QCHALLengeNewsEN

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QCHALLenge Project Completion

QCHALLenge Project Completion

Final Consortial Meeting in Munich

(Munich, 09.10. 2025) After three years of close collaboration with our partners BASF, BMW, SAP, and Ande Semiconductor, supported by Aqarios as part of the BMFTR-funded QCHALLenge project, we proudly presented our final results at the closing meeting with DLR-PT on October 9th, 2025.

Leading this collaboration has been an extraordinary experience – one that started with the QC Optimization Challenge hosted by the QAR-Lab and evolved into one of the most comprehensive joint efforts on industrial quantum applications to date. Together, we explored more than a dozen truly real-world use cases contributed by our industry partners – ranging from production scheduling and sensor placement to train routing and resource optimization. Through this, we achieved significant progress in bridging the gap between quantum research and industrial practice. In over 30 scientific publications, we developed and refined methodologies to apply quantum algorithms to real optimization problems in production and logistics – benchmarked on five different (quantum-inspired) computers. To ensure that quantum solutions can be used seamlessly in today’s industrial automation ecosystems, we created an open source software-framework enabling uniform access to multiple use cases.

To support the quantum readiness of industry, we summarized all findings in a quantum roadmap that provides clear recommendations on when and where quantum computing can offer tangible advantages in the future.

Building on these results, we are now looking forward to integrating the QCHALLenge Framework into the QuCUN Ecosystem and Munich Quantum Software-Stack and beyond – in collaboration with tools like Aqarios Luna and Quark. A heartfelt thank you to all partners and contributors for making this ambitious journey possible – and for proving that collaboration between academia and industry can truly accelerate the path toward Quantum Advantage in Industry.


QCHALLenge Software Framework

QCHALLenge Software Framework

Software Framework Released Now!

(Munich, August 28, 2025) QCHALLenge-FW is an open-source framework for simplified modeling of quantum-inspired industrial applications. With just a few commands, the software can be set up via Conda or the interactive installer – flexibly, depending on the use case. Several end-to-end examples, ranging from data generation to modeling and visualization, demonstrate the use cases covered in QCHALLenge, including production assignment scheduling, sensor positioning, autocarrier loading, modular production logistics, and train routing.

Thanks to the modular architecture, users can not only execute existing use cases, but also add their own problems and integrate them seamlessly into the workflow. Whether optimization, simulation, or evaluation—all central functions are already available as modules.

Special thanks go to Dr. Peter Limacher (SAP) and Nico Kraus (Aqarios GmbH) for designing and developing the framework. More details can be found in the official Github repository.


Munich Tech-Days 2025

Munich Tech-Days 2025

Quantum-Projects und Demo Lego-Annealers

(Munich, 16.07 & 17.07. 2025) As part of the roadshow “Quantum Computing@Munich Tech Days”, organized by Bayern Innovativ, representatives from LMU (Jonas Stein, Maximilian Zorn) and SAP (Peter Limacher) were on site at Munich Ostbahnhof. There, on July 16 and 17, 2025, the findings of quantum computing and the QCHALLenge project were presented to interested parties and curious participants of the event. In addition to a short project pitch by Jonas Stein about the use cases of the project and a social media interview with Peter Limacher, we would like to thank you on behalf of the funding project for the great, interesting discussions and the invitation to the roadshow.


Contributions to QCE-Conference 2025

Contributions to QCE-Conference 2025

QCHALLenge research in full swing

(Munich, 14.07.2025) We are pleased to report on the following research that has been produced as part of the QCHALLenge project. The papers listed below will be presented at the main track of the QCE conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA from August 31st to September 5th:

