Directorate has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore the creation of a National Physical AI Testing Ground that would serve as a global center for real-world AI simulations.
The proposed facility would enable companies and researchers to test AI systems in complex real-world environments, including transportation, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and other sectors. The project is intended to accelerate breakthroughs in robotics, edge computing, sensing technologies and data processing while combining international commercial activity with Israel's technological strengths.
The Directorate is also examining ways to strengthen Israel's capabilities in foundation models, large AI models such as ChatGPT, Gemini and similar systems, which it views as critical national infrastructure.
To that end, it has also published an RFI aimed at assessing how Israel can build greater technological sovereignty in foundation models, map domestic capabilities and identify policies that would strengthen the country's competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
