Israel on the way to a quantum computer
The national quantum program sets as a goal the development of quantum computing capabilities in Israel, the head of the program, Dr. Tal David, reveals to Ynet. The Innovation Authority announced the approval of a new association for research and development of quantum encryption technology But the first application of the quantum computer will actually be traffic targeting
Tal Shahaf
Posted: 18.06.20, 11:00
Israel's quantum program is taking a significant step forward with the decision to establish a unit for the issue of quantum encryption, a significant protection component against quantum computers that are expected to arrive soon. Due to the strategic implications of the field, the Ministry of Defense is taking a key part in leading the program. Dr. Tal David, a member of the Ministry of Defense and director of the national quantum program, tells Ynet that the intention is not only to develop quantum protection but to promote the ability to develop an Israeli quantum computer.
The Innovation Authority announced the approval of the establishment of the Encryption and Quantum Communications Association, along with two other associations, with a total budget of NIS 150 million for a period of three years. The program of the associations is intended, among other things, to support the development and transfer of knowledge from academia to industry and to dual research (civil and security). The quantum encryption association will include the companies Elisra and Mellanox and the start-up companies OPSys, which deals with ladder and fiber optic technology, and Quant-LR, which develops quantum communications. The academy will be attended by research groups from the Technion, the Hebrew University, Bar-Ilan University and other groups.
Quantum computing
Quantum Computer - Inspired by the Artist (Photo: Shutterstock)
In a conversation with Ynet, Dr. Aviv Zeevi, director of the technological infrastructure arena at the Innovation Authority, says that after approving the corporation's detailed plan, in about two months, he will set a budget that he estimates will be about NIS 60 million. "We are now trying to push hard in the field of quantum computing and develop good capacity and are going to devote about 200 million shekels to it in the next few years, it is a huge amount in Israeli terms," says Zeevi. , The intention in the new consortium is to develop competitive technology that will focus on short distances, and that will be simpler and cheaper than existing competitors.
Unlike previous associations that operate independently, the new association is integrated into the National Science and Quantum Technology Program formulated in the Telam Forum (National Research Infrastructures) Forum of the government and academic institutions, with a total budget of NIS 1.25 billion for five years. Also as the director of the Ministry of Defense's quantum program. Putting the defense man at the head of a civilian research and development plan can be seen, and perhaps testifies to the strategic-security implications of the project, but in this case it also testifies to David's personal status, which is considered a leading factor in the field.
Aviv Zeevi Innovation Authority
Aviv Zeevi, Innovation Authority (Photo: Innovation Authority)
In a conversation with Ynet, Dr. David says that the establishment of the Quantum Communications Association is another step in the direction that TLM outlined for the development of the quantum field in Israel: "In this project we did two things that were not done in the TLM programs: He was able to budget on his own, thanks to the mobilization of the Ministry of Finance, and secondly, we are investing in a more holistic view, both in physical infrastructure but also directly in research, human capital and international relations, and accordingly the budget. "
In addition to the activities of the associations, Mapat, together with the University of Jerusalem, is investing in an academic research fund that supports ten projects and its budget is expected to grow from NIS 100 million to NIS 150 million. David says that the positive effects of the program can now be seen, for example in the increase in the number of companies operating in the field, which he says reaches twenty, as well as in the number of research groups, when the research fund recently submitted proposals from about 140 different quantum research groups.
Dr. Danny Gould, Head of Mapat at the Ministry of Defense
Dr. Danny Gould, Head of Mapat at the Ministry of Defense (Photo: Shachar Azran)
Encrypted quantum communications may be a major defense tool of the State of Israel in the coming years. The accelerated development of quantum computers will make them within a few years a threat to any system that seeks to protect its information, since all existing encryption methods will not stand in the way of the tremendous capacity of a quantum computer. Which means that hostile countries like Iran, if equipped with a quantum computer, could infiltrate any Israeli military or intelligence system.
The only protection may be a quantum encryption system, which is now considered un crackable, even by a quantum computer. Zeevi says that against the background of the understanding of this threat, it was decided to develop in Israel a complete ecosystem of all the technologies in the field, "so that there will be no dependence on any external factor to develop the capabilities of quantum components."
David says that the Ministry of Defense started its internal program for the development of quantum technology about ten years ago, which will now be integrated into the national program it heads: "We try to concentrate government efforts and combine forces. In some things it integrates Hers, which she can not do on shared channels. "
One of the world's leading scientists in the field of quantum science, who also advised Israel on these issues, Prof. Jonathan Dowling, has passed away in recent days, leaving a gap that Israel will find difficult to fill. In an interview with Ynet several months ago, he said that his main advice is to develop an independent capacity in the field of quantum protection before quantum computers reach the enemies of Israel.
