An Illinois group that includes the Chicago Quantum Exchange, community colleges, and quantum employers has launched an initiative to map the knowledge, skills, and abilities companies will need to scale a domestic quantum supply chain — an effort aimed at equipping quantum technicians more precisely and efficiently.
Drawing on a workforce readiness model developed and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Quantum Technician Business Industry Leadership Team (BILT) integrates industry leaders into curriculum planning, removing some of the guesswork as colleges prepare for a sector that is still emerging.
“The quantum technology sector is advancing at a rapid pace, and community colleges are uniquely positioned to build the specialized workforce this industry requires,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, the president of Harper College, which is co-leading the BILT with the CQE, City Colleges of Chicago, and the College of DuPage. “By collaborating directly with industry leaders, we are creating tangible, high-quality career pathways that help equip our students with the skills quantum employers need to drive innovation forward for our nation’s global competitiveness.”
The team also includes IonQ, Quantum Machines, Ability Engineering Technology, Quantinuum, and Fermilab.
"The technician role is projected to be one of the fastest growing within the quantum workforce, and supporting its development is critical for the future," said Kristina Callaghan, the quantum education and workforce development program manager at Quantum Machines. "Training for such roles cannot remain at the theoretical level only, and hands-on experience with the hardware that operates quantum computers will be essential. Incorporating input from companies like Quantum Machines can help ensure that today’s training aligns with tomorrow’s industry needs."
The BILT model, which was developed nearly 25 years ago by the NSF Convergence Technology Center at Collin College in Texas, takes industry engagement beyond typical advisory boards by providing a structured program that includes regular meetings; a “Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities” analysis; emerging trends discussions; and more.
The Quantum Technician BILT is one of more than 150 such teams around the country focused on different industries. Its launch comes at a time of rapid growth in the quantum technology sector, a global race to lead, and increased urgency to address two of the biggest obstacles to U.S. success: workforce and supply chain scaling. The Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region, a globally recognized quantum ecosystem, is at the forefront of addressing both — in part because of the region’s deep partnerships.
"Community colleges are key to developing the technician pipeline," Callaghan said. "They provide training grounds where learners can build quantum skills quickly, or move into the field from an adjacent one, without needing to commit to a multi-year, full degree program. Strengthening these community college-industry partnerships is what enables an end-to-end pipeline in which future technicians learn the skills employers value, gain hands-on experience, and start their careers with confidence."
The CQE-led Bloch Quantum Tech Hub has raised $55 million, anchored by a U.S. Economic Development Administration award, to transition the quantum sector to at-scale manufacturing. The CQE, which leads quantum workforce development programs at all levels, spearheads a regional quantum workforce development strategy that identifies “employer leadership” as one of five key pillars. That report, “Advancing Together: A Unified Strategy for Scaling Midwest Quantum Talent,” outlines a plan for meeting the region’s growing need for quantum workers by improving access to and mobility within the quantum job market, among other actions.
“The BILT model isn’t just about building a workforce — it’s about building the workforce our quantum ecosystem actually needs,” said Emily Easton, the CQE’s director of education and workforce development. “The most efficient way to accomplish that is by working directly with employers. This initiative fits squarely within one of our most important objectives at the CQE: leaning into our cross-sector partnerships to meet the full spectrum of spectrum ecosystem needs, and doing it in a proactive, data-driven way.”
City Colleges of Chicago and Harper College were already utilizing the BILT model to align curricula to employer needs — City Colleges for business and industry programs and Harper for AI/cloud computing and cybersecurity programs.
Leaders at Ability Engineering Technologies, an Illinois manufacturer that is part of both The Bloch and the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, said the Quantum Technician BILT is another opportunity to ensure that their expansion into the quantum sector is well-supported.
"Ability Engineering has had a longstanding relationship with local primary and secondary schools helping to shape the future of manufacturing and local trades — and now we are delighted to be partnering with BILT to offer our expertise to help build community college programming for future quantum technicians,” said CJ Schmidt, Quality Manager at Ability Engineering Technology. “This will help pave a path for community members to fill the upcoming demand for quantum technicians and related roles, and to reaffirm to the nation that the Chicagoland area is a manufacturing and technology powerhouse.”