The dawn of the era of quantum computing is upon us, and nowhere is this more evident than at the Israeli Quantum Computing Center (IQCC). This cutting-edge facility is revolutionary, bridging the realms of quantum and classical computing in a way that the world has never seen before.
Located at Tel-Aviv University, the IQCC integrates myriad quantum computing technologies with traditional supercomputers, leveraging the powerful NVIDIA DGX Quantum system for rapid communication. The center boasts the globe’s most sophisticated testbed for quantum computing advancements, granting accessibility to both academia and industry.
Yoel Knoll, VP of marketing at Quantum Machines, eloquently puts it, “We’re taking the quantum elements out of the lab and into the data center.” The vision is clear: a future where quantum and classical computing coexist seamlessly.
The foundation for this ambitious project was laid in 2022 when the Israel Innovation Authority selected Quantum Machines to establish the IQCC, earmarking NIS 100 million ($27 million) over three years for its development. This initiative aims to provide unprecedented access to research and development across all layers of quantum hardware and software.
Knoll emphasizes the center’s open approach, stating, “We're telling manufacturers of quantum chips, bring your chips, test them here, no need for you to build an infrastructure.” Known as the BYOQ (Bring Your Own Quantum Processing Unit) approach, this model invites external developers to utilize the center’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Unlike other facilities that restrict access, the IQCC is grounded in a vision of broad inclusivity. The center not only focuses on technical excellence but also offers educational programs to prepare organizations for the quantum future. Officially inaugurated on June 24, the IQCC’s open architecture ensures it remains at the forefront of innovation through continuous upgrades and scalability.
The potential market for quantum computing, while nascent today, is expected to skyrocket to nearly $10 billion by 2030 and exceed $25 billion by 2035, according to the Global Quantum Intelligence QAM Engine. The report notes, “Quantum technology is already recognized as a significant value enabler and has secured a prominent position on key national agendas, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity.”
Reflecting on the future, Itamar Sivan, co-founder and CEO of Quantum Machines, underscores the importance of quantum accelerators: “The most important advancement in quantum computing in the next five years will be the availability of quantum accelerators that can be used as seamlessly as GPUs are today.” Sivan foresees a future where quantum computing becomes mainstream, enhancing fields from financial modeling to computational chemistry.
Sivan further predicts that the synergy between classical and quantum computing will be a lasting fixture: “A quantum computer at scale will require a huge amount of classical processing.” This marriage of technologies will be foundational, from controlling to calibrating quantum systems.
Several key players have contributed to the IQCC’s infrastructure. Quantum Machines and NVIDIA collaborated on the DGX-Quantum system; QuantWare supplied a 25-qubit superconducting chip; ORCA Computing provided the quantum photonic system; ParTec handled High-Performance Computing integration; Classiq focused on quantum software development, and AWS offered cloud computing infrastructure.
In summary, the IQCC is a glimpse into the data center of the future, where traditional processors, AI systems, and quantum accelerators function in harmony. As quantum technology advances, the concept of a CPU-GPU-QPU hybrid data center is becoming not just a possibility, but an inevitability.
As Yoel Knoll aptly says, “This is the future data center.” The IQCC not only represents a leap in quantum computing but signifies the arrival of the next generation of computational technology.