Prof. Dowling Quantum
Prof. Dowling Quantum in a laboratory at the Hebrew University (Photo: Ynet)
Is there actually a strategic-security approach behind the Israeli quantum project, as Dowling advised?
Dr. David: “There are definitely all sorts of considerations, both at the strategic level and at the tactical level. We in the national program are also entering very strongly into quantum computing for two reasons: the first reason is the expected impact in the security field and the second is the impact in the economic field. There is talk that the quantum computer will be used to break ciphers, but we estimate that its first uses will be in applications such as artificial intelligence and road traffic optimization. If we significantly reduce the level of traffic jams, the impact will be enormous. "
So will Israel compete with Google or IBM in quantum computer development?
"God forbid, we do not think we will win all these giants. But if we do not invest significantly in the Israeli quantum computing community which is good but small, then we will not be in the game at all. The impact of this field is very large, the community is very small and therefore should give this push." .
Google CEO next to a quantum computer
Google CEO Sonder Pichai next to Google's quantum computer (Photo: Reuters)
Prof. Hagai Eisenberg from the Hebrew University is one of the founders of QuantLR, a company that participates in the new association. He said the start of the company's work is significant news for the company, as alongside the budget the company will receive it will be able to develop collaborations with companies like Mellanox and Elisra: "It greatly promotes a start-up in an initial situation like ours.
Prof. Nadav Katz, head of the Center for Quantum Information at the Hebrew University, says that the association is intended to overcome market failures and initiate moves that will open new markets for companies. About three years ago, the Quantum Information Center received a budget of NIS 7.5 million from the Ministry of Defense for the establishment of a demonstration project of encrypted quantum communications in collaboration with Rafael and Opsys. QuantLR also grew out of this project. The line between a research and a commercial project is not always clear, nor is the line between a civilian and a security project.
"The involvement of the Ministry of Defense is a delicate point," says Prof. Katz. "The contact with the Ministry of Defense over the years is very positive and we are in excellent contact with them. We take great care to maintain academic freedom in any such engagement." 'Research on behalf' or they restrict us in any way and they understand the boundaries of the sector and how to work in front of us. Specifically, quantum communication is a national resource and has significant security aspects. The Iranians attacked our water infrastructure a month ago "Infrastructure like that. This is not something small and negligible."
https://www.ynet.co.il/digital/technews/article/SJhX19O6I translted by google
The national quantum program sets as a goal the development of quantum computing capabilities in Israel, the head of the program, Dr. Tal David, reveals to Ynet. The Innovation Authority announced the approval of a new association for research and development of quantum encryption technology But the first application of the quantum computer will actually be traffic targeting
Tal Shahaf
Posted: 18.06.20, 11:00
Israel's quantum program is taking a significant step forward with the decision to establish a unit for the issue of quantum encryption, a significant protection component against quantum computers that are expected to arrive soon. Due to the strategic implications of the field, the Ministry of Defense is taking a key part in leading the program. Dr. Tal David, a member of the Ministry of Defense and director of the national quantum program, tells Ynet that the intention is not only to develop quantum protection but to promote the ability to develop an Israeli quantum computer.
The Innovation Authority announced the approval of the establishment of the Encryption and Quantum Communications Association, along with two other associations, with a total budget of NIS 150 million for a period of three years. The program of the associations is intended, among other things, to support the development and transfer of knowledge from academia to industry and to dual research (civil and security). The quantum encryption association will include the companies Elisra and Mellanox and the start-up companies OPSys, which deals with ladder and fiber optic technology, and Quant-LR, which develops quantum communications. The academy will be attended by research groups from the Technion, the Hebrew University, Bar-Ilan University and other groups.
Quantum computing
Quantum Computer - Inspired by the Artist (Photo: Shutterstock)
In a conversation with Ynet, Dr. Aviv Zeevi, director of the technological infrastructure arena at the Innovation Authority, says that after approving the corporation's detailed plan, in about two months, he will set a budget that he estimates will be about NIS 60 million. "We are now trying to push hard in the field of quantum computing and develop good capacity and are going to devote about 200 million shekels to it in the next few years, it is a huge amount in Israeli terms," says Zeevi. , The intention in the new consortium is to develop competitive technology that will focus on short distances, and that will be simpler and cheaper than existing competitors.
Unlike previous associations that operate independently, the new association is integrated into the National Science and Quantum Technology Program formulated in the Telam Forum (National Research Infrastructures) Forum of the government and academic institutions, with a total budget of NIS 1.25 billion for five years. Also as the director of the Ministry of Defense's quantum program. Putting the defense man at the head of a civilian research and development plan can be seen, and perhaps testifies to the strategic-security implications of the project, but in this case it also testifies to David's personal status, which is considered a leading factor in the field.
