Quantum computing in assistance to solve combinatorial optimization problems

Quantum computing as emerging technology is considered promising to provide more efficient or faster solutions to combinatorial optimization challenges. Such tasks appear in many different industrial settings, as e.g. in the logistics sector. However, in practice it turns out that a straight forward application of quantum algorithms to combinatorial optimization problems does not necessarily lead to a fast solution of good quality. Instead, the use of hybrid algorithms combining classical and quantum computing parts, or possibly quantum-inspired solutions, lead to more promising results. Taking concrete industrial application scenarios, this talk will discuss how potential quantum-assisted solutions for combinatorial optimization problems work, which challenges exist and which open points remain to be addressed in the future.