Intel Acquires Classiq for $2.3 Billion

On October 26, Intel announced a definitive agreement to acquire Classiq, an Israeli company developing software for quantum computing. According to Calcalist, the deal is valued at $2.3 billion in cash and stock; Globes reports that Classiq will become Intel's global center in this field. The closure is planned for the first half of 2027 after regulatory approval.

Classiq was founded in 2020 by Nir Minerbi, Amir Nave, and his father Yehuda Nave. The product automates the synthesis of quantum algorithms: the task is formulated in the Qmod language, and the system assembles an optimized circuit for a specific processor. Calcalist names BMW, Rolls-Royce, HSBC, and Citi as clients, and NVIDIA, Microsoft, and AWS as partners. Intel compares Classiq to EDA: chip design tools over 40 years ago freed engineers from having to delve into transistor physics. The platform is not tied to hardware, and Intel will continue to support integrations with machines from other manufacturers.

Intel has been developing quantum technologies since 2015 and is focusing on silicon chips with spin qubits, which can be produced on standard semiconductor lines. IBM and Google have chosen a superconducting architecture, while IonQ uses trapped ions. According to Intel's own assessment, it is the only company capable of mass-producing such chips with cryogenic control electronics. In 2023, it opened access to a 12-qubit device called Tunnel Falls to scientists. "The merger with Classiq transforms Intel's quantum group into a full-stack business," stated Intel's head, Lip-Bu Tan.

For Intel, this is the second-largest acquisition in Israel after Mobileye ($15.3 billion in 2017). Classiq has about 150 employees and has raised approximately $200 million over six years; the last round in 2025 valued the company at $600–700 million—Intel is paying more than three times that. The largest share is held by Entrée Capital—about 15% ($330 million), followed by Team8 Capital and Phoenix; employees own about 10%. Intel has allocated over $100 million for retention bonuses, with each of the three founders receiving $80–100 million.

IonQ is building a full stack in reverse: in July, it completed the acquisition of SkyWater, valued at $1.8 billion in January, and in 2025, invested $1.08 billion in Oxford Ionics. According to a report by the Israel Innovation Authority and C4IR Israel, in 2025, local quantum companies attracted nearly $500 million—about 9% of the global volume and 15% excluding the US, ranking fourth after the US, UK, and Canada. Since 2019, the number of firms has grown from five to more than 20, and employment from 50 to 1,000 people.