On Oct. 20, Gov. Jared Polis announced that Colorado gained the federal designation as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, or Tech Hub. As part of the coalition supporting the state’s bid for Tech Hub designation, Front Range Community College will play a critical role in building the state’s quantum technology workforce.
“Quantum Information Technology will shape the next century as profoundly as integrated circuits or the internet shaped the previous one,” said FRCC President Colleen Simpson, EdD, who serves as a board member for Elevate Quantum. “Its applications will span from climate tech and drug discoveries to defense and finance. And Front Range Community College is committed to making sure our students get the skills they need to succeed in the state’s burgeoning quantum economy.”
Elevate Quantum is a consortium of over 70 organizations working to ensure that Colorado and the Mountain West remain the global epicenter of quantum technology. The organization has a goal to help 30,000 workers develop their skills for quantum jobs. Jobs in this industry average more than $125,000 a year.
“Almost half of these jobs don’t require advanced degrees, which means the industry offers a vast array of employment opportunities across different educational backgrounds,” a news release from FRCC stated.
Optics skills are a big part of quantum skills, according to Corban Tillemann-Dick, CEO of Maybell Quantum and Chair of Colorado’s Elevate Quantum Tech Hub consortium. Through FRCC’s Optics Technology program students can focus on courses in training optics, photonics and laser technician training.
FRCC currently offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in optics but plans to expand the program to offer more advanced courses.
“Optics isn’t our only program that enables quantum technology. Some of our other advanced manufacturing programs will be utilized in the quantum industry as well,” said FRCC Optics Program Director Amanda Meier, PhD. “Colorado’s new tech hub designation will enable us to build out our curriculum and lab spaces to teach more of these critical quantum-related skills. We can’t wait to expand our programs and incorporate quantum education into more of our offerings.”
