November 11, 2026 -- A new BMFTR-funded research project that connects industrial simulation tools directly with classical and quantum optimizers, so engineers can use quantum optimization without quantum expertise.

Aqarios is part of HyQInt, a new research project on quantum optimization for industrial simulation. The project started on 1 October 2026 and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Its goal is to let engineers use quantum optimization directly from the simulation tools they already work with, without needing any quantum expertise.

The full project title is “Hybrid Quantum Algorithms for Simulation Interfaces”. Over the next three years, a consortium from university and applied research, industry and quantum software will build a bridge between industrial simulation and hybrid quantum optimization. HyQInt is a satellite project of QC Next, the flagship project developing a modular software stack for the economic use of quantum computing.

The Challenge: Two Tool Worlds Side by Side

Industrial simulation is part of everyday engineering. Engineers use discrete-event simulation to model production lines, logistics and planning processes, test variants and assess the impact of decisions before they reach the shop floor.

These simulations often reveal hard combinatorial problems, such as scheduling and resource planning, for which quantum optimization is a promising approach. But today the two tool worlds sit side by side. To get a problem from a simulation model to a quantum optimizer, it has to be extracted by hand, translated into a mathematical formulation and adapted to a specific solver or platform. That requires expertise in quantum computing, optimization and the application domain at the same time, which few companies have in-house.

The Approach: From Simulation to Optimizer and Back

HyQInt builds an open, modular framework that connects industrial simulation tools directly with classical, hybrid and quantum optimizers. It works in three steps:

1. Formulate: Engineers define an optimization problem directly from their simulation model, without writing a quantum formulation themselves.
   2. Optimize: The framework passes the problem to a classical, hybrid or quantum optimizer, depending on what fits best.
   3. Iterate: Results flow back into the simulation and are evaluated in the real process context. Simulation and optimization run in repeated cycles to refine the solution.

However, one hurdle remains. Real industrial problems are often far too large for today’s quantum hardware. HyQInt therefore uses AI-based model reduction. It identifies the parts of a problem that matter most and reduces it to a size that fits on current hardware, while keeping what makes it industrially relevant.

All results are measured against classical methods using industrial performance indicators. The aim is not to claim a blanket quantum advantage, but to find out where hybrid quantum approaches add real value.

A Consortium from Production Engineering to Quantum Software

IHyQInt brings together production engineering, applied quantum research, industrial practice and quantum software:

• FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, with its Institute for Factory Automation and Production Systems (FAPS), leads the consortium.
• Fraunhofer IISB develops AI-assisted hybrid quantum algorithms.
• Siemens contributes the industrial use case.
• Aqarios provides the quantum software platform.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), with DLR Projektträger as project management agency.

Aqarios’ Role: Luna as the Project Platform

Luna serves as the project’s platform. Within the consortium, Aqarios takes on three tasks:

• One interface to all backends: Through Luna, the consortium accesses classical computers, simulators and quantum hardware from various providers via a single interface.
• Reproducible benchmarks: Luna compares the methods on solution quality, runtime and cost.
• Connection to QC Next: The project connects Luna to the BMFTR-funded QC Next software stack for the industrial use of quantum computing.

Aqarios develops Luna further along the needs of the hardware, the algorithms and the simulation interfaces. The collaboration with Fraunhofer IISB runs in both directions: IISB develops its AI-assisted hybrid algorithms along Luna’s requirements, so new methods from the project can flow straight into a platform that engineers can actually use.

HyQInt opens Luna to a new group of users: engineers who work in simulation tools every day and want better optimization without first becoming quantum experts. As in Aqarios’ other research projects, the applications developed in HyQInt will subsequently become part of the Luna product.

“Engineers should not have to leave their simulation tools to benefit from quantum optimization. With HyQInt, we bring Luna to where the problems are, together with partners who know industrial simulation inside out.” – Michael Lachner, CEO and Co-Founder, Aqarios.

What comes next

HyQInt runs for 36 months, from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029.

HyQInt is one of three newly funded research projects Aqarios started this autumn, alongside Q-NextGrid with E.ON and the European project IgnisQNC. In all three, Aqarios contributes Luna as the platform. Together they show how publicly funded research connects Aqarios with leading research institutions and industrial partners over several years and drives the further development of Luna on concrete problems.

Aqarios will share updates and results from HyQInt here on the blog and on LinkedIn.