WISER Joins $750,000 California Initiative to Develop Quantum Workforce Education

WISER will collaborate with Valley Vision, Iff Technologies, and California education and industry partners to develop quantum curriculum aligned with emerging workforce needs.

The Washington Institute for STEM, Entrepreneurship and Research (WISER) has joined Quantum Capital, a $750,000 workforce development initiative led by Valley Vision and supported through California's Workforce Accelerator Fund.

The project brings together employers, investors, colleges, universities, and workforce organizations to identify the technical skills needed in emerging quantum industries and develop educational pathways that prepare people for those opportunities.

WISER will serve as a collaborating subawardee, contributing its experience in quantum education and curriculum development.

Connecting Quantum Education to Industry Needs

As quantum technologies develop, employers are identifying new workforce needs in areas such as quantum hardware, computing, semiconductors, and biopharmaceutical research.

Preparing people for these roles requires coordination between the organizations developing quantum technologies and the institutions educating future workers.

Quantum Capital will address this need by bringing industry partners directly into the curriculum planning process.

Iff Technologies will serve as the lead employer partner, coordinating with participating employers, quantum investors, and educational institutions to help identify relevant technical competencies and workforce opportunities.

The initiative will also examine how quantum education can support entrepreneurship and the development of new businesses working with quantum technologies.

WISER's Role in Quantum Curriculum Development

WISER will work with Iff Technologies and participating educational institutions to plan quantum curriculum informed by industry needs.

The collaboration includes educational partners such as:

• Sierra College

• University of California, Davis, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

• California State University, Sacramento, College of Engineering and Computer Science

• California State University, Chico

• Los Rios Community College District

WISER brings experience developing and delivering quantum learning programs for students, educators, researchers, and professionals with different levels of technical preparation.

Through its Quantum 101 and Quantum 102 courses, summer programs, and applied learning opportunities, WISER has developed educational resources that introduce quantum concepts and connect technical learning with practical applications.

That experience will inform WISER's contributions to the Quantum Capital initiative as partners determine curriculum priorities and opportunities for implementation.

A Regional Partnership With Broader Implications

Quantum Capital is focused on the Greater Sacramento region, where educational institutions, technology companies, and workforce partners are working to expand opportunities in emerging industries.

The initiative is scheduled to run from January 1, 2027, through March 31, 2029.

Industry collaborators include BioSuperior Technology, RexCrux, and TEKsystems, with investment-sector participation from Qubit Ventures and Wavepeak Ventures.

By involving employers and investors alongside educational institutions, the project aims to make quantum education more responsive to the technical skills and professional roles emerging across the industry.

For WISER, the collaboration is another opportunity to apply its quantum education experience through partnerships that connect learning with workforce preparation.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming months, project partners will begin coordinating the work needed to develop the initiative's educational and workforce components.

WISER looks forward to working with Valley Vision, Iff Technologies, and the participating organizations to help develop quantum learning opportunities that reflect the needs of students, educators, and employers.

Learn more about WISER's quantum education programs: Explore WISER Learning

Original announcement: Iff Technologies on LinkedIn