Intel has agreed to acquire Israeli startup Classiq, aiming to seize leadership in the next generation of computing technology.
On Sunday, October 26, Intel announced it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire Israeli startup Classiq. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Intel did not disclose the purchase price.
CEO Lip-Bu Tan said the merger will transform Intel's quantum computing division into a "full-stack quantum computing business."
Classiq was co-founded in 2020 by Nir Minerbi, Yehuda, and Amir, and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. It has raised more than $200 million to date and has approximately 130 employees. Its customers include large enterprises such as BMW Group and AT&T.
The acquisition will integrate Classiq's quantum algorithm automated synthesis platform with Intel's capabilities in silicon-based spin qubit manufacturing and cryogenic control electronics, positioning Intel as a full-stack solutions provider capable of delivering both quantum hardware and software.
Filling the software gap to build a full-stack quantum platform
Intel has been deeply engaged in quantum computing for more than a decade, with spin qubit technology as its core focus, and claims to be the only company currently able to mass-produce qubit chips and complex cryogenic control electronics using traditional silicon-based semiconductor manufacturing processes and equipment.
However, despite its strong hardware capabilities, Intel has a clear gap at the quantum software level, and Classiq fills precisely that void.
Classiq's core product is a unified software platform that is independent of underlying qubit modalities and hardware. It combines AI tools, an advanced quantum modeling language, and design automation capabilities, enabling developers, researchers, and enterprises to create scalable quantum applications without needing deep knowledge of the underlying quantum circuit design.
Intel likens this to the transformation that electronic design automation (EDA) and computer-aided design (CAD) software brought to the traditional chip design industry four decades ago, when abstracting hardware complexity propelled integrated circuit design from a niche specialty into a large-scale industry.
Following the completion of the acquisition, Intel's computing platform product portfolio will extend from its existing CPUs, GPUs, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to quantum processing units (QPUs).
Intel accelerates quantum push, aiming to seize early advantage in emerging market
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said in a statement:
Merging with Classiq will transform Intel's quantum computing business group into a full-stack quantum computing business.
In the statement, Lip-Bu Tan also mentioned that Classiq co-founder Nir Minerbi and the entire team will formally join Intel.
The announcement of this acquisition comes just ahead of Intel's third-quarter earnings release. Under Lip-Bu Tan's leadership, Intel has preliminarily stabilized its previously pressured financial situation and is seeking to reclaim market share in AI computing that has been eroded by competitors.
Quantum computing is seen as another potentially major opportunity, and Intel's move is intended to ensure it does not miss out on this emerging track. Nir Minerbi said:
This revolution is a process of transition from science to engineering. When you think of engineering, you think of Intel.
Quantum computing commercialization prospects are broad, but challenges remain enormous
Quantum computing leverages the quantum properties of subatomic particles to accelerate data processing and, in principle, can tackle complex problems that traditional computers struggle to solve.
Currently, many companies, including large technology firms, are actively exploring the commercial potential of quantum computing, but large-scale deployment of the technology still faces extremely high hardware complexity barriers.
Intel explicitly stated in its announcement that quantum computing is positioned as a technology that works in concert with traditional computing, rather than fully replacing existing computing architectures.
After the transaction closes, Classiq's platform will continue to maintain compatibility with multiple quantum hardware platforms—even including hardware from Intel's competitors—thereby preserving its established position as an open ecosystem in the industry.
Intel also noted in its announcement that the transaction faces risks such as failure to complete in a timely manner, failure to obtain regulatory approval, and failure to realize expected synergies. It also pointed out that there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the commercialization timeline and market size of quantum computing technology.
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