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“When and how does a company achieve an initial quantum advantage?” – Prof. Linnhoff-Popien gives lecture at the Mechatronics & Automation Cluster

"When and how does a company achieve an initial quantum advantage?" - Prof. Linnhoff-Popien gives lecture at the Mechatronics & Automation Cluster

(May 18, 2021) Quantum computers can solve tasks that are completely impossible for conventional computers. They can do so immensely faster and for far greater complexity. When will a company be ready and how do you achieve a quantum advantage in practice? Prof. Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, head of the QAR Lab at the Institute of Computer Science at LMU, spoke about this to interested parties from business and industry on May 18.
Bayern Innovativ had invited Prof. Linnhoff-Popien to speak at a webinar and follow-up Q&A session at the Mechatronics & Automation Cluster. The subsidiary of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs pushes the topic of quantum technology with the goal of networking interested parties and participating in the creation of a quantum ecosystem.
The QAR-Lab has been working on quantum computers worldwide for several years on first practical use cases. Prof. Linnhoff-Popien presented some examples in the webinar and gave attendees guidance on how they can leverage such a quantum advantage in their business practice.
First, she explained the gate allocation problem of an airport run on different quantum computers and for which it was predicted in which year quantum computers would be developed to the point where a quantum advantage would arise.
Prof. Linnhoff-Popien then presented use cases for optimization problems from various industries to give a sense of where quantum computers are particularly applicable. These use cases served to suggest how companies can identify use cases for this new technology in their operations.
At the end, she presented to the audience what hardware is available worldwide and at what stage of development, and how companies could best get started with this new computing technology. Several aspects of its use were discussed for this purpose.
In a half-hour discussion session, some of the 70 or so participants asked their questions about the topic. 

In October, another webinar on quantum computing is planned in front of industrial users with Prof. Linnhoff-Popien.


“Quantum Computing Optimization Challenge” with industry partners starts – QAR-Lab of LMU Munich pushes applications forward

"Quantum Computing Optimization Challenge" with industry partners starts - QAR-Lab of LMU Munich pushes applications forward

(06.05.2021/Munich) The Quantum Applications & Research Laboratory (QAR-Lab) at the Institute of Computer Science of Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) continues to advance the field of quantum computing. It increasingly brings research knowledge into applications. On May 6 2021, Computer Science Professor Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, as head of the QAR-Lab, inaugurated the “Quantum Computing Optimization Challenge” as a two-month project of LMU and business partners that will compute industrial use cases on real quantum computers. 
Founded in 2016, the QAR-Lab pursues the ambitious goal of making quantum computing (QC) accessible to a wide range of users in research and industry. Five major industry partners presented their use cases to have various optimization scenarios computed on quantum computers over the next ten weeks. A total of 288 interested parties had participated in the virtual kick-off.

The guest speaker at the kick-off event for the “Challenge” was Dr. Markus Hoffmann from Google Quantum AI, a division of Google Research. In the U.S., Google is building its own hardware that can be accessed through its cloud service. Hoffmann explained where quantum computing can be faster than a classical computer for an abstract problem. In doing so, he illustrated the October 2019 breakthrough when the U.S. company created a computer that calculated a sampling problem in just 200 seconds that would have taken a supercomputer 10,000 years.  

Experts from BASF, BMW, SAP, Siemens and TRUMPF then presented their use cases. 27 students from the Institute of Computer Science will program the use cases on four quantum computers from May to June 2021 to find out what the quantum computers can already calculate, how complex tasks can be and how many QBits a company needs for its use case.

The speakers of the companies and their use cases:  

  • Dr. Astrid Niederle, Research, BASF about “Job shop scheduling” with test tubes in the laboratory.
  • Lukas Müller, Group IT, BMW about “Pre-Production Vehicle Configuration”.
  • Thomas Engelmann, Digital Supply Chain, SAP about “Beverage Delivery.
  • Dr. Christoph Niedermeier, R&D Technology, Siemens about “Quedge“
  • Frederick Struckmeier, Predevelopment Production Platforms, TRUMPF on “Production Planning in Sheet Metal Manufacturing”.

Claudia Linnhoff-Popien said: “The 20 quantum computing programs to be programmed will be run on four machines worldwide during the ten-week challenge and the results will be compared. We are very excited about our partner companies and about the joint project: such an extensive evaluation of real applications on four quantum computers is unique in Germany, maybe even worldwide.”