Aviv Zeevi Innovation Authority
Aviv Zeevi, Innovation Authority (Photo: Innovation Authority)
In a conversation with Ynet, Dr. David says that the establishment of the Quantum Communications Association is another step in the direction that TLM outlined for the development of the quantum field in Israel: "In this project we did two things that were not done in the TLM programs: He was able to budget on his own, thanks to the mobilization of the Ministry of Finance, and secondly, we are investing in a more holistic view, both in physical infrastructure but also directly in research, human capital and international relations, and accordingly the budget. "
In addition to the activities of the associations, Mapat, together with the University of Jerusalem, is investing in an academic research fund that supports ten projects and its budget is expected to grow from NIS 100 million to NIS 150 million. David says that the positive effects of the program can now be seen, for example in the increase in the number of companies operating in the field, which he says reaches twenty, as well as in the number of research groups, when the research fund recently submitted proposals from about 140 different quantum research groups.
Dr. Danny Gould, Head of Mapat at the Ministry of Defense
Dr. Danny Gould, Head of Mapat at the Ministry of Defense (Photo: Shachar Azran)
Encrypted quantum communications may be a major defense tool of the State of Israel in the coming years. The accelerated development of quantum computers will make them within a few years a threat to any system that seeks to protect its information, since all existing encryption methods will not stand in the way of the tremendous capacity of a quantum computer. Which means that hostile countries like Iran, if equipped with a quantum computer, could infiltrate any Israeli military or intelligence system.
The only protection may be a quantum encryption system, which is now considered un crackable, even by a quantum computer. Zeevi says that against the background of the understanding of this threat, it was decided to develop in Israel a complete ecosystem of all the technologies in the field, "so that there will be no dependence on any external factor to develop the capabilities of quantum components."
David says that the Ministry of Defense started its internal program for the development of quantum technology about ten years ago, which will now be integrated into the national program it heads: "We try to concentrate government efforts and combine forces. In some things it integrates Hers, which she can not do on shared channels. "
One of the world's leading scientists in the field of quantum science, who also advised Israel on these issues, Prof. Jonathan Dowling, has passed away in recent days, leaving a gap that Israel will find difficult to fill. In an interview with Ynet several months ago, he said that his main advice is to develop an independent capacity in the field of quantum protection before quantum computers reach the enemies of Israel.
Prof. Dowling Quantum
Prof. Dowling Quantum in a laboratory at the Hebrew University (Photo: Ynet)
Is there actually a strategic-security approach behind the Israeli quantum project, as Dowling advised?
Dr. David: “There are definitely all sorts of considerations, both at the strategic level and at the tactical level. We in the national program are also entering very strongly into quantum computing for two reasons: the first reason is the expected impact in the security field and the second is the impact in the economic field. There is talk that the quantum computer will be used to break ciphers, but we estimate that its first uses will be in applications such as artificial intelligence and road traffic optimization. If we significantly reduce the level of traffic jams, the impact will be enormous. "
So will Israel compete with Google or IBM in quantum computer development?
"God forbid, we do not think we will win all these giants. But if we do not invest significantly in the Israeli quantum computing community which is good but small, then we will not be in the game at all. The impact of this field is very large, the community is very small and therefore should give this push." .
Google CEO next to a quantum computer
Google CEO Sonder Pichai next to Google's quantum computer (Photo: Reuters)
Prof. Hagai Eisenberg from the Hebrew University is one of the founders of QuantLR, a company that participates in the new association. He said the start of the company's work is significant news for the company, as alongside the budget the company will receive it will be able to develop collaborations with companies like Mellanox and Elisra: "It greatly promotes a start-up in an initial situation like ours.
Prof. Nadav Katz, head of the Center for Quantum Information at the Hebrew University, says that the association is intended to overcome market failures and initiate moves that will open new markets for companies. About three years ago, the Quantum Information Center received a budget of NIS 7.5 million from the Ministry of Defense for the establishment of a demonstration project of encrypted quantum communications in collaboration with Rafael and Opsys. QuantLR also grew out of this project. The line between a research and a commercial project is not always clear, nor is the line between a civilian and a security project.
"The involvement of the Ministry of Defense is a delicate point," says Prof. Katz. "The contact with the Ministry of Defense over the years is very positive and we are in excellent contact with them. We take great care to maintain academic freedom in any such engagement." 'Research on behalf' or they restrict us in any way and they understand the boundaries of the sector and how to work in front of us. Specifically, quantum communication is a national resource and has significant security aspects. The Iranians attacked our water infrastructure a month ago "Infrastructure like that. This is not something small and negligible."
https://www.ynet.co.il/digital/technews/article/SJhX19O6I translted by google
