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Robert Wille, a Technical University of Munich researcher and co-founder of a quantum software company, says the field must move beyond algorithm research toward software that can support practical deployment. In an interview published by The Quantum Insider on Oct. 17, 2026, he called for design automation, compatible software tools and integration with high-performance computing; the interview does not announce a product launch or provide deployment results.

Robert Wille, a computer scientist at the Technical University of Munich and co-founder of a quantum software company, says the industry needs to build design automation and production-ready software as quantum computing moves from basic research toward practical applications. In an interview published Oct. 17 by The Quantum Insider, he described a future in which quantum processors work alongside other computing technologies and argued that software must connect users to different hardware platforms.

Wille said he has worked in quantum computing for more than 15 years. He described the field as being in a transition from basic research to applied research, while cautioning that useful quantum applications are not yet broadly available. The shift, in his account, means teams must focus on making software work in practice rather than only exploring ideas in research settings.

Wille said he and colleagues founded a company a little more than a year before the interview to turn university research into production-ready commercial software. He said his work at the Technical University of Munich remains academic, while the company provides a setting to develop and commercialize software beyond the university environment. The interview did not identify a specific new product, customer or deployment.

On programming tools, Wille praised IBM’s open-source Qiskit for helping build a community, but said quantum software is likely to develop along several paths. He cited MLIR and QIR as approaches with closer ties to the LLVM ecosystem, and argued that tools should remain compatible where possible. He also pointed to differences among superconducting, neutral-atom and ion-trap systems, saying software must account for those hardware modalities while making them easier for end users to access.

At a glance
reportWhen: Interview published Oct. 17, 2026
The developmentThe Quantum Insider published an interview in which Robert Wille argued that practical quantum computing will require design automation and interoperable software alongside algorithms and hardware.

Building Software for Practical Quantum Use

Wille’s argument focuses on a layer that sits between quantum hardware and the people trying to use it. A processor alone does not make an application accessible: software must help users express problems, adapt programs to hardware and connect quantum resources with existing computing systems. That work can shape whether research advances can be tested and used outside specialist laboratories.

The call for design automation also points to a familiar challenge in computing: complex hardware needs tools that reduce the amount of manual engineering required to make software run effectively. Wille argues that quantum computing’s optimization challenges resemble problems classical computing has addressed through automation. This is his assessment, not evidence in the interview that a particular tool has already delivered improved performance or commercial returns.

For businesses and researchers evaluating quantum technology, the practical question is not only whether new algorithms or processors emerge. It is also whether software can support different machines, fit into high-performance computing environments and be maintained as the hardware changes. If tools remain incompatible, users may face fragmented workflows; if one platform dominates, they may have fewer options. Wille identifies both risks without claiming a settled solution.

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From University Research to Software Products

Wille framed his company’s creation as a response to the gap between academic innovation and software prepared for production. He said university research can generate new ideas, but that turning those ideas into commercial software requires work in a company setting. The interview describes the company’s purpose in general terms and does not give its name, funding, product portfolio or customer base.

His software outlook is deliberately heterogeneous: quantum processors would be one part of a wider computing mix that could include CPUs, GPUs and other specialized technologies. He said quantum computing may contribute to applications beyond the widely discussed Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms, but the interview did not identify particular applications or establish when they could become practical.

Wille also connected quantum software to high-performance computing, where users may combine different forms of processing. He called for broad platforms that help unify access, alongside tools designed for specific hardware. The interview presents this as a direction for development rather than a description of a fully integrated system already in use.

“We really have to make it work in practice.”

— Robert Wille, speaking to Yuval in The Quantum Insider interview

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What the Interview Does Not Establish

The interview offers Wille’s views on the direction of quantum software; it does not report independent measurements, customer deployments or evidence that design automation has already solved practical performance challenges. Wille said the field is not yet at a point where quantum computing can be fully exploited, and gave no firm schedule for when applications will be ready.

It is also unclear which specific design-automation methods or products his company is developing, how they will work across hardware types, and what level of compatibility can be achieved among Qiskit, QIR, MLIR and other tools. The interview does not name the company or provide details on its commercial progress. Those points would be needed to judge how the broader strategy is being put into practice.

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The Next Test Is Practical Deployment

The next developments to watch are concrete releases, technical demonstrations and deployments that show whether software can connect quantum processors to existing high-performance computing systems. Evidence about supported hardware, workflow compatibility and performance would help test Wille’s case for design automation and a heterogeneous software stack.

Wille said the field is working toward real applications over the coming years, but the interview set no specific milestone or timetable. For now, the company’s stated aim is to turn university innovation into production-ready software; further details about its tools and adoption were not provided in the report.

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Key Questions

Who is Robert Wille?

Robert Wille is a computer scientist and researcher at the Technical University of Munich. He said in the interview that he has worked in quantum computing for more than 15 years and co-founded a quantum software company.

What does Wille say quantum software needs?

He argues that the field needs design automation, software prepared for production and tools that can connect users with different quantum hardware and computing systems. He presents these as priorities, not as completed achievements.

Did the interview announce a new quantum software product?

No. The report discusses Wille’s company and its goal of turning academic work into production-ready software, but it does not announce a specific product, customer or deployment.

What is Wille’s view of Qiskit?

Wille credited IBM’s open-source Qiskit with helping build the quantum software community. He expects other approaches, including QIR and MLIR-related development, to remain relevant and says compatibility among tools should be pursued.

When could practical quantum applications arrive?

Wille said the industry is moving toward applied research and real applications over the coming years, but he gave no precise date. He also said the field is not yet able to fully exploit quantum computing.

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