Quantum computing: BMW Group launches “Quantum Computing Challenge” in collaboration with AWS to crowd-source innovation.

Munich. Starting today, researchers, start-ups and
pioneering companies from the global quantum computing community can
propose solutions for specific industrial challenges to the BMW
Group Quantum Computing Challenge
. Run in collaboration with
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), the Challenge encourages entrants to
come up with innovative quantum algorithms and test their solutions on
real quantum computing technologies. Quantum computing holds potential
to address challenging problems in the automotive sector in complex
optimisation, materials research, and – in the form of quantum machine
learning – automated driving in tomorrow’s world.

 

Peter Lehnert, Vice President BMW Group Research, New
Technologies:
“The technological landscape in the field of
quantum computing is only just starting to take shape. Different firms
and research institutes are pursuing a variety of approaches. By
launching our crowd innovation initiative, we are hoping to tap into
additional innovative power that would be beyond the reach of a
standard tendering process.”

 

Specific challenges for quantum computing.

Experts from the BMW Group have identified over 50 challenges at
various stages of the value chain where quantum computing could
provide a potential benefit in the future. This requires innovative
algorithms and a significant improvement of the hardware. The BMW
Group has decided to engage the global quantum computing community to
help find the best solutions for the immediate future and beyond. The
Quantum Computing Challenge will focus on four specific challenges
where quantum computing could deliver an advantage over classical
computing methods:

  1. Optimisation of sensor positions for
    automated driving functions
  2. Simulation of material deformation in the production process
  3. Optimisation of pre-production vehicle configuration
  4. Machine Learning for automated quality assessment

 

Registration begins today, and the deadline for submissions is 24
September 2021, after which they will be examined and judged by a
panel of experts. A final event will take place in December 2021,
where the top entrants will have the opportunity to pitch their
solutions to the panel of expert judges. The winners will gain the BMW
Group as a client and will also be involved in the implementation of
the respective pilot projects.

 

AWS is supporting the BMW Group via the Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab,
an expert group of professionals that helped outline the challenge use
cases and who will be on the panel that selects the winners. AWS will
provide credits for entrants to use Amazon Braket to encourage
development and testing of the quantum algorithms submitted. Amazon
Braket provides a development environment for users to explore and
build quantum algorithms, test them on quantum circuit simulators, and
run them on a variety of quantum hardware technologies.

 

“Quantum computing is in its early stages but its long-term impact
promises to be transformational for many industries,” said Bill Vass,
Vice President of Engineering, AWS. “Indeed, enabling cutting edge
research in quantum computing and helping businesses prepare for the
quantum future is why we launched Amazon Braket and built out our team
of experts at the Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab. We’re thrilled to
support BMW and the quantum community in this innovation challenge. We
applaud BMW’s leadership in tackling real industrial challenges where
quantum computers may one day provide an advantage.”

 

BMW Group is driving the creation of a quantum ecosystem.

The Quantum Computing Challenge once again underscores how the BMW
Group is playing a leading role in efforts to establish a quantum
ecosystem. As recently as June, the company joined forces with nine
other major corporations to found the
Quantum Technology and Application Consortium
(QUTAC)
. The consortium’s goal is to produce a high quantity of
use cases for industry and, in so doing, create demand for quantum
computing. QUTAC will speed up development of the technology in
Germany and Europe.

 

On 16 June, the BMW Group, together with the Technical University of
Munich (TUM), also announced the creation of an endowed chair in “Quantum Algorithms
and Applications.”
Over a period of six years, the BMW Group
will make a fund of €5.1 million available to TUM for a professorship,
equipment and personnel. By taking this step, the BMW Group and TUM
are seeking to bridge the gap between the outstanding basic research
carried out in Germany and its specific application in industry.