Turning Quantum Noise into Discovery

Bar-Ilan University is taking a central role in shaping Israel’s next technological frontier: quantum computing. Prof. Emanuele Dalla Torre, together with a team of 23 leading scientists — including nine researchers from BIU — has secured a prestigious 4.5 million NIS grant from the Israel Council for Higher Education’s Planning and Budgeting Committee (VATAT) to establish a national research hub dedicated to quantum computing.

Why Quantum Computing Matters

Quantum computing is no longer a futuristic dream — it is a reality. Dozens of companies around the world are already offering access to quantum computers. The race is on to discover what these machines can truly do.

Unlike classical computers that process information in bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in a superposition of multiple states. This foundational property opens the door to solving problems in seconds that would take today’s fastest supercomputers years — with possible applications in drug discovery, materials science, finance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and beyond.

However, these machines are still noisy and imperfect. The key challenge today is to determine what we can do with noisy, state-of-the-art quantum computers. This is exactly where the new Bar-Ilan initiative takes center stage: transforming the presence of noise from an obstacle into an opportunity.

Meet QERNEL

The new research hub will be based on QERNEL (Quantum Exploration and Research of Noisy Large-scale computation), a pioneering collaboration initiated by Prof. Dalla Torre.

QERNEL’s mission is to embrace the imperfections of today’s quantum hardware and harness them for innovation. Rather than wait for flawless devices, QERNEL aims to lead the global effort in exploring what is already possible — and how noise itself may become a tool for discovery.

The group’s objectives include:

• Investigating the limits and capabilities of noisy quantum systems.
• Designing robust algorithms that work reliably on imperfect machines.
• Building bridges between theory and experiment, integrating physics, computer science, and engineering.
• Training the next generation of quantum researchers in Israel.

“Instead of avoiding noise, we believe that working with it can unlock entirely new ways of computing and simulating the world,” says Prof. Dalla Torre.

The Bar-Ilan Team

The BIU researchers at the heart of this groundbreaking initiative include:

• Prof. Adi Makmal
• Prof. Amikam Levy
• Prof. Eli Barkai
• Prof. Eliahu Cohen
• Prof. Emanuele Dalla Torre
• Dr. Ilyia Esin
• Dr. Jonathan Ruhman
• Dr. Uri Shaham

Together, they bring unparalleled expertise across theoretical physics, quantum information science, and computational technologies — forming a uniquely interdisciplinary team prepared to tackle one of science’s biggest frontiers.

A Leap Forward for Israel

With this new hub, Israel boldly positions itself among the global leaders in quantum research and innovation. As governments and industries worldwide pour investment into quantum technologies, BIU’s leadership ensures Israeli academia is not only present but at the cutting edge.

“This grant is more than an investment in a research group,” says Prof. Dalla Torre.
“It’s an investment in Israel’s future — in technology, education, and innovation that will shape the decades ahead.”