Catalonia Quantum Academy: building a solid educational foundation for the quantum future

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

As John Calsamiglia, tenure lecturer at UAB, member of the coordinating team of the master’s degree in Quantum Science and Technology and member of the CQA board explains, “university education drives social development and, in turn, is deeply influenced by the local social, scientific and technological context. Students need a solid knowledge base guided by experts, contact with frontier research and opportunities to connect with professional mentors and peers with similar interests. The CQA platform promotes enriching actions in this context and undertakes joint projects that require a critical mass to thrive”.

CQA courses complement the educational offer at Catalan universities. “The degree programmes at UAB provide in-depth knowledge to future key players in academia and industry in the field of QST”, says UAB professor Veronica Ahufinger, a member of the CQA coordinating board. “In this context, CQA supports the development and improvement of practical experiences in educational laboratories, which is crucial to be internationally competitive”, she says.

The master in Photonics, a master’s degree in the science and technology of light offered by UPC (coordinator), UAB, UB and ICFO, has a strong quantum component and has attracted an international cohort of talented students since 2007. Professor Crina Cojocaru, director of the master’s degree, explains that “students with different scientific and technological backgrounds are attracted to photonics because it is one of the key enabling technologies and present in all current emerging technologies. Master’s students have found excellent opportunities in a wide range of companies or have decided to pursue doctoral studies to broaden their understanding of photonics and quantum-enabled technologies, both in Catalonia and abroad”. Professor Pietro Massignan, coordinator of the CQA at the UPC, points out that “the UPC has several degree programmes that are already preparing students to participate in the development of QST. We are working hard to keep these programmes relevant to the needs of society. The synergies produced and strengthened through the CQA will help ensure that we continue to prepare students for high impact careers”.

Excellence in research

From the European Quantum Flagship project to Quantum Spain, as part of complementary actions, research centres and universities in Catalonia are leading many activities in quantum science and technology (QST). They are positioned to participate as important partners to share frontier knowledge with students for careers in academia and industry. The research focus comprises basic and applied topics from theoretical and experimental perspectives in different domains.

Actions supported by the CQA platform include awarding grants and internships to master’s and bachelor’s students, promoting the mobility of students and young researchers, deploying a visiting researchers programme, setting up a career development programme, organizing schools and training and career development events, and fostering collaboration between participating institutions.

The different partners that contribute their experience from the quantum ecosystem in Catalonia to the CQA platform are ICFO, as coordinator; the UAB; the UB; the UPC; the ICN2; the IFAE; the i2CAT Foundation, and the Telecommunications Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTTC), in addition to the associate members BSC, Eurecat, the National Microelectronics Centre (CNM), the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB), the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), and the corporate members LuxQuanta, Qilimanjaro and Cellnex. New partners and associate and corporate members will be announced as their collaborations with the CQA are formalized.