My Experience in Launching a Cutting-Edge Quantum Computing Center
An Interview with Dr. Nir Alfasi
With the Israeli Quantum Computing Center (IQCC) having officially opened its doors on June 24th and numerous organizations already booking slots on its quantum computers, we sat down with Dr. Nir Alfasi, the Science Team Lead of the IQCC, to discuss the groundbreaking work being done at the center, the services it offers, and what can be learned from this use case of building an advanced quantum facility.
What is IQCC?
Nir: “IQCC is a state-of-the-art quantum research facility. What’s unique about it is that it’s the first center in the world to house multiple co-located quantum computers of different modalities. In addition to the full-fledged quantum computers, we also have an advanced cryogenic testbed, which allows users to bring their own devices and test them in our open testbed. All the quantum computers share the same unified control system — the processor-based OPX quantum control platform from Quantum Machines. In addition, we also have a high-performance computer (HPC) cluster on site that is directly connected and tightly integrated to the various quantum computers. Bottom line, Quantum Machines, with fantastic support from the Israeli Innovation Authority, decided to build today what we believe the future of quantum computing will look like in a few years – a hybrid quantum-classical datacenter that has heterogeneous computing resources that are all built on the same classical infrastructure (the control system), and that is open and transparent, empowering users to make breakthroughs all along the advanced computing stack.”
Who are the primary users of the IQCC?
Nir: “Obviously we believe every quantum-related sector can benefit from our unique capabilities and offerings – but we do have two primary target users. One is the quantum computing startup community. We want to provide them with the resources they need to advance their research — and we do so by removing the significant time and financial burden associated with setting up a fully functioning quantum lab. Our second target is researchers working in universities,state-funded research institutions, enterprises, and supercomputing centers.”
What services does IQCC offer?
Nir: “IQCC provides cloud-based access to its advanced quantum computers for programming and testing quantum algorithms, as well as developing hybrid quantum-classical applications. We also offer on-premises access to our state-of-the-art cryogenic testbed capable of housing and operating up to 25 superconducting qubits, in a ‘bring your device’ approach. This means users gain access to our hardware and software solutions backed by the unique expertise and knowledge of the IQCC staff. The beautiful thing about this approach is that you don’t only gain access to the most advanced systems, but you also receive high-end support to ensure you achieve the best results in the shortest time possible. Finally, IQCC offers various educational programs to help organizations become quantum computing-ready.”
You mentioned the quantum experts on site. Can you elaborate on the expertise of the IQCC team?
Nir: “Sure, in addition to comprehensive support from Quantum Machines and partners, we already have eight dedicated IQCC team members, including physicists and engineers. Among them, we have three PhDs, two postdoctoral researchers, and two team members with exceptional backgrounds in HPC and cyber security. For instance, I joined the team after completing a postdoc in quantum information at TU-Delft in the Netherlands. Other team members have moved over from within Quantum Machines, contributing a wealth of experience and knowledge in both quantum hardware and software .”
Which quantum processors are available at the IQCC?
Nir: “The IQCC currently houses superconducting and photonic-based systems. However, we plan to add more technologies soon, and of course, have our open testbed. All the systems are controlled using Quantum Machines’ OPX which is at the core of our architecture, offering a unified control solution for all qubit devices. This setup allows experimentation with different qubits in the same environment and also ensures smooth integration of new qubit types as these become available.”
Who are the partners involved with the IQCC?
Nir: “First, it’s important to mention that Quantum Machines, our “mother company”, leads the IQCC and has established an impressive lineup of partners to join the project. Current partners include QuantWare, which supplied our 25-qubit superconducting chip; ORCA Computing, which provided our photonic system, NVIDIA with whom Quantum Machines developed DGX-Quantum and ParTec on the HPC integration side. We also collaborate with Classiq, an Israeli startup specializing in quantum software development and optimization, and with AWS around the cloud computing infrastructure.”
Can you explain more about the HPC side of the house?
Nir: “Well, we believe that quantum computers will not be stand-alone systems, particularly in the near future, but will be incorporated into data centers as so-called “quantum accelerators”. Think CPU-GPU-QPU. So the IQCC was built with this in mind. Quantum computers and classical HPC are connected and working as one. On our premises, quantum computers seamlessly integrate with native GPUs through DGX Quantum, a co-developed solution by Quantum Machines and NVIDIA with an ultra-fast interface. This setup has unmatched ultra-low latency with only a sub-4 microsecond round-trip delay – which is crucial for applications like, for example, real-time quantum error correction. The setup includes NVIDIA’s CUDA Quantum, a comprehensive development environment for hybrid applications. Additionally, the QBridge software solution, co-developed by Quantum Machines and ParTec, allows for organic co-scheduling of quantum computing and classical computing resources, supporting efficient multi-user and multi-tasking operations.”
Contact us or request a demo to learn more about OPX+ and its scaled-up version OPX1000 to better understand how these unique processor-based controllers can accelerate your research.
What were the main challenges in setting up the IQCC and how were they handled?
Nir: “Setting up the IQCC involved many challenges, requiring detailed planning and accurate execution. Ensuring that our substantial investment secured the best hardware and infrastructure was critical. We needed to select a location and design a facility that met the diverse needs of both high-performance and quantum computers, capable of handling power, cooling, and networking requirements while supporting the critical low-noise and unique cryogenic needs essential for quantum computing.
After evaluating tens of potential sites, we decided to collaborate with Tel-Aviv University as our host. We planned the center for about six months, going over every detail, from the type of flooring to the air conditioning units and the specific power connections required. For example, to cool our fridges, we needed a custom-made chiller that could handle Israel’s high-temperature climate. Additionally, the cooling water running through the chiller required careful planning. In Europe, they use tap water for chillers like ours, but we found that the water in Israel is much ‘harder,’ so we had to include a dedicated device to ‘soften’ the water. These are just two examples of the many challenges we faced.
The thorough planning was crucial, as any mistake would be difficult to correct once in service. The long lead times for some parts also required careful planning. During this planning phase, I visited many other labs around the world to learn from their experience and ensure that our facility was state-of-the-art. Once the planning period ended, we began construction, and equipment started arriving so that we were immediately ready for system bring-up as soon as construction was complete.
Another crucial challenge was assembling our team, requiring experts who could innovate and push the boundaries of quantum technology and integration with the matured HPC domain. Luckily we were able to get all this done and are now open for business .”
What makes the IQCC different from other similar institutes?
Nir: “While there are many things that make the IQCC unique, here are three main ones. First is our hardware combination: multiple qubit modalities, unified control, and unmatched HPC cluster integration. This hardware-based HPC integration provides ultra-fast access to GPU resources and enables experimenting with quantum error correction at scale along with other advanced quantum algorithms that require high-performance, real-time classical resources. Second, unlike other cloud quantum services, IQCC provides access all the way down to the pulse level for optimization. This is a game-changer because it allows intuitive coding of complex quantum sequences with precise control through QUA, the OPX pulse-level programming language, without requiring any FPGA knowledge. And third, our team of quantum and HPC experts provides extensive support to help users program, debug, and optimize their results.”
What does the future hold for the IQCC in the next 12-18 months?
Nir: “The IQCC has big plans for the future and aims to progress in multiple areas. Scaling our quantum computers is a primary focus, with plans to introduce larger devices featuring improved qubit fidelities.
In fact, we will be moving from the current 25-qubit superconducting devices to 50+ qubits by 2025. Another important area is further investing in HPC integration, as practical quantum computers will require significant classical resources for protocols such as quantum error correction and mid-circuit calibration retuning. Additionally, we are committed to expanding our team and expertise. We’re also in discussions with more companies interested in joining IQCC and integrating their hardware and software solutions with IQCC infrastructure and services— so make sure to stay tuned for more updates soon.”
About IQCC
The IQCC is a state-of-the-art quantum and HPC center that uniquely integrates the power of quantum and classical computing resources. It is the first in the world to house multiple co-located quantum computers of different qubit types, all controlled via a unified control system: Quantum Machines’ processor-based control platform, and utilizing the NVIDIA DGX Quantum system (jointly developed by NVIDIA and Quantum Machines) for fast integration with the on-prem HPC cluster. In addition to the full-fledged quantum computers, IQCC also includes an advanced cryogenic testbed, allowing users to bring their own devices and test them in its open testbed.
Established with the backing of the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), IQCC goals are to provide a cutting-edge infrastructure that supports the emergence of a vibrant business ecosystem around quantum computing in Israel, and to demonstrate to the world what the future of quantum computing looks like: Multiple heterogeneous quantum computers, sharing the same infrastructure, tightly integrated with HPC, and made transparent to the user.
Startups, corporations, and research facilities who wish to contact IQCC can do so via the Center’s website at https://i-qcc.com/contact-us.
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