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Stakeholder & Investor Newsletter — March 2026
Europe Sets the Standard for Quantum Talent — And We’re Building the Training to Match
How the CFQT 3.0 framework reshapes quantum workforce development — and what it means for your organization.
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Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Investors,
The European Union has drawn a line in the sand. With the release of the
Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies (CFQT) v3.0 in April 2025,
Europe now has a unified, continent-wide standard for defining what it means to be
quantum-ready — from the boardroom to the lab bench.
This newsletter summarizes the framework, the talent landscape it addresses, and how our
Quantum CXO Training Workshop Series at TLB positions your organization to act on it.
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The Talent Gap Is Real — and Widening
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3:1
Job-to-candidate ratio
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250K
Professionals needed by 2030
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61%
Cite skills as barrier
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€155B
Market value by 2040
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Yet despite €10B+ in public funding across the EU, US, and China, the workforce pipeline
remains the single greatest bottleneck to commercialization. The technology is advancing
faster than the talent to deploy it.
Sources: McKinsey Quantum Technology Monitor 2023, RAND Europe Quantum Skills Report 2025, MIT Quantum Index Report 2025
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Framework Deep Dive
CFQT 3.0: Europe’s Answer to the Quantum Skills Crisis
The European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies — developed
under the EU Quantum Flagship by Franziska Greinert and Prof. Rainer Müller
(TU Braunschweig) — provides the first comprehensive, standardized language for
quantum competencies.
Version 3.0 introduces three interlocking components:
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1
Content Map — What to Know
Eight knowledge domains spanning the full quantum technology stack:
| Domain |
Scope |
| 1. Quantum Concepts | Superposition, entanglement, quantum information |
| 2. QC Hardware | Qubits, gates, error correction, cryogenics |
| 3. QC Software | Algorithms, compilers, hybrid architectures |
| 4. Quantum Communication | QKD, quantum networks, