Florian Neukart, Volkswagen
Nielsen Physics Bldg., Room 307
Monday, March 2 — Talk: 11 – 12, Pizza: 12 – 1
Science & Engineering Research Facility (SERF)
Refreshments: 3:00, Colloquium: 3:30
With the computers we use today, some of the most important problems will never be solved, among these simulated chemistry, drug discovery, transportation, and artificial intelligence. Practical quantum computers herald a new era in information technology, and it’s happening right now. In the industry, we must be aware of it, understand why and when quantum computers are more powerful than classical computers, and develop knowledge about architectures, algorithms, and programming languages. It’s an exciting field, of which it is clear that despite the progress made, many hurdles still have to be taken. The audience will understand the potential of near-term quantum computers and learn about their strengths and weaknesses in the most practical way.
Dr. Florian Neukart is the Director of Volkswagen Group Advanced Technologies, which he started in 2019 and whose mission is to expand Volkswagen Group’s knowledge by exploring new domains to provide strategic guidance and technical solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. Before his current post, he was a Principal Scientist at the Volkswagen Group of America in San Francisco, where he has been researching in the fields of quantum computing and artificial intelligence, and the CTO of Volkswagen Group’s Data Lab in Munich, where he was responsible for its efforts in Research and Technology. He made contributions to the fields of mathematics and computer science, specifically in optimization, quantum computing, and bio-inspired algorithms. In 2013, he joined Audi from SAP, where he worked as a data science consultant. Dr. Neukart holds a Ph.D. in quantum computing and artificial intelligence from the Transilvania University of Brasov, as well as a Master’s degree in information technology from the CAMPUS02 University of Applied Sciences in Graz, and a Master’s degree in computer science from the Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Kapfenberg. Dr. Neukart is also an assistant professor at Leiden University, where he works on quantum computing and artificial intelligence. He is the author of the book “Reverse Engineering the Mind – Consciously Acting Machines and Accelerated Evolution”.