When
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Wojciech Bozejko
Professor
Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
"Quantum Discrete Optimization and Its Applications"
ECE 530 | Zoom link
Abstract: This presentation explores the application of quantum discrete optimization methods to complex problems in healthcare and operations research. It begins with an overview of quantum computing paradigms, focusing on the quantum annealing approach implemented by D-Wave Systems. A practical medical use case—heart disease classification using quantum neural networks—is introduced, demonstrating the potential of hybrid quantum-classical models, in particular in medical diagnostics.
The second part presents a detailed study of discrete optimization problems, particularly single-machine scheduling with criteria such as total weighted tardiness and weighted number of tardy jobs, which can be used, for example, in scheduling tasks in hospital emergency departments, e.g. when booking operating rooms. These NP-hard problems are formulated as Constrained Quadratic Models (CQM) suitable for quantum annealers.
Computational experiments conducted on the D-Wave hybrid platform confirm the feasibility of solving small- and medium-scale scheduling problems optimally within seconds, highlighting the growing potential of quantum annealing for real-world optimization in both industry and healthcare.
Bio: Wojciech Bożejko is a professor at Wrocław University of Technology. He obtained MSc in University of Wroclaw, Institute of Computer Science in 1999, PhD in Wrocław University of Technology, Institute of Engineering Cybernetics in 2003, DSc (habilitation) in Wrocław University of Technology, Faculty of Electronics, in 2011 and full professor title in 2020. From 2019 he is the Head of the Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics in Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
His research work is related, on the one hand, to the theoretical aspects of discrete optimization, especially in the aspect of quantum and multiprocessor computing, and, on the other hand, to their practical application in effective algorithms for solving real problems. He is an author of over 260 papers (over 1,000 citations on Scopus, h-index): 17 published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings from the field of quantum optimization, parallel processing, scheduling and logistics. He has realized projects for the National Science Centre (NCN), the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR), and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Europe; he has served as an expert in project evaluations for the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF). He has supervised six doctoral dissertations (currently supervising two doctoral students). He is a member of the scientific societies: IEEE (senior member), IFAC, PTZP, WTN, and POLSPAR. He currently serves as chairman of the Scientific Discipline Council of Information and Communication Technology at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. His Erdős number is 4. He is also a qualified musician, graduated (master of arts degree) in 1998 from the Academy of Music in Wroclaw in a specialization of piano.