  • Florian Krellner, Abhishek Awasthi, Nico Kraus, Sarah Braun, Michael Poppel, Daniel Porawski, „Solving a real-world modular logistic scheduling problem with a quantum-classical meta-heuristics“, to appear in the Proceedings of the IEEE QCE 2025.,
  • Nico Kraus, Marvin Erdmann, Alexander Kuzmany, Daniel Porawski „Quantum Annealing Hyperparameter Analysis for Optimal Sensor Placement in Production Environments“, to appear in the Proceedings of the IEEE QCE 2025.,
  • Peter J. Eder, Aron Kerschbaumer, Jernej Rudi Finzgar, Raimel A. Medina, Martin J. A. Schuetz, Helmut G. Katzgraber, Sarah Braun, Christian B. Mendl, „Quantum-Guided Cluster Algorithms for Combinatorial Optimization“, to appear in the Proceedings of the IEEE QCE 2025.,
  • Peter J. Eder, Simon Ramoser, Sarah Braun, Stefan Weltge, „Efficient active-passive vehicle coordination in multimodal transportation networks“, to appear in the Journal of Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review.,
  • Leo Sünkel, Jonas Stein, Maximilian Zorn, Thomas Gabor and Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, „Time-Aware Qubit Assignment and Circuit Optimization for Distributed Quantum Computing“, to appear in the Proceedings of the IEEE QCE 2025.,
  • David Bucher, Daniel Porawski, Maximilian Janetschek, Jonas Stein, Corey O’Meara, Giorgio Cortiana, Claudia Linnhoff-Popien, „Efficient QAOA Architecture for Solving Multi-Constrained Optimization Problems“, to appear in the Proceedings of the IEEE QCE 2025.

We congratulate the authors and look forward to a lively exchange at QCE 2025.


Third QCHALLenge Consortial-Meeting

The 3rd QCHALLenge Consortial-Meeting

Progress, Sucess and Roadmaps

(Ludwigshafen, 03.06.2025) Representatives of the QCHALLenge consortium from LMU, Siemens, SAP, BMW, Aqarios GmbH and BASF came together again in the third year to discuss the status of the project. The third consortium meeting took place this year on June 3, 2025 at the invitation of consortium partner BASF in Ludwigshafen.
In the presence of Mr. Johann Schmidt from DLR project support, a welcome address by consortium leader Claudia Linhoff-Popien (LMU) was followed by a lively discussion on the progress and objectives of the individual work packages. The core objective of the project – the processing of the consortium partners’ industry use cases – had already been completed and the results and approaches integrated into the newly developed QCHALLenge software package. Presentations of published research from Siemens, SAP and LMU, among others, were also well received. Finally, the last remaining milestone, which is planned under the leadership of BMW and BASF in the form of a roadmap of quantum readiness for the industry and is already in preparation, was discussed in particular.
The consortium would like to thank the DRL project management and project support and is now entering the final months of the QCHALLenge project together.


Quantum Computing – Applications for Industry DLR Workshop

DLR Workshop Event 2024

Quantum Computing – Applications for Industry

(Berlin, 03/04.12.2024) Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the initiative “Quantum Computing – Applications for Industry” supports various projects and evaluates the program’s scientific impact. Over two days, the workshop at the Forum Digitale Technologien in Berlin gathered more than 70 participants from research and industry to discuss progress and future challenges.

Key projects presented include:

  • QUASIM: Simulating rotor blade milling for aircraft engines, with the potential to reduce waste by 80% using quantum computing.
  • QuaST: A decision-tree tool for optimizing problem-solving across quantum and classical computing, aiding industries like semiconductor manufacturing.
  • Qompiler: A new programming language, Qrisp, designed to simplify software development for quantum computers.

Additional contributions came from:

  • The Quantum Computing User Network (QuCUN), funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
  • The QUA-SAR project of the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative.
  • Bench-QC from Munich Quantum Valley, focusing on application-driven benchmarking.
  • The Bundesdruckerei Group.

This collaborative effort showcased innovative tools and strategies to make quantum computing more accessible and impactful for businesses.


Tage der digitalen Technologien 2024

Tage der digitalen Technologien 2024

Together, connected in Berlin

(Berlin, October 7, 2024) Under the motto “Transformation through innovation – sustainable, sovereign, networked”, the conference of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) – Tage der digitalen technologien 2024 (Days of digital Technologies 2024) – took place in Berlin on October 7 and 8. Representing the QCHALLenge consortium, members of Siemens, SAP and LMU were present with a exhibition stall and informed conference visitors about the consortium’s progress and ideas. Goals and use cases of quantum computing from industry and science were presented to interested visitors as part of two larger guided tours and several individual pitches.


