Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin has declared that the nation must act decisively to establish a national quantum-computing research and development center, recognizing quantum computing's rapid acceleration from a futuristic concept to a present-day strategic imperative. Bin noted that what was once considered generations away has seen "an acceleration in the development of such computers" in recent years. This push comes as Israel navigates a complex security environment, where technological superiority is paramount for its survival as a Western outpost.
The proposed center aims to create an R&D lab where Israeli companies can test, integrate, and benchmark various hardware and software components. Bin explained that the goal isn't to build a complete computer, but to foster an environment for "the full stack of a quantum computer based on Israeli technology." This integrated approach is critical for a nation that already holds significant leads in specific quantum components.
Strategic Technological Edge
Israeli firms are already recognized as category leaders in key components for future quantum systems. In 2025, "something like 10% of the overall private investment in quantum computing companies was made in Israel, in those early-stage companies." This significant private sector engagement underscores Israel's unique model of innovation, often outperforming larger nations with far greater public investment.
Quantum systems, unlike classical computers that process bits as zero or one, utilize quantum bits in "various positions," enabling calculations of vastly greater power. Bin articulated the profound impact: "The thesis is that things that probably would take a regular computer many years, hundreds of years, thousands of years to solve, a quantum computer would be able to solve very quickly." Such capabilities offer an undeniable strategic advantage in an era of escalating threats.
Usable quantum applications are expected before 2030, and Bin stressed that "The Israeli high tech must be also in the forefront of the quantum computing innovation wave." While the United States, with tech giants like IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, sets much of the global pace, and nations including China, Canada, Britain, Germany, Japan, and Australia invest heavily, Israel's path is distinct. Bin highlighted that Israel is "an outlier in terms of the ratio between private and public investments, much more private investments."
Resilience Under Fire
Bin also touched on the intersection of artificial intelligence and regional dynamics, noting Israel's excellence in AI technology but its limitations in land and energy for data centers. He sees this as an opportunity for "synergy" with surrounding countries that possess abundant energy and land, suggesting data centers could be built there while Israel provides the technology. This vision for regional cooperation, even amidst ongoing tensions, speaks to Israel's pragmatic approach to securing its future.
His five-year tenure at the Israel Innovation Authority was marked by "not easy years," including the global COVID-19 pandemic and a period of "war." Bin described the most difficult moment as October 8, the day after the war began, when Israeli startups faced immediate and severe disruption. Companies lost half their staff to military reserve duty, volunteering, or childcare as the education system shut down.
International flights became unavailable, preventing sales and marketing teams from traveling abroad and investors from entering the country for due diligence. Startups in the crucial fundraising stages found investment decisions frozen. The Innovation Authority responded swiftly, injecting "a few hundred millions of shekels" through a fast-track funding channel. This intervention, requiring private investors to contribute alongside public funds, "saved something like 250 companies," which Bin called "the diamonds of this cohort of companies that will create the next waves of growth for Israeli equity." This demonstrates Israel's remarkable resilience and commitment to its technological future, even under direct military assault.
The Authority also announced a 6 million shekel program for BlueTech energy, in tandem with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. This initiative seeks to leverage Israel's coastline, an "underused national asset," for harvesting and storing energy from waves, wind, or biological origins. Such efforts contribute to national energy security, a vital component of civilizational defense.
Bin is preparing to step down, reflecting on his role in one of "the most interesting positions in Israel." His leadership during a period of intense pressure, including war, underscores the constant challenges and strategic importance of Israel's innovation ecosystem.