As the world rushes to explore the future applications of quantum technologies, it is increasingly dependent on a quantum-ready workforce, both in academia and in the future quantum industry. The launch of the Catalonia Quantum Academy (CQA), a collaborative platform that is the educational pillar of the Government of Catalonia's initiative: "Quantum: Mediterranean valley of quantum science and technologies" will leverage the region's internationally recognized expertise in Quantum Science and Technology (QST) to strengthen education, training and global impact potential through scientific and technological innovations.
This new training platform, with the participation of the University of Barcelona, brings together established quantum education programmes in Catalonia and offers new learning opportunities for students from undergraduate level upwards.
Building on a solid educational history in quantum science
Catalonia has a network of universities and research centres offering scientific and technical education in terms of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the field of QST in various fields. The CQA, with a technical office at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), will build on this extensive experience and increase it to meet the growing needs of quantum-oriented research and innovations. This is a proactive strategy funded by the Government of Catalonia to invest in Catalonia's future and develop young scientific and technological minds. It will also attract international talent, enable student and researcher mobility, and ensure the relevance and competitiveness of the region's higher education system through synergies with industry.
"As a scientific institute, we have always been convinced that it is important to make the training of the next generation of scientists and technologists a top priority", says Professor Robert Sewell, Head of Academic Affairs at ICFO and coordinator of CQA. "Quantum technologies have the potential to generate major technological breakthroughs based on the rules of quantum mechanics. With the foundation that has been built over the last decades in Catalonia, through research initiatives, collaborative educational programmes and links with industries that help ensure the relevance and potential impact of these combined actions, Catalonia is well positioned to capitalize on its ecosystem and contribute at an international level. The CQA will reinforce and strengthen that position", he adds.
The master's degree in Quantum Science and Technology, offered by the UB, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, the ICFO, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE) and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), with the collaboration of local and international companies working in quantum technologies, is the most recognized programme of its kind in southern Europe and an illustration of the relevance of the educational portfolio of programmes in the region. Bruno Juliá, a member of the UB's Department of Quantum Physics and Astrophysics and the Institute of Cosmos Sciences (ICCUB), explains: "Our master's degree is built on a strong academic and research community in Catalonia. It provides students with a broad vision that covers all aspects of QST, from the most fundamental questions to current technological advances, and gives students the tools they need to succeed in both academic and industrial environments". "Students acquire both in-depth technical knowledge and transferable skills", adds Juliá, also coordinator of the programme.
Highlighting the important synergies within the CQA
