Building a Quantum Future: Lessons from Israel’s Quantum Ecosystem

Quantum computing is no longer a futuristic concept confined to academic papers and sci-fi films. It’s real, it’s here, and it’s growing—rapidly and globally. On a recent episode of Impact Quantum, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nir Alfasi, General Manager of the Israeli Quantum Computing Center (IQCC). What emerged from our conversation wasn’t just a snapshot of a vibrant hub of innovation, but a vision for what the global quantum ecosystem might look like in the years ahead.

Quantum is Going Global

Historically, innovation in computing has often felt localized—Silicon Valley, Seattle, Redmond, maybe Boston or New York if you squint. But quantum computing is bucking that trend. From Montreal to Maryland, and from Chicago to Tel Aviv, quantum innovation is becoming a truly global endeavor.

As Nir pointed out, Israel’s emergence in this space is fueled by a recognition that the next paradigm shift in computing demands both global collaboration and local infrastructure. Israel’s Innovation Authority has invested in building out a robust quantum ecosystem, anchored by the IQCC. And while the headlines might still be dominated by the tech giants, it’s the quiet groundwork being laid in places like Tel Aviv that could end up shaping the quantum future.

The IQCC: A Quantum Accelerator in Every Sense

The IQCC, operated by Quantum Machines, isn’t your typical R&D center. Think of it as part accelerator, part test bed, part university, and part infrastructure provider. It’s a place where quantum startups can test new hardware without spending millions on a cryogenic setup. It’s a place where seasoned engineers can be retrained and retooled for the quantum era. It’s even a place where you can remotely access actual quantum processors—two superconducting ones, to be precise, with 17 and 21 qubits respectively.

Most importantly, it’s a collaborative space.

“We’re not building everything ourselves,” Nir explained. “We’re providing a place where the best cables, filters, fridges, and control systems from around the world can come together to make a better quantum computer.”

This model mirrors how the classical computing industry scaled—by creating specialized, modular ecosystems rather than expecting every company to build everything from scratch.

Quantum Data Centers: Beyond the Buzzwords

One of the more fascinating aspects of the IQCC is its hybrid approach to quantum and classical computing. Thanks to tight integration with high-performance classical systems—including NVIDIA’s Grace Hopper superchips—researchers can run complex quantum-classical workflows in near real time. We’re talking microsecond-scale feedback loops between quantum processors and classical AI accelerators.

This isn’t just flashy tech. It’s a practical vision of how quantum computing will actually function in the near term: as part of a tightly integrated hybrid stack. Much like how GPUs revolutionized AI workloads, QPUs (quantum processing units) will unlock entirely new capabilities—but only when working in tandem with traditional CPUs and GPUs.

Talent: The Real Bottleneck

As impressive as the hardware is, the conversation inevitably came back to people. There simply aren’t enough quantum-literate professionals to go around. And relying on a pipeline that starts with undergrads and ends with postdocs isn’t going to cut it.

Nir’s approach? Train the professionals we already have. Electrical engineers, physicists, software developers—people with domain knowledge and real-world experience—can be upskilled in months, not years, to contribute meaningfully to quantum projects.

This democratization of quantum skills is critical. It’s also one of the more encouraging trends in the field. As Candace Gillhoolley pointed out during the episode, “There’s so much opportunity for people to find their spot in this industry.” Whether it’s hardware, software, education, or operations, quantum computing needs all kinds of minds.

Ecosystems, Not Empires

Perhaps my favorite moment of the episode was when Nir described the quantum industry’s need to embrace specialization and collaboration. Not every startup needs to build its own cables or fridges. In fact, the more we can create a marketplace of modular, interoperable components—each developed by domain experts—the faster we’ll reach the holy grail of scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing.

It’s reminiscent of how the PC industry evolved. In the early days, innovators focused on solving specific problems—better displays, smarter operating systems, more reliable storage. No one company tried to do it all. And that, Nir suggests, is exactly the model quantum should follow.

What's Next?

So where do we go from here? If the Israeli model tells us anything, it’s that the future of quantum computing will be built on:

• Public-private partnerships that seed infrastructure before commercial demand peaks.
• Collaborative ecosystems that reduce duplication and increase innovation.
• Education and workforce development programs that bring more people into the fold quickly.
• Hybrid architectures that merge the best of classical and quantum computing.

At Impact Quantum, we often say that the future of computing isn’t just in a new processor—it’s in a new paradigm. And building that paradigm requires more than just qubits and cryogenic fridges. It requires people, partnerships, and a whole lot of vision.

The quantum future is closer than it seems. Let’s build it together.