QuaST Software for Quantum Computing- Easing Solutions for Complex Optimization Problems

In this talk, we showcase how tools developed within the QuaST project (Quantum-enabling Services and Tools for industrial applications) will aid users in solving computationally hard industry applications using quantum computers. Today’s coding environment for quantum computers often only enables experts to develop and run quantum algorithms. QuaST aims to build a bridge from industrial challenges to quantum solutions. Together with the Fraunhofer Institutes AISEC, IKS, IIS and IISB, the Technical University of Munich, the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, IQM, ParityQC, Infineon Technologies and DATEV, we co-design a software stack covering tools for hybrid HPC/QC algorithms for complex optimization problems, addressing topics from splitting large problems to high level mappings onto quantum hardware. By this, we target a wide range of different complex combinatorial problems such as network optimization or economical analyses. As a result of our developments, quantum computers will become more accessible such that their real advantage can be unveiled and utilized. Within this talk, we demonstrate our solutions using a representative example from the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor industry has inherently long lead times and is difficult to forecast, leading to a need in flexibility for its increasingly complex supply chain processes. Therefore, optimization is crucial to reach a competitive advantage in operational excellence. Plans and commitments for millions of external and internal orders need to be scheduled on a daily basis, resulting in huge optimization problems. By utilizing the power of quantum computers, we aim at getting results which are better optimized and more stable than those generated by current heuristics and classical solvers thus far.