Quantum Leap: What’s Next for Optimization?

Published: February 13, 2026

Futuristic server room with quantum computers and group of scientists

Even though we are are still navigating the AI boom and its growing impact, it’s still important to also keepo looking ahead to what’s next. In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that sparks imagination, confusion, and maybe even a little fear: quantum computing.

Joining me in this episode is Tamás Terlaky, a longtime INFORMS member and a global leader in optimization, interior point methods, and – more recently – the future of quantum computing. Tamás is a professor at Lehigh University and a passionate advocate for preparing the OR/MS community for the next technological wave.

It really needs investment, it needs a bit of understanding what a quantum computer can do for you, how to take advantage of the strong, in some aspects unprecedented, parts of it … but at the same time understand what is the disadvantage of it.

Interviewed this episode:

Tamás Terlaky

Lehigh University

Dr. Tamás Terlaky is the director of Lehigh’s the Quantum Computing and Optimization Laboratory. His research interests include quantum computing optimization, high-performance optimization methods, optimization models, algorithms and software, and solving optimization problems in engineering sciences. Specifically, he explores the following topics:

Quantum Computing Optimization
Interior Point Methods for linear and nonlinear optimization, Semidefinite Optimization, engineering applications;
Linear optimization, pivot methods, network flows, applications;
Sensitivity analysis, quadratic optimization, linear complementarity problems;
Nonlinear optimization, geometrical programming, lp programming, cutting plane and decomposition methods;
Applications of OR and optimization methods, especially in production, engineering, structural design, water management, optimizing nuclear reactors;
Radiation and proton therapy treatment optimization
Integer and combinatorial optimization; and,
Oriented matroid programming.

Terlaky’s HPC research includes imaging of cancerous tumors and how to radiate the tumor in the most effective way. Dr. Terlaky harnesses algorithms to optimize the core refueling process of nuclear reactors, the radiation effectiveness in cancer treatment, the maintenance scheduling of oil refineries, and more.

Dr. Terlaky is founding editor-in-chief of the journal, Optimization and Engineering, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications and serving as associate editor of seven journals. He is a Fellow of the Fields Institute, Toronto, Canada; Fellow of INFORMS; Fellow of SIAM; Fellow IFORS; Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, received the H. Wagner Prize of INFORMS; received the Outstanding Innovation in Service Systems Engineering of IISE; received the Award of Merit of the Canadian Operational Research Society; received the Egerváry Award by the Hungarian Operations Research Society; received the MITACS Mentorship Award for his distinguished graduate student supervisory record; was Finalist 4 times of the David Smiths Prize Competition by UPS-INFORMS.

Dr. Terlaky served as Vice President of INFORMS; Chair of the Siam Activity group on Optimization; Founding Honorary Chair of EUROPT, the Continuous Optimization Interest Group of EURO.