Ex-Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen Appointed President of Quantum Tech Firm's Science Council

Yossi Cohen, former head of the Mossad, has been appointed president of the scientific council for Quantum X Lab (QXL), an Israeli quantum technology company traded on Nasdaq. This appointment follows a similar move by Cohen's successor at the Mossad, David Barnea, who recently became global president and chairman of the defense holding group OnDUS. QXL, a startup founded approximately two years ago, specializes in multidisciplinary quantum technology, including developing quantum-based alternatives to GPS and solutions for atomic precision.

The company's founders are Professor Nir Shaviv from Tel Aviv University and Yiki Baranes, formerly a leader at the strategic consulting firm Baker Tilly. According to Baranes, QXL's CEO, Cohen's role is not merely honorary. "We are developing a series of unique capabilities, from quantum sensing for navigation and timing to quantum cyber, which will be tested in the real world and not just in the lab," Baranes stated.

Cohen's appointment comes shortly after he was named strategic advisor to the Japanese investment bank SoftBank, where he has been involved since 2021. He reportedly reviewed several companies in the deep tech and quantum sectors before accepting the QXL position. The scientific council also includes Professor Oren Korland from the Technion and Professor Oren Raz from the Weizmann Institute.

QXL stated that Cohen will be involved in shaping the company's strategic direction in quantum computing and will assist in advancing international partnerships for the commercialization of their technologies.