Intel has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Classiq, a software company that automates the design of quantum algorithms and runs them on different hardware. The aim is to combine Classiq’s software with Intel’s silicon spin qubit technology in a full-stack platform. The price was not disclosed, but Israeli media put it at about $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion. Closing is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

What it means: Quantum computing is still mostly a research field, but the big hardware makers are trying to secure the whole chain, from the chip to the programming tools. The software that turns a problem into a quantum circuit is exactly where it will be decided whether applications can be written by ordinary developers and not only by physicists. With this deal Intel gains that layer and can offer a single package, as IBM and others already do. Greek businesses do not need to act directly, since practical uses in optimisation, chemistry or finance are still some way off. One related issue, however, already concerns every bank, payment provider and software company: moving to cryptography that can resist quantum computers. European authorities expect migration plans over the next few years, and every large investment in the field is a reminder that the timeline could speed up. A sensible first step is to map where RSA and elliptic curve cryptography are used today in systems, certificates and integrations, so a replacement plan is ready.

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