Potentially faster and more effective ways of optimizing shipping logistics are being explored in Latin America
The Uruguayan start-up has become the first Latin American company to join the IBM Quantum Network. They will focus on exploring quantum computing applications to optimize the air and maritime cargo industry.
Quantum-South, the Uruguay-based start-up, has joined the IBM Quantum Network to apply quantum computing to the advancement of the air and maritime cargo industry, including the potential for greater efficiency in logistics. Quantum-South works with complex optimization problems for air and maritime cargo that can be mapped to quantum computers. They aim to demonstrate better results with quantum computing, compared with classical systems, seeking to help companies increase revenue, reduce cost and be more efficient.
By joining the IBM Quantum Network, Quantum-South will have access to IBM’s quantum computing systems, as well as access to the company’s network of quantum expertise and Qiskit Runtime, a quantum computing service and programming model that allows users to optimize workloads and efficiently execute them on quantum systems at scale. In addition, Quantum-South will continue providing workforce training to its employees, enabling them to investigate how new potential breakthroughs can be applied to the cargo industry, leveraging IBM Quantum technology.
Quantum-South will continue working on applications of quantum computing in the industry to support air and maritime cargo use cases – all of which require processing and searching large amounts of data. The startup will use IBM Quantum technology to develop, test, and run proof of concepts of potentially more-effective solutions for cargo logistics, such as efficient container cargo management and fuel optimization scenarios for airplanes, among others. Also, Quantum-South hasdeveloped capabilities in financial services and will also work in use cases focused on asset portfolio optimization.
“Based on our research and product development strategy, we plan to use IBM Quantum technology and resources to continue building and deepening competencies in quantum computing to apply it to cargo industry use cases”, said Dr. Rafael Sotelo, Co-Founder of Quantum-South.
“Establishing a quantum industry will require participation around the globe, and needs to be focused on advancing key industry applications,” said Aparna Prabhakar, Vice President, Partner Ecosystem, IBM Quantum. “As the first member of the IBM Quantum Network in Latin America, Quantum-South is well positioned to build on our promising work in the area of logistics and optimization.”
Quantum computing is an exciting evolution in computation. While classical computers calculate in bits that represent 0 and 1, quantum computers use quantum bits, or “qubits,” that harness quantum mechanical phenomena such as interference, superposition and entanglement in computation that could solve problems intractable for classical computers. As a result, quantum computing is well suited to help explore new approaches to solving problems like those in Quantum-South’s roadmap: loading Unit Load Device (ULDs) in air freighters and vessels, load management and airplanes fuel optimization for climb paths, among others.
Quantum-South is the first company in Latin America to be a part of the IBM Quantum Network. By working with IBM, Quantum-South joins more than 180 IBM Quantum Network members, including Fortune 500 companies, startups, academic institutions and research labs, all working to advance quantum computing and explore practical applications. Together, IBM Quantum and its clients are researching and exploring how quantum computing could help a variety of industries and disciplines, including finance, energy, chemistry, materials science, optimization and machine learning, among many others.
About Quantum-South
Founded in 2019, Quantum-South works with complex optimization problems for cargo in airlines and ships leveraging quantum computing software. Quantum South was born at University of Montevideo in Uruguay and is the first quantum start-up in Latin America. Quantum South aims to achieve better results than conventional solutions available today and help companies to improve revenues and reduce costs. Quantum South also works in solving financial sector problems where the quantum utility provides better solutions.