Quantum computers for everyone: How Munich researchers bring super computing power to the economy

Created: 07/05/2022 08:56

By: Matthew Schneider

Quantum computers are considered unimaginably powerful - and difficult to understand.

That is why Munich scientists are researching together with corporations how they can benefit the economy.

© Daniel Karmann/dpa

The Munich location is leading the way when it comes to quantum computing.

Claudia Linnhoff-Popien heads a project that aims to make the German economy future-proof.

Munich - Quantum computers should open up enormous potential for the economy.

But the application is complicated – even for IT specialists.

The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, together with SAP and the start-up Aquarios, has therefore launched a platform that is intended to give the German economy a quantum lead.

Project manager Claudia Linnhoff-Popien explains how this can be achieved.

Ms Linnhoff-Popien, what exactly are you working on?

We are developing the "Quantum Computing User Network" (QuCUN), i.e. a network with which quantum computers can be used.

For this we are currently accessing one computer each from IBM, Rigetti, Fujitsu and Davis.

Customers, from medium-sized companies to DAX corporations, should then be able to feed in their problems and receive solutions.

What problems do you need quantum computers for?

When fully developed, quantum computers are many times more powerful than classic high-performance computers.

Physically, however, they function fundamentally differently and are therefore still at a very early stage.

For the moment we see the greatest potential in the optimization of processes and financial portfolios.

However, they are not yet suitable for medical applications, for example, because they still tend to make mistakes that are relevant in this area.

This also applies to encryption technologies, i.e. cyber security.

Quantum computers: an interview with Professor Claudia Linhoff-Popien

How can one imagine the optimization?

Take a delivery truck that is supposed to deliver packages in a city.

A normal computer would divide the area into districts and calculate the routes for them, because everything else would be far too complex for it.

He would not have the computing power to calculate routes that also lead across the city limits.

This is where the quantum computer comes in, because it has fundamentally completely different possibilities.

This makes it possible to work systemically, i.e. to link several systems together.

Let's scale our example: Thousands of trucks drive in Europe every day.

They are often stuck in traffic or have to take their breaks at inconvenient times.

If vehicles are networked and routes are optimized by a quantum computer, it is possible to save a considerable amount of fuel – and thus also CO2 emissions –, prevent traffic jams and thus reduce costs.

The technology is also predestined for climate research and agriculture because so many factors such as wind, precipitation, temperature, vegetation and nutrients come together here.

The system is always the same: you have to translate any physical, biological or chemical process into a mathematical formula.

Example fertiliser: If I know how much nitrogen plant x needs on area y on soil z, I can fertilize precisely.

This protects the soil and saves money, especially now that resources are expensive.

translate a biological or chemical process into a mathematical formula.

Example fertiliser: If I know how much nitrogen plant x needs on area y on soil z, I can fertilize precisely.

This protects the soil and saves money, especially now that resources are expensive.

translate a biological or chemical process into a mathematical formula.

Example fertiliser: If I know how much nitrogen plant x needs on area y on soil z, I can fertilize precisely.

This protects the soil and saves money, especially now that resources are expensive. 

Why don't you wait for mature systems?

Because otherwise we would be left behind by international competition.

A classic computer scientist cannot do anything with a quantum computer.

That's why we want to give people a chance to test use cases right now.

This is the only way we can impart the relevant expertise and keep it in the country.

At the same time, we research which computers are the best on the market in order to be able to make better purchase recommendations later.

also read

Gas crisis in Germany: New law could now give consumers a nasty surprise

Forms for property tax 2022: Elster has to pay attention to a number of things

Quantum computing from Munich: "Want to secure Germany's quantum lead"

What does the application actually look like?

In the first step, the users have it checked whether their problem is suitable for quantum computers.

In the second, it is translated into the appropriate code.

After that comes access to the computing capacity.

The LMU spin-off Aquarios is developing the platform together with SAP and will later also operate it.

There are currently 15 people in their mid-20s, so a very fresh team straight out of university.

And with the LMU QAR-Lab, we are one of the 12 leading research institutes for quantum computers worldwide.

Together with the Technical University of Munich?

At the TUM, research is mainly done on the hardware, we take care of the software.

Together we want to secure Germany's quantum lead.

When can you expect it?

The chemical manufacturer BASF will be the first to test the system for around five years.

The main focus here is on optimizing processes.

At the same time, other companies should also be able to access it in stages.

A number of large Munich groups have also expressed an interest here.

After that it will be open to all companies.

The plan is for the platform to run as automatically as possible so that it is easier to scale up.

Interview: Matthew Schneider