Talk on Bitkom 2024

Talk on Bitkom 2024

BASF and SAP for QCHALLenge in Berlin

(Berlin, 25.9 2024) At this year’s Bitkom event in Berlin (24th – 26th of September 2024), Dr. Abhishek Awasthi (BASF) and Florian Krellner (SAP) presented progress and insights gained on one of the central QCHALLenge use case problems, Production Assignment. The problem involves the planning and balancing of orders on various industrial production machines with a non-linear objective function. Various modeling techniques for classical and quantum computing were developed and tested for QCHALLenge.
In their presentation Case-studies on hybrid quantum solvers for business relevant optimization use-cases, approaches and details from the following related publication were presented.

Real World Application of Quantum-Classical Optimization for Production Scheduling
Abhishek Awasthi, Nico Kraus, Florian Krellner, David Zambrano (arxiv.org/abs/2408.01641)


QCHALLenge Publications for QCE Conference 2024 in Montreal

QCHALLenge Publications for QCE Conference 2024 in Montreal

Contributions and publication of the consortium at Quantum Week 2024

(October 10, 2024/Garching) The QCHALLenge consortium was widely represented at the 5th Quantum Computing and Engineering Conference (QCE 2024, 15.09 – 20.09 in Montreal, Canada) and was able to present several publications. With the participation of BASF, Siemens, SAP, LMU and Aqarios, many interesting discussions with industry and research were held and valuable contacts were made. A tutorial by Jonas Stein (LMU) and Sebastian Feld (TU Delft) on simulation-based optimization-problems was also very well received. We are pleased to report on the following publications, among others, which will appear in the proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering in Sep. 2024:

  • A.A. Awasthi, N. Kraus, F. Krellner, D. Zambrano, „Real World Application of Quantum-Classical Optimization for Production Scheduling”.
  • C. Jones, N. Kraus, P. Bhardwaj, M. Adler, M. Schrödl-Baumann and D. Zambrano Manrique, “Benchmarking Quantum Models for Time-series Forecasting”.
  • M. Zorn, J. Stein, P. Altmann, M. Kölle, C. Linnhoff-Popien and T. Gabor, “Cohesive Quantum Circuit Layer Construction with Reinforcement Learning”.
  • M. Kölle, D. Seidl, M. Zorn, P. Altmann, J. Stein and T. Gabor, “Optimizing Variational Quantum Circuits Using Metaheuristic Strategies in Reinforcement Learning”. [arXiv:2408.01187.]
  • J. Stein, J. Blenninger, D. Bucher, J. P. Eder, E. Çetiner, M. Zorn and C. Linnhoff-Popien, “CUAOA: A Novel CUDA-Accelerated Simulation Framework for the QAOA”. [arXiv:2407.13012.]
  • T. Rohe, D. Schuman, J. Nüßlein, L. Sünkel, J. Stein and C. Linnhoff-Popien, “The Questionable Influence of Entanglement in Quantum Optimisation Algorithms”. [arXiv:2407.17204.]

QCHALLenge Consortial Meeting 2024

QCHALLenge Consortial Meeting 2024

Exchange on the accomplished tasks and coordinating future efforts

(June 11, 2024/Garching) For our annual meetup more than twenty members of the consortium accompanied by the DLR got together for a full day workshop at the new Siemens campus in Garching near Munich to update each other on the current status of the project. Starting with internal kickoffs of work complexes 8 and 9, and continuing with an on premise tour of the LRZ Quantum Integration Center to get a feeling of qauntum hardware, the official part started after lunchtime and covered in-depth updates of the major work packages, including use cases, the software framework as well as fundamental reasearch on QML and decomposition techniques for quantum optimization.
After intensive technical discussions the workshop concluded in a positive outlook for the success of the project from all parties involved.


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