Aerospace giant Airbus and automaker BMW Group have announced a new partnership to harness the potential of quantum computing to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the transportation industry.
Dubbed “The Quantum Mobility Quest,” the competition invites students, researchers, startups and other experts worldwide to develop quantum computing solutions aimed at tackling complex problems in areas like aerodynamics, supply chain efficiency, corrosion prevention and future automated mobility.
Competitors can choose from several defined problem statements put forward by Airbus and BMW, or suggest their own application of the emerging technology. Proposed solutions will be evaluated by a jury of quantum experts from the two companies, along with cloud computing leader Amazon Web Services (AWS).
“Following the success of previous quantum computing challenges, we are gearing up for a new wave of innovation, exploring the technology’s capabilities for sustainability and operational excellence,” said Dr Peter Lehnert, Vice President of Research Technologies at BMW Group.
The two-phase competition will award a £25,000 prize to the winner of each of the five challenge categories. The initial submission period runs through 30 April 2024.
Quantum computing is seen as having immense potential to vastly expand computational power for data-heavy sectors like transportation. Possible use cases highlighted by Airbus and BMW include optimising supply chains, designing components, and powering next-generation mobility systems.
“This is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on quantum technology and its potential impact on our society,” said Isabell Gradert, Vice President of Central Research and Technology at Airbus.
The collaboration reflects growing interest from major companies worldwide in moving quantum computing beyond pure research into practical business applications. With advanced hardware still in early developmental stages, competitions like the Quantum Mobility Quest aim to spur innovation around real-world problem-solving.