Use cases of the companies are focusing on optimization 

The task at BASF in the area of laboratory research is to calculate how classic experiments in the laboratory can be carried out faster by changing the processes. The goal is to combine in which sequences robots have to bring which test tubes to which stations in order to achieve the fastest result. This is a simple case that becomes too complex for a classic computer, if – for example – it had  to calculate 100,000 possible combinations. 
In the task of BWM for„Vehicle configuration“ there will be optimized combinations of test components. In the process, components that are combined with each other in test vehicles should satisfy certain clauses so that as few vehicles as possible are required to test a given quantity of parts. After all, with an installed cable length of 10,000 meters, 100 million lines of source code and 10 60 possible combinations for one car, it becomes clear how complex special configurations can be for car orders.  
SAP presented a use case with the “Bay Truck” in Beverage Delivery, which is intended to calculate the optimal supply deliveries of beverages in a special delivery area, when – for example – parameters such as delivery routes change. Here, too, it became clear how complex a daily delivery can become for a beverage company if the optimization affects 6,000 trucks per day.
Siemens presented a use case in the area of „Scheduling“. The aim is to calculate how certain tasks have to be processed one after the other in order to meet all deadlines. The variables here: short-term task changes, limited resources, new processes and new deadlines of the subtasks. Due to the short-term changes of several parameters, such scheduling calculations cannot be performed sufficiently fast on classical computers.
Trumpf’s use case looks at scheduling problems in sheet metal bending, welding, and painting. The goal is to optimize results when delays occur in production processes, for example.

Four solutions to one problem: Challenge finds best result in each case 

In the Challenge, each problem is calculated and programmed on four computers (with two different computer architectures, the so called Gate and the Annealing model): this gives each problem four solutions. At the end, the performance of the computers and the quality of the solutions are compared to obtain an optimal result.
Prof. Dr. Linnhoff-Popien explains: “We want to find out which architecture calculates which result. To do this, we first have to make specifications. For example, in the production of sheet metal parts, the goal is to produce parts as quickly as possible or in parallel and to optimize the process.  What is exciting for us is which architecture leads to which result and how stably, how scalable the tasks can already be executed on quantum computers today – and what requirement of QBits is necessary for the respective use case in order to achieve a quantum advantage.”
The Challenge serves to promote the transfer from science into practice: when completed after the Challenge, the results will be presented internally to the industry partners in July, before the results will be made publicly available as scientific publications. 

QAR-Lab at the IT Institute has been working practice-oriented for years

The motto of the QAR-Lab is “Become Quantum ready”. For years, it has brought companies’ first use cases to the computers of the future. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien explains, “In our QAR-Lab – founded in 2016 – we have built up an enormous amount of know-how over the years to apply the technology of quantum computing in practice. Numerous well-known corporations are already benefiting from our knowledge.”

So far, the QAR-Lab is a unique place for students of LMU for practice-oriented events, in which – via the cloud – computing can be done on four quantum computers worldwide. Since 2018, university teaching has been geared towards testing quantum computing in a practice-oriented way beyond pure theory. 

As a founding member of the outstanding European project PlanQK (“Platform and Ecosystem for Quantum-Assisted AI”), the QAR-Lab is also doing pioneer work by using quantum computing technology in the field of artificial intelligence. The experts of the QAR-Lab collaborate in the context of research collaborations on the implementation of quantum-assisted AI algorithms for industrial use cases.

 

Optimize and get faster: More companies launch pilot projects with quantum computing

Quantum computers, based on quantum technology (so-called Q-bits), can solve complex computing operations exponentially faster than previous computers and thus achieve a so-called quantum advantage, which will also translate into extreme speed of complex calculations. Estimates are that the hardware will be ready for the market in around five to eight years. Innovation-driven companies have long recognized the benefits of quantum computing. As a result, they are launching their first pilot projects in their IT or research departments in order to master the application of the new technology on the IT side in good time and make the technology commercially viable. 
Speed is important to everyone: Advantages are expected, for example, in optimizing workflows, calculating complex processes or increasing efficiency and speed. In the future, it should be possible to calculate problems or scenarios within hours instead of months, within minutes instead of days. There are virtually no limits to the fields of application for quantum computing – whether in the pharmaceutical industry, the financial sector, logistics or the automotive industry. In the field of logistics and optimization in particular, there are virtually no limits, regardless of, for example, the optimal location of objects, the optimal sequence of processes, the optimal allocation of resources or the best combination of active ingredients.

