Together with start-up QMware, the Johannes Kepler University Linz is taking on a pioneering role. Despite being in the early stages of development, quantum computing has already demonstrated high potential, particularly when it comes to creating transformative approaches. The JKU has been conducting pioneering work in this field for some time now. Funded by the European Digital Innovation Hub AI5Production, Dr. Felix Gemeinhardt's team (Department of Theoretical Biophysics at the JKU) has joined forces with the quantum computing start-up, QMware, to demonstrate just how this new type of data processing can add real value to the manufacturing industry.

Real-World Issues: The Lot-Sizing Problem
As part of the “Test Before Invest” project, the JKU’s Institute of Information Systems - Software Engineering and the JKU Institute of Production and Logistics Management have teamed up with QMware, a quantum computing start-up, to test how – based on a specific problem - quantum computing can add value to industrial applications. The “Hybrid Quantum-classical Optimization for the Lot-Sizing Problem (HyQOLoS)” project addresses one of the many challenges faced by the manufacturing industry, such as the lot-sizing issue, meaning how to best minimize product costs when it comes to quantity (production and/or in ordering). Planning involves complex factors that include storage costs and production capacities. In an effort to streamline business processes, the HyQOLoS project brings conventional methods together with quantum methods to efficiently address difficult sub-issues.

Hybrid Quantum Computing: A New Approach to Complex Computing Power
Although quantum computing is in its infancy, quantum-classical hybrid solutions are currently pioneering practical applications. The Viennese start-up company, QMware, specializes in combining conventional technology with quantum-based technology. QMware's hybrid cloud platform has allowed the JKU team to successfully create and test new algorithms combining both conventional and quantum-based approaches. By taking advantage of each approach's respective strengths, the algorithms deliver actionable solutions to tackle the challenges facing industries. Developing innovative hybrid approaches not only requires customized hardware, it also requires innovative software in order to efficiently coordinate conventional and quantum-based components. The approach demonstrates quantum computing's potential and how it can be applied to address today’s real-world problems.

HyQOLoS: Future Prospects and Industrial Applications
By laying the foundations to support future technological developments, HyQOLoS, the JKU, and QMware have demonstrated that hybrid quantum computing can create additional real-world value. The team has created a prototype application capable of tackling tangible industrial challenges. The project also demonstrates how SMEs can work together with research institutions and programs, such as the European Digital Innovation Hub AI5Production, to apply innovative solutions.

About the Johannes Kepler University Linz
For close to 60 years, the Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) has been a regionally-rooted university with a forward-focused international outlook and direction. As Upper Austria’s largest institution of education and research, the university offers academic degree programs in the areas of law, engineering, natural sciences, medicine, education, business, social sciences, and economics. Boasting a modern academic facility with ample space to study, conduct research, and socialize, the JKU is home to approximately 25,000 students and almost 4,000 employees. One of the university's core research areas involves systematically advancing quantum software and integrating this software into conventional software systems in an effort to advance hybrid quantum computing in various application domains.

About QMware
As a leading provider of hybrid quantum computing cloud services, QMware specializes in B2B quantum-as-a-service. The company's platform couples high-performance computing with advanced quantum resources to enhance today's hyperscale capabilities. By using advanced quantum hypervisor technology, QMware manages data processing workloads and selects the most suitable system - traditional or quantum-based - according to the task's specific requirements. QMware's strategic approach has made it an industry pioneer in early quantum computing solutions, meeting the growing demand for superior computing power to support optimization, simulation, and machine learning. As a SeQuenC, opens an external URL in a new window initiative member, in 2022, QMware was selected to launch the first quantum cloud to support industry in Germany. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. See: qm-ware.com, opens an external URL in a new window or LinkedIn, opens an external URL in a new window to learn more.