Quantum Budgets – What is the Goal?

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The field of quantum technology is not new, it has been studied by Physics scientist for decades. Today we are in the midst of the second quantum revolution, a quantum-ready situation that within the next decade will reflect the real commercial value of the technology, according to IBM.

The quantum computer’s smallest unit is the qubit. While current computers are based on the binary one and zero sequence, the quantum bit can be one and zero at the same time. A quantum computer comprises of many qubits tied together by quantum entanglement.

A large number of qubits will create a huge sequence of one’s and zero’s which will enable much faster and complex calculations compared to current computers.

The quantum computer will revolutionize fields such as machine learning and big data, that require intense processing capabilities.

The quantum technology has many applications in the security and defense fields:

Quantum computers – Encryption, cybersecurity/password deciphering, critical communication and command & control security, data processing.

Quantum technologies – Detectors, sensitive quantum sensors, radars, laser, electro-optics, batteries, quantum clocks at the heart of communication and navigation security systems, detection and defense.

Israel sees this field as the next big thing after the cyber revolution, and the Israeli quantum program was announced by PM Netanyahu during the May 2018 international conference of science ministers. But is Israel allocating enough resources for this purpose?

In the US, President Trump signed on the national quantum initiative in December 2018, based on a $1.25 billion for quantum computers activities until 2023. These will include manpower instruction, storage, handling information, etc.

China poses a tough competition for the US, with its development of a huge research lab based on a $10 billion investment. The European Union will invest in quantum computing 1.3 billion Euro (about $1.5 billion).

In Israel, the Ministry of Defense and the Israel Science Foundation have recently allocated a five-year fund of NIS 100 million ($27 million) for research and the development of scientific infrastructure. The grants will refer to quantum computing, communication, simulation, sensors such as atomic clocks, magnetic field measuring, etc.

The question is will this investment be sufficient for the creation of an adequate national infrastructure which will enable Israel to make the quantum leap as it did regarding the cyber field in the past.