U.S. Government Releases a National Strategic Plan for Quantum Workforce Development Along with S...

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO) have stated that workforce development is a priority for the United States as part of the National Quantum Initiative. They have created this report to recommend several actions to evaluate the quantum workforce landscape, prepare more people for jobs with quantum technology, enhance STEM education at all levels, accelerate exploration of quantum frontiers and expand the talent pool for industries of the future.

The 34-page document focusses on four critical actions that will help meet these objectives including:

1. Develop and maintain an understanding of the workforce needs in the QIST ecosystem, with both short-term and long-term perspectives;

2. Introduce broader audiences to QIST through public outreach and educational materials;

3. Address QIST-specific gaps in professional education and training opportunities; and

4. Make careers in QIST and related fields more accessible and equitable.

The report proceeds to describe each action and make recommendations on activities for the government, industry, academia, and others to make progress in these areas. Progress of these activities can be measured in terms of the quantum journey a student might go through starting with first getting inspired to pursue a career in quantum technologies and ending with a career in a quantum related field.

Progress of a Quantum Journey as Monitored in Different Stages. Source: Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development National Strategic Plan

A related solicitation was also announced by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) NSF for proposals through the Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (ExpandQISE) program to launch QISE research and education activities for students at all levels and from all backgrounds. This solicitation will provide up to $5 million over five years, the program to expand quantum engagement to new institutions, with a particular focus on those institutions have students from groups that are under-represented in the sciences. The NSF also announced a $2.2 million grant to the Montana-Arkansas (MonArk) NSF Quantum Foundry, led by Montana State University and the University of Arkansas, to create the Arkansas-Montana-South Dakota 2D Quantum Photonics Alliance (2DQP Alliance).

These government agencies also announced U.S. participation in the World Quantum Day, an international event to be held on April 14th, 2022, to highlight the many ways quantum has, does, and will impact and benefit all of society. They also provided a summary of a "The Quantum Workforce: Q-12 Actions for Community Growth" event that was held on February 1, 2022.

Additional information about these announcements can be found in a press release available on the Quantum.gov website here, the Workforce Development National Strategic Plan located here, the NSF solicitation for Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering here, and a description of U.S. participation in the World Quantum Day here.

February 1, 2022