Project Summary

The convergence of artificial intelligence and quantum technologies represents one of the defining geopolitical questions of the coming decade. While AI diplomacy has entered the mainstream policy agenda (reflected in G7 declarations, the EU AI Act, and bilateral tech agreements) quantum governance remains at a formative stage where international cooperation patterns, standards, and dependencies are not yet locked in.

This is precisely the window in which small and middle states can shape the rules, or find themselves shaped by them.

The integrated AI–quantum domain is under-examined as a single object of statecraft, even though the two technologies will increasingly co-determine national security, communications integrity, and computational sovereignty. No consolidated body of work currently maps the diplomatic options available to smaller states, or assesses which instruments are likely to work under which conditions. This project fills that gap with rigorous, policy-relevant analysis developed in collaboration with a senior Israeli academic partner and offered to government and institutional partners as a substantive basis for engagement and follow-on work.

About our organization: The Artificial Intelligence & Quantum Sovereignty Lab (AIQ Lab), a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to enabling nations to independently govern and shape their AI and quantum futures. Guided by the principle “Own Your Own Intelligence,” AIQ supports governments, industry and society, in building technological sovereignty by drawing on established global models.

Project Goals & Methodology

The core goal of this project is to equip policymakers, academic institutions, and civil society in small and middle states with the analytical tools they need to engage with AI and quantum governance, before the decisions that will define their technological sovereignty are made without them.

Target Countries & Audience
While the work is globally relevant, we will ground the analysis in concrete case examples drawn from states with analogous profiles to Israel: technologically capable, geopolitically constrained, and navigating relationships with major AI and quantum powers. Illustrative cases include Singapore, the UAE, South Korea, and select EU mid-sized states. The primary audience is senior government officials, diplomatic advisors, and policy researchers in these and similar states.

Three Delivery Channels

• A substantive white paper (est. 10,000–15,000 words) mapping diplomatic instruments, such as bilateral agreements, multilateral coordination, standards-setting, talent and technology exchanges, and their applicability to the AI–quantum stack. The paper will be professionally edited and translated into a minimum of three languages (English, Hebrew, and one additional language to be selected based on partner engagement).

• Direct engagement with government bodies and academic institutions through our existing networks, including presentations and briefings to bring the analysis to decision-makers.

• An international convening in the form of a stakeholder workshop and/or webinar, bringing together researchers, diplomats, and officials from small and middle states to place the question on a shared agenda.

Theory of Change
If we publish a rigorous, multilingual white paper and convene a minimum of 9 senior participants from at least 3 countries, we expect to: (1) introduce AI–quantum diplomacy as a recognized policy category in at least three target states; (2) generate at least two concrete follow-on engagements with government or institutional partners; and (3) contribute foundational framing that subsequent academic and policy work can build upon.

Budget & Use of Funds

Funding Tiers
Minimum funding ($25,000) covers the core publication: lead researcher time, academic co-author honorarium, literature review, and design and dissemination of the resulting paper. At this level we produce a credible white paper, but outreach and surrounding program are constrained.

Full funding ($75,000) enables a broader program of impact: a comprehensive primary research effort including expert interviews, professional editing and translation into multiple languages, a stakeholder workshop, a launch event, and a small operational reserve for follow-on engagement.

Budget Breakdown (Full Funding: $75,000)

Team & Track Record

Dr. Smadar Itskovich — Founder & CEO, AIQ Lab
LinkedIn & Wikipedia
Dr. Itskovich leads AIQ Lab’s vision, strategy, and partnerships for advancing AI sovereignty in government, with particular expertise in designing and operating public-private partnerships at the interface of ministries, academia, and industry. She holds a PhD in Economics and Business Management, an LL.M., and a BA in Management and Physics, and completed advanced training at MIT’s REAP program at the Sloan School of Management, where she led the Israeli delegation. She also completed a quantum physics bootcamp taught by Weizmann Institute lecturers.

Selected achievements:

• Lectured at the World Economic Forum in Davos (2019)

• Named one of Geektime’s ‘40 Influential Women in Technology’

• Architected the National Challenges Arena for government procurement

• Founded the GovAI Leaders program at Bar-Ilan University

• Established an educational technology program implemented in 62 cities across Israel, recipient of the Dan David Prize

• Founded a 50-company high-tech consortium connecting ministry needs with technological solutions

Itzik Turgeman — Chairman of the Board, AIQ Lab
LinkedIn & Wikipedia
Israel Defense Prize laureate and former Director General of the Rashi Foundation. At the Rashi Foundation, Mr. Turgeman led one of Israel’s largest social foundations and directed multi-year national programs integrating underserved populations into higher education and employment. He serves on the governing bodies of the Technion, the Open University, and SCE–Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, and as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Ben Shemen Youth Village. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Technion.

Prof. Noa Vilchinsky — Academic Lead, Bar-Ilan University
LinkedIn
Professor of Psychology and Dean of the Division for Designated Programs at Bar-Ilan University, Israel’s second-largest research university. Prof. Vilchinsky leads a division of approximately 4,000 students across more than 600 courses, bridging academia and the workforce. In collaboration with AIQ Lab, she serves as academic lead for two learning clusters that integrate academic depth with public-sector application: GovTech & AI and HealthTech & AI.

Senior Academic Co-Author
The project will be developed in collaboration with a senior Israeli academic with relevant expertise in international relations and technology policy. Following advanced discussions, the co-author’s identity and affiliation will be confirmed and announced at project launch.

Indicative Timeline

• Months 1–2: Literature review, landscape mapping, and interview design

• Months 3–4: Primary research (expert interviews), drafting

• Month 5: External review, editing, and translation

• Month 6: Stakeholder workshop, launch event, and dissemination

Current Funding Status

AIQ Lab is currently in an early organizational and research phase. The project has to date advanced primarily through volunteer effort, strategic relationship-building, and exploratory discussions with potential academic, governmental, and institutional collaborators.

This fundraiser is intended to support the project’s first dedicated research and publication phase. We are in parallel exploratory discussions with Israeli government bodies and international foundations regarding follow-on support, and will disclose any additional funding commitments as they are confirmed.