Insider Brief:
- The ongoing developments in quantum technology, especially ahead of the International Year of Quantum, evolve alongside the ever-present challenge of building a quantum workforce from scratch, requiring diverse perspectives, skillsets, and cultivated experience to support the next generation of experts.
- Education at all levels and designed with for various audiences is essential, complemented by innovative publications such as Quantum in Pictures and gamified tools like Quantum Odyssey.
- Higher education programs are expanding, including Miami University’s upcoming Bachelor of Science in Quantum Computing and India’s first undergraduate minor program in quantum technologies, which emphasize practical applications and interdisciplinary learning.
- Industry leaders like Microsoft, IBM, and Q-CTRL actively bridge workforce gaps through free platforms, online tools, and specialized training, showcasing a collective effort to advance quantum innovation and prepare for its commercialization.
As we enter into the International Year of Quantum, those within the industry turn an ever-keen eye towards the challenges that remain. Like any great undertaking, success comes after long timelines and incremental improvements. The journey to bring quantum to realization is not one pillar, but more alike a quantum many-body system in itself. Among the most pressing questions revisited often is: how do we create a quantum workforce where one didn’t exist before?
The answer is anything but simple. Building a workforce requires equal parts diverse perspectives and diverse skillsets, and traditionally, we have relied on the presence of deeply cultivated experience to support us until the next wave of experts can assume the load.
The Role of Education: From the Classroom to Meeting Individuals Where They Are
The complexity deepens when considering that this is an exponential technology. Deep tech is born in the lab, commonly pursued within the halls of academia, and when the time comes, those equipped to forge the path to commercialization must step in to do so.
So how do we create a workforce? The first and most intuitive answer is education—and at all levels. Upon initial review of the state of curriculum at school-age stages, it’s common to find that general computer science and quantum mechanics preparation courses are largely absent at earlier educational stages. Though several studies even suggest that abstract quantum concepts, which adults often find challenging, may benefit from being introduced at a primary level.
Current available resources push beyond traditional institutions and include those actively working within the field, planting the seeds of a landscape that is anything but conventional or one-dimensional. Quantum in Pictures, authored by Bob Coecke, Chief Scientist at Quantinuum, former professor at Oxford University, and musician, as well as Dr. Stefano Gogioso, current professor at Oxford University, exemplifies one solution to effectively cater to this diversity. Their book simplifies quantum mechanics through visual storytelling, breaking down complex ideas in an approachable way, a testament to the effectiveness of visual learning in grasping abstract concepts. Other specialized courses, such as those provided by Quantum Formalism, lean into the instruction of higher-level mathematics. Meanwhile, in a category all its own, the soon-to-be-released PC game Quantum Odyssey offers a gamified and abstracted approach to teaching quantum algorithms.
Expanding Higher Education in Quantum Science
Higher education itself even provides multiple avenues from widely used brief online programs such as MIT xPRO’s Quantum Computing Fundamentals, a two-course professional certificate program that explores the business and technical implications of quantum computing, to the University of Sussex’s distance online Quantum Technology Applications and Management MSc designed for professionals seeking to commercialize quantum technologies.
In the U.S., Miami University has taken a bold step by approving Ohio’s first Bachelor of Science in Quantum Computing, set to launch in August 2025, pending state approval. This 88-credit-hour program, housed in the College of Engineering and Computing, features interdisciplinary tracks such as AI, physics, cybersecurity, life sciences, and entrepreneurship. Developed in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic, the program is designed to align with industry needs, blending quantum mechanics with practical applications.
On the other side of the globe, India has announced its first undergraduate minor program in quantum technologies. Launched by the All India Council for Technical Education in collaboration with the National Quantum Mission, this program is set to begin in the next academic session. Open to engineering students from their third or fourth semester, the curriculum emphasizes practical applications and spans quantum computation, communication, sensing, and materials.
Industry support is actively injecting resources as well. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Q-CTRL have committed to creating educational resources and initiatives that bridge gaps in workforce development. Microsoft offers free quantum learning platforms like the Quantum Development Kit and the Azure Quantum open cloud ecosystem, while IBM provides the Quantum Experience, an accessible online platform to explore quantum computing basics and algorithms. Q-CTRL focuses on upskilling through specialized tools such as Black Opal and training for error correction and quantum control, ensuring professionals are equipped to address practical challenges. These efforts highlight the collective energy within the quantum space—a sense of urgency balanced by the satisfaction of participating in an unprecedented moment in technological history.
Looking Ahead: A Collective Effort
As the International Year of Quantum draws ever closer, those within the space exude potential energy, brimming with the satisfaction of having the unique opportunity to be involved with this industry and to be precisely involved at this point in time.
As we consider what it will take to bring quantum to fruition on par with our wildest dreams, we must consider the moving parts. Quantum needs more reliable qubits, accessible hardware, and algorithms that bring about quantum advantage. But these are not born of spontaneity. They demand a foundation of diverse perspectives to cultivate innovation as well as those who are well-versed in the art of commercialization, from sales strategy to marketing exponential technologies that are not yet widely understood.
Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate structured education. From introducing quantum mechanics and computer science concepts to young learners, to supporting students in their undergraduate and postgraduate journeys, as well as providing resources for nontraditional learners, there is much to consider. Education must adapt to meet the unique needs of a path yet to be walked.
While there is much work to be done, enough so to encourage a perspiring brown in even the most steadfast, the closing days of 2024 offer a moment to reflect on the beauty of this global collective. This shared calling reminds us that bringing quantum to realization is more than a technical challenge—it is an extraordinary human endeavor.
