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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n Israel\u2019s initiatives come amid a global race to develop quantum computing capabilities that serve national needs, and amid concern that the nation could be missing out, as major countries from the US to China step up investments into the next wave of technologies. The technology is still in its infancy, with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Intel seeking to build the next big thing and make quantum computing more workable and accessible.<\/p>\n \t \u201cIsrael taking initiative and acting early on an emerging technology is a step in the right direction because we were very late when it comes to AI,\u201d Nadav Cohen, AI and computer science professor at Tel Aviv University and co-founder of Israeli-founded AI startup Imubit, told The Times of Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cBut since we are not a superpower with endless resources, Israel needs to set national investment priorities and carefully choose the areas where we have the potential to lead, and focus on them as opposed to trying to be good at everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might be too early to put quantum computing at the top of our list as it\u2019s a very long-term scientific effort and it\u2019s not so clear what the tangible fruit will be even in a few years, with some people saying that it will never happen,\u201d Cohen cautioned.<\/p>\n Quantum computing harnesses quantum mechanics and abstract physics to perform numerous calculations at once to rapidly solve problems that are too complex for the most powerful classical computers to handle. Quantum processors promise computational horsepower that could lead to breakthroughs in the areas of economics, technology, security, engineering, and science, as well as in fields such as drug discovery, cryptography, and streamlining supply-chain logistics.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this is a smart and bold move by the government \u2014 launching a tender like this for a technology that\u2019s still emerging takes courage,\u201d said Dr. Smadar Itzkovich, founder and CEO of AI & Quantum Sovereignty Lab (AIQ-Lab). \u201cIt places Israel alongside Japan and the UK, which made similar moves this year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat interests me most going forward is thinking about what Israel\u2019s big vision is for advancing the quantum field?,\u201d added Itzkovich.<\/p>\n Alongside the project for a domestic quantum computer, tenders and calls for proposals were issued for two additional national AI projects. The National AI Directorate seeks to establish a national physical AI \u2013 AI applied to robotics, manufacturing, healthcare and drones \u2013 testing ground for real-world simulations. The facility would allow researchers and companies test AI systems in real-world environments, such as highways, hospitals, manufacturing plants, and agricultural settings. The stated goal of the project is to drive breakthroughs in robotics, edge computing, sensing, and data processing.<\/p>\n \t The third national project aims to explore policies to bolster Israel\u2019s capabilities to build foundation models, the large AI models behind advanced AI systems, such as ChatGPT, and ramp up the country\u2019s competitive edge.<\/p>\n \u201cThe steps we are leading today \u2013 from quantum computing to Physical AI and foundational models \u2013 provide the industry and the economy with the necessary foundation to lower barriers, ensure technological sovereignty, and make global breakthroughs,\u201d said Senior Finance Ministry Deputy Accountant General for Innovation and Technology Evyatar Peretz.<\/p>\n Cohen believes Israel is unlikely to lead in general AI given the fast-evolving competition from the US and China.<\/p>\n \u201cCombining defense, academia, and startups could make us leaders in physical AI \u2013 not today, but within three to five years,\u201d said Cohen.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The war with Iran has been draining for all of us in Israel. But when I heard about a high casualty incident \u2013 ballistic missile impacts in Arad and Dimona that left nearly 200 people wounded \u2013 I drank a cup of coffee, packed a bag, and headed south.<\/p>\n There, I spoke with Shilgit, the head of an after-school program for underprivileged youth. Standing outside her destroyed center, Shilgit said it was a miracle that no children were hurt and spoke about the community coming together in the hours since.<\/p>\n As a Times of Israel reporter, I\u2019m committed to telling stories of resilience like Shilgit\u2019s. But my colleagues and I can’t do this alone. If you value work like this, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to keep real human reporting like this going.<\/p>\n \u2014 Stav Levaton, military reporter<\/p>\n \t\t\t
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\n\t\tIllustrative. Computer processors. Conventional computers process information, or bits, each of which can be either a zero or a one, in the binary language of computing. Quantum bits, however, used by quantum computers, can be both a zero and one simultaneously. (Rost-9D; iStock by Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Portrait-Pic-5-300x480.jpg\")
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\n\t\tNadav Cohen, Professor of AI and computer science at Tel Aviv University and co-founder & CTO at Imubit. (Solaris Studios\/Aric Hoek)<\/p>\n
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