Lehigh Professor Luis F. Zuluaga presents quantum computing optimisation research
Updated
Updated · Lehigh University · Apr 27
Lehigh Professor Luis F. Zuluaga presents quantum computing optimisation research
3 articles · Updated · Lehigh University · Apr 27
At Lehigh's Quantum Computing and Optimization Lab, he outlined quantum and hybrid algorithms for hard real-world optimisation problems at the 2025 Lehigh University Research Symposium.
The cross-disciplinary team, initially backed by a DARPA ONISQ grant and now funded by the National Science Foundation, also studies noise in near-term quantum devices and problem frameworks for emerging architectures.
Zuluaga said Shor's prime-factorisation breakthrough helped spark a global quantum race, with IBM, Google and the Cleveland Clinic investing despite current machines remaining expensive and far from threatening modern cryptography.
Beyond breaking codes, which industry will quantum computing's immense power revolutionize first?
With quantum computers threatening today's encryption, is our data already being harvested for future decryption?
As nations race for quantum supremacy, are we entering a new high-stakes technological cold war?
Leveraging Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing to Solve Complex Energy and Process Engineering Challenges
Overview
In June 2025, Lehigh University launched a pioneering NSF-funded project to develop hybrid quantum-classical algorithms aimed at solving complex optimization problems in chemical, energy, and logistics industries. These algorithms overcome the limitations of current noisy quantum devices by combining quantum speed with classical stability, enabling practical and scalable solutions today. Applied to energy systems and process engineering, early results show promising efficiency and robustness. Meanwhile, Professor Zuluaga's team advances quantum interior point methods, addressing theoretical speedups despite hardware challenges. With growing industry interest and significant hurdles like talent shortages, Lehigh's collaborative approach with academic and industry partners positions it at the forefront of translating quantum optimization research into real-world impact.