The harnessing of quantum technology will transform the
economy and lead to high demand for quantum technicians who do not
need an advanced degree for high-quality careers in emerging
technology growth industry.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., July 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevate Quantum, a consortium of
organizations based in Colorado,
New Mexico and Wyoming, recently announced that it received a
Tech Hub Phase 2 Implementation award from the U.S. Department of
Commerce, resulting in $127 million
in funding. The award is expected to spur more than $2 billion in additional private capital and
establish the Mountain West region as a global leader in quantum
innovation and quantum economic and workforce
development.
As members of Elevate Quantum, Central
New Mexico Community College (CNM) and University of Colorado-Boulder are designated as
the workforce development leads. CNM Ingenuity, a workforce
development arm of CNM, will partner with Sandia National Labs to develop the curriculum
for an immersive 10-week (40 hours per week) Quantum Technician
Bootcamp that will serve as a rapid workforce training program, and
CNM will support other community colleges in the region to
reproduce and expand the training. It will be part of CNM
Ingenuity's successful Deep Dive Technology
bootcamps.
Quantum computers process information exponentially faster than
today's computers, and they can solve problems that are impractical
for today's computers. This will lead to breakthroughs in fields
ranging from medicine and healthcare to cybersecurity and national
security, to artificial intelligence and climate solutions, and on
and on. Think of the impact of the internet's emergence. Quantum is
expected to have a similar impact in the coming years and
decades.
In 2023, the Department of Commerce's Economic Development
Agency (EDA) designated Elevate Quantum as one of 31 regional Tech
Hubs out of nearly 400 applicants, making it eligible for up to
$1 billion in federal investment over
the next decade. With $40.5 million
in initial EDA funding and matching funds from Colorado ($77
million) and New Mexico
($10 million), the $127 million investment represents a down payment
on the next 50 years of US quantum leadership.
Through the federal and state investments, more than 10,000
quantum jobs are expected to be created by 2030 and 80 percent of
these jobs will be for non-advanced degrees and offer a median
salary of $125,000 per year.
Graduates of the CNM Quantum Technician Bootcamp are expected
to earn starting salaries in the $80,000-per-year range.
Quantum technology will transform the economy and require a much
larger workforce at all levels, including quantum technicians to
service the technology and equipment. Recent projections already
show that less than 50 percent of quantum computing jobs will be
filled by 2025 without significant targeted
efforts.
"CNM is honored and excited to be on the leading edge of
developing a robust quantum technician workforce that will support
the economic growth of businesses using quantum technology in
New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming," said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. "As a committed workforce
training partner for the Elevate Quantum consortium, we look
forward to partnering with quantum computing companies in the
Mountain West, as well as the two National Labs in New Mexico, to create immersive, hands-on
training that will quickly prepare and upskill learners for
high-quality technician careers in this fast-emerging,
transformative field. We'll also be partnering with community
colleges around the region to share our insights and increase the
overall capacity for quantum workforce training."
In partnership with Sandia National
Labs, CNM Ingenuity will manage a Quantum Science Lab and
the Quantum Technician Bootcamp, the first of its kind in the
country. In April, CNM received $862,000 in federal funding to establish the lab
and bootcamp. The lab is in the process of being equipped in CNM
Ingenuity's FUSE Makerspace and is expected to be operational in
February. The Quantum Technician Bootcamp is expected to launch in
June 2025.
"So many people hear something like quantum computing and they
think working in that industry is far beyond their reach," said CNM
Ingenuity CEO Kyle Lee. "But that's
not true. CNM can provide people with virtually any background a
golden opportunity to quickly gain the skills needed to start a
life-changing career in this new quantum economy that's going to
grow exponentially in the years ahead. All you need is the ability
to divide on a calculator, know how to use a computer mouse, and
have the willingness to learn, and we'll teach you everything you
need to know in 10 weeks to start a great career with tremendous
growth opportunities."
CNM Ingenuity's current suite of 10- and 12-week,
40-hours-per-week Deep Dive Technology bootcamps are highly
regarded by tech employers, a big reason why CNM was selected to
participate in the Elevate Quantum consortium as a workforce
training lead. After just a few months of hands-on, immersive
training, completers of Deep Dive programs, such as coding, data
science, digital media and the internet of things, gain employment
and succeed at high rates.
In addition to CNM's workforce training efforts, local Elevate
Quantum partners University of New
Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratories, and Sandia
National Laboratories will be creating collaborative lab spaces to
partner with start-ups and established quantum companies to expand
economic opportunities. UNM and the state's National Labs have a
long history in quantum science and engineering.
The federal and state investments will enable these Elevate
Quantum milestones by 2030:
- Development of a first-class workforce: Elevate
Quantum's goal is to ensure that the quantum century is diverse,
inclusive, and just; we're filling a growing share of key roles
with individuals from historically underserved populations,
reflecting our commitment to activating talent from all communities
in the region.
- Establishment of world-class, open-access quantum
facilities: Access to hardware and fabrication capabilities are
major obstacles to quantum innovation. This funding will ensure
that researchers and entrepreneurs in the region will have
unmatched access to world-class hardware and services.
- Activation of over $2 billion
in private capital for quantum: This investment will support
quantum startups and scale-ups, driving economic growth and
technological advancement in the region.
"This award marks the first large-scale, place-based federal
investment in quantum. We are honored to be acknowledged as a
driving force in the global race for quantum innovation, and this
funding marks a critical milestone in securing U.S. quantum
leadership. We thank our partners, consortium members, and the EDA
for making this happen," said Zachary
Yerushalmi, CEO of Elevate Quantum in its press release.
"The Mountain West is home to the largest regional coalition of
quantum leaders in the world; this funding cements our status as
the capital of quantum and supports us in building a thriving
future for all Americans."
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SOURCE Central New Mexico
Community College (CNM)