The University of Colorado Boulder has unveiled a new workforce roadmap designed to train and prepare the next generation of quantum workers in Colorado and the Mountain West.
Released Thursday, the roadmap is spearheaded by CU Boulder’s CUbit Quantum Initiative and incorporates insights from universities, government agencies, school districts and quantum companies.
The roadmap addresses the anticipated growth of Colorado’s burgeoning quantum economy, which encompasses businesses that leverage the unique properties of atoms, electrons and other microscopic entities. The initiative received funding from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT).
“The recent designation of Colorado and the Mountain West as an EDA Tech Hub accelerates the need for a comprehensive education and workforce training strategy, and we are eager to enhance this plan through our collaboration with Elevate Quantum,” said Scott Sternberg, executive director of the CUbit Quantum Initiative at CU Boulder.
Since its designation in 2023, Elevate Quantum — a coalition of 120 organizations with CU Boulder as a leading contributor — has secured more than $120 million in funding to advance the quantum industry in the region.
Currently, the quantum industry employs approximately 3,000 in Colorado, with projections indicating that number could rise to 10,000 within the next decade, according to Elevate Quantum.
“Colorado is home to one of the best workforces in the nation, and this comprehensive quantum roadmap will guide our efforts to prepare skilled workers across the state for the opportunities to come,” said Eve Lieberman, executive director of OEDIT. “This is a key step to connect Coloradans to good-paying jobs and ensure our state continues to lead the way developing this transformational, next-generation technology.”
The roadmap also emphasizes the need for more resources for K-12 educators to introduce quantum concepts to students and advocates for expanding community college programs. It seeks to enhance pathways for women and historically underrepresented groups in physics.
Read more about the quantum workforce roadmap.
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