The European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies is rapidly evolving into the basic common language for educational efforts, comparison of training offerings, mapping of courses and development of educational modules. It has been compiled within the European Quantum Flagship coordination and support projects QTEdu and QUCATS. It is central, e.g., in the European Quantum Readiness Center and will be the starting point for a European certification scheme to standardise industry training. For version 2.0, released in April 2023, the framework has been updated and extended, e.g., with descriptions of the proficiency levels A1 to C2. The framework is structured into eight domains with 42 subdomains, each covering several topics and subtopics. This report briefly documents the update process and the role of the framework in quantum technology education.
The European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies is rapidly evolving into the basic common language for educational efforts, comparison of training offerings, mapping of courses and development of educational modules. It has been compiled within the European Quantum Flagship coordination and support projects QTEdu and QUCATS. It is central, e.g., in the European Quantum Readiness Center and will be the starting point for a European certification scheme to standardise industry training. For version 2.0, released in April 2023, the framework has been updated and extended, e.g., with descriptions of the proficiency levels A1 to C2. The framework is structured into eight domains with 42 subdomains, each covering several topics and subtopics. This report briefly documents the update process and the role of the framework in quantum technology education.
A variety of coordinated efforts across Europe are advancing quantum education and workforce development.One such effort is the EU's Quantum Flagship initiative, under which the European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies (CFQT) was developed to serve as a reference for defining and comparing quantumrelated education and qualifications.Several projects in Europe and beyond have used the CFQT to support curriculum development, qualification profiling, and job market analysis.This talk will introduce key educational initiatives and outline the development of the CFQT through iterative research and stakeholder consultation, as well as provide examples of its application.
With the increasing industrial relevance of new quantum technologies, a well-educated quantum workforce becomes increasingly crucial.The foreseeable lack of workforce raises important questions.What are the expectations regarding the future relevance of second-generation quantum technologies?What are the requirements for the workforce in the coming quantum industry?Which competences, knowledge, and skills should future employees have?In this paper, we report the results of our study that were aimed at mapping requirements and forecasts for the future quantum workforce.Our study consisted of three consecutive survey rounds.In total, we gathered 188 responses from industry and academic experts across Europe.Our study results served as an input for the development of the European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies, delivered by the project QTEdu CSA for the European Quantum Flagship.In addition, we will discuss predictions from experts related to the future quantum workforce, including the expected industrial relevance of the main areas of quantum technologies, the need for educational efforts, and the expected influence of quantum technologies on everyday life.
Abstract With new quantum technologies and new applications comes a new need for specialists, the new quantum workforce. This brings new challenges for education that the typical quantum mechanics courses for physicists do not address. Requirements for the future quantum workforce need to be collected and training programmes created. In between, there should be a European competence framework on which to build the training programmes. One goal of the European Flagship project QTEdu is to develop this framework for second-generation quantum technologies. The Delphi study presented here serves as a basis for this: The aim is to identify knowledge and competences in the field of quantum information technologies, which are partly already needed in industry today, but especially in the future.
Abstract The transition of second-generation quantum technologies from a research topic to a topic of industrial relevance has led to a growing number of quantum companies and businesses that are exploring quantum technologies. Examples would include a start-up building a quantum key distribution device, a large company working on integrating a quantum sensing core into a product, or a company providing quantum computing consultancy. They all face different challenges and needs in terms of building their quantum workforce and training in quantum concepts, technologies and how to derive value from them. With the study documented in this paper, we aim to identify these needs and provide a picture of the industry’s requirements in terms of workforce development and (external) training and materials. We discuss, for example, the shortage of engineers and jobs relevant to the quantum industry, the challenge of getting people interested in quantum, and the need for training at different levels and in different formats – from awareness raising and self-learning materials to university courses in quantum systems engineering. The findings are based on 34 semi-structured interviews with industry representatives and a follow-up questionnaire to validate some of the issues raised in the interviews. These results have influenced activities in EU projects, including an update of the European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies.
Quantum technologies are increasingly recognized as a strategic priority for economic competitiveness, national security, and technological innovation in the United States. As quantum systems transition from research prototypes to deployable technologies, attention has shifted toward the preparedness of the quantum workforce, particularly the alignment between higher education and industry skill needs. While prior research has examined individual aspects of quantum education or workforce demand, few studies integrate systematic curriculum analysis with documented industry expectations. This study addresses that gap by analyzing primary U.S. masters programs in quantum science and technology, focusing on curriculum structure and skill development. Using a structured coding framework, course offerings were mapped across six quantum-relevant skill categories and aggregated to produce program-level skill profiles. These profiles were then compared with industry-identified competencies reported in recent workforce studies. The findings reveal strong emphasis on quantum theory across programs, alongside substantial variability in technical skills, applied learning opportunities, and professional development components. The results highlight areas of alignment as well as persistent gaps related to workforce readiness, cross-disciplinary integration, and emerging technological demands. This study provides a scalable framework for evaluating quantum education programs and offers evidence-based insights for curriculum design, workforce policy, and the continued development of the U.S. quantum ecosystem.
Abstract The Second Quantum Revolution facilitates the engineering of new classes of sensors, communication technologies, and computers with unprecedented capabilities. Supply chains for quantum technologies are emerging, some focused on commercially available components for enabling technologies and/or quantum-technologies research infrastructures, others with already higher technology-readiness levels, near to the market. In 2018, the European Commission has launched its large-scale and long-term Quantum Flagship research initiative to support and foster the creation and development of a competitive European quantum technologies industry, as well as the consolidation and expansion of leadership and excellence in European quantum technology research. One of the measures to achieve an accelerated development and uptake has been identified by the Quantum Flagship in its Strategic Research Agenda: The promotion of coordinated, dedicated standardisation and certification efforts. Standardisation is indeed of paramount importance to facilitate the growth of new technologies, and the development of efficient and effective supply chains. The harmonisation of technologies, methodologies, and interfaces enables interoperable products, innovation, and competition, all leading to structuring and hence growth of markets. As quantum technologies mature, the time has come to start thinking about further standardisation needs. This article presents insights on standardisation for quantum technologies from the perspective of the CEN-CENELEC Focus Group on Quantum Technologies (FGQT), which was established in June 2020 to coordinate and support the development of standards relevant for European industry and research.