 

Two models of quantum computers: Gate Model and Quantum Annealing

The range of possibilities is wide; quantum computers can be used to perform a wide variety of computational processes. Since the development of the hardware is not yet matured, it is not possible at this present moment to make a conclusive assessment of the extent to which one model is better than the other. The use cases of the „QC Optimization Challenge“ will be processed on four NISQ computers from the hardware manufacturers D-Wave Systems, Fujitsu, IBM and Rigetti and on two different computer architectures, the so-called gate and annealing models.
The quantum gate model is the quantum equivalent of the classical computer and in general is applicable to various problems. One of the most promising applications for the quantum gate model is material simulation. Current quantum gate models comprise around 50 qubits.
Quantum annealers, on the other hand, are specifically tailored for solving optimization problems. 
The number of Qubits, like e.g. D-Wave Systems quantum annealer, are 10 times larger than that of the gate models (approximately 5000 Qubits). 
However, the architectures are comparable only to a very limited extent, due to a different alignment and different fields of application. An evaluation – in terms of the applicability of different use cases to these different architectures – is being developed in the „QC Optimization Challenge“.

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Program Committee delivers “Agenda Quantum Systems 2030” to Federal Research Minister Karliczek in Berlin – Professor Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien’s participation honored

Program Committee delivers “Agenda Quantum Systems 2030” to Federal Research Minister Karliczek in Berlin – Professor Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien’s participation honored

(Berlin/Munich) The spokespersons of the Quantum Systems Program Committee delivered the “Quantum Systems 2030” research agenda to the Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek on March 23, 2021.
This presentation of the research agenda on March 23 took place mainly virtually and was streamed live from the Berlin Office of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The two program committee spokespersons, Professor Dr. Immanuel Bloch and Dr.-Ing. E. h. Peter Leibinger, delivered the “Agenda Quantum Systems 2030” and addressed the most important recommendations for action.
In a personal letter to Professor Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, Federal Research Minister Karliczek expressed her satisfaction that the quantum systems agenda process had come to a successful conclusion after a ten-month work phase and thanked her for her commitment.
Prof. Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, Head of the Chair of “Mobile and Distributed Systems” at the Institute of Informatics at LMU Munich, is a member of the Quantum Computing Panel of Experts. In order to develop a common national strategy for quantum computing, the Federal Government commissioned a 16-member panel of high-ranking experts from the worlds of business and science in the summer of 2020 to identify the key challenges in this field and to make recommendations for future action. This panel developed the “Quantum Computing Roadmap” that it presented in January 2021. For the roadmap, Linnhoff-Popien contributed significant insights from IT to the application of quantum computing.

LMU Munich’s QAR-Lab – Many years of expertise in quantum computing

Claudia Linnhoff-Popien has headed the Quantum Applications and Research Laboratory (QAR-Lab) at LMU since 2016. Numerous scientists are researching quantum computing and quantum-assisted artificial intelligence there. The QAR-Lab uses the quantum hardware from four major vendors to program quantum computing use cases for business.
Federal Research Minister Karliczek said that she and her ministry would like to use the research priorities and recommendations identified as a basis for developing a new and long-term “quantum systems” funding program. Many experts from the worlds of business and science have contributed to the entire process in various formats. The resulting research agenda, which is available to the specialist community, was delivered on March 23. It sets out the research priorities and challenges for a period of about ten years and identifies guidelines for business, science, and politics to act in concert.
IT expert Claudia Linnhoff-Popien is pleased to be involved in the process: “We conduct basic research and use this knowledge in practice as well. We support our partners in quantum computing and test the largest number of quantum computers in Europe in the QAR-Lab. That is how we know which quantum hardware is best suited to which challenges in a company. We calculate relevant cases on the machines and focus on optimization scenarios, such as for logistics or production processes.”

  • More on the research agenda can be found at www.quantentechnologien.de.
  • More about the quantum computing panel of experts’ roadmap can be found here.

QAR-Lab at the opening of the LRZ Quantum Integration Centre

QAR-Lab at the opening of the LRZ Quantum Integration Centre

QAR-Lab at the opening of the LRZ Quantum Integration Centre

“LMU Munich’s QAR-Lab is already dealing with practical use cases, especially in the field of optimization. We work on real quantum computers worldwide – we are currently cooperating with Rigetti, IBM, Fujitsu, and D-Wave and are pleased that we are already achieving real results here with respect to basic research. And for this knowledge – Which computer is the best? Which computer should be installed in Germany? How can we access these computers? – the LRZ is a very valuable partner for us.”


QAR-Lab in the theme issue “Quantum Computing” of DIGITALE WELT

QAR-Lab in the "Quantum Computing" issue of the DIGITAL WORLD

March 04, 2021 – The new issue of DIGITALE WELT is now available and includes selected expert contributions on the current topic focus Quantum Computing. On a technical level, QAR-Lab was able to support the editorial team in the creation of the issue. Here you can read the issue for free.

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Munich Quantum Valley (MQV) kickoff event – QAR-Lab participates in the Bavarian network

Munich Quantum Valley (MQV) kickoff event – QAR-Lab participates in the Bavarian network

04.03.2021, Munich – The kickoff of the Munich Quantum Valley (MQV) initiative took place on March 4, 2021. The aim of the initiative is to make Bavaria and Germany a major hub for research and development in this important future field. Over the next ten years, the Munich Quantum Valley network intends to continue advancing the development of quantum science and technology. In addition to Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the network founders include the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, TUM, the Fraunhofer Society, and the Max Planck Society.

Due to the corona pandemic, the official kickoff took place virtually. The invited guests were political representatives, the presidents of the participating institutions, and industry representatives. The participants were present via video conferences and video messages.

The welcome address was given by Hubert Aiwanger (Bavarian State Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy), Bernd Sibler (Bavarian State Minister of Science and Art), Bernd Huber (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), Thomas Höllmann (Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities), Thomas Hofmann (Technische Universität München), Reimund Neugebauer (Fraunhofer Society), and Martin Stratmann (Max Planck Society).

Prof. Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, one of the participants in the Munich Quantum Valley, explained in a video message that her Chair of Informatics at LMU already has access to four quantum computers, develops software and applications for the Munich Quantum Valley, and validates them with their numerous user companies.

The two-hour opening featured the presentation of various aspects of the Munich Quantum Valley: the 3-point plan, location and infrastructure, quantum hardware and software, as well as applications and technology transfer.

In addition to the founding members, other important Bavarian and national research institutions and universities with high levels of activity in the field of quantum science and technologies will be efficiently linked to the MQV and participate in its activities. Due to the strength of its founding institutions and the long-term institutional financing, the MQV intends to play a key role in a national and European quantum strategy.


Prof. Linnhoff-Popien gives talk at the QC Industry Group

Prof. Linnhoff-Popien gives talk at the QC Industry Group

"In Germany, a panel of experts from the worlds of research and industry joined forces to this end..."

Prof. Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien gave a talk to the Quantum Computing Industry Group on January 27, 2021. The QC Industry Group is a group of Quantum Computing users and experts from industry. The group operates throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with a focus on southern Germany. It has been in existence since mid-2017, meets every six months, and has approximately 40 members (including Airbus, Bosch, SAP, T-Systems, BMW, Bayer, Boehringer, E.ON, Roche, Siemens, VW, Zeiss).

The group of experts was interested in the national quantum technologies roadmap and the panel of experts’ conclusions. As a member of the panel of experts, Prof. Linnhoff-Popien spoke about “Perspectives of Applications,” one of the four aspects of the roadmap that was delivered to Chancellor Angela Merkel in January. Prof. Linnhoff-Popien presented new findings in the field of quantum computing and spoke about LMU’s QAR-Lab and its application-oriented approach.


Publication of the national quantum computing roadmap supported by the QAR-Lab

Publication of the national quantum computing roadmap supported by the QAR-Lab

"In Germany, a council of experts from research and industry has come together to do just that..."

Quantum technologies and quantum computing have tremendous potential for science, business, and society. In Germany, a panel of experts from the worlds of research and industry joined forces to successfully submit a sound quantum computing roadmap to the Federal Government after more than three months of intensive cooperation. The head of the QAR-Lab, Prof. Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, played a central role in the panel of experts in the areas of QC software and applications. 

The roadmap can be downloaded here.


QAR-Lab Bayern sponsored by the State of Bavaria

QAR-Lab Bayern sponsored by the State of Bavaria

"We strengthen the Munich hub"

With the QAR-Lab Bayern, we are launching a new initiative on December 1, 2020, to build a Bavarian ecosystem for quantum computing user competence. Our goal: To secure the location of Munich on the German quantum computing map. We will back pilot projects for new technologies in the field of QC, and we stand for constant and active exchanges between science and business. The QAR-Lab Bayern project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy (StMWi). The entire QAR-Lab team is looking forward to welcoming five new colleagues and exciting new challenges!


QAR-Lab among the 12 most important research groups for quantum computing

QAR-Lab among the 12 most important research groups for quantum computing

From the online magazine "The Quantum Daily"

The Quantum Daily, an online magazine, reports: These are the world’s top 12 quantum computing research universities. In addition to Oxford, Harvard, and MIT, there is also LMU Munich and, more precisely, the QAR-Lab under the direction of Prof. Dr. Claudia Linnhoff-Popien. We are very pleased with this international recognition and will continue to drive cutting-edge research and practical applications in the field of quantum computing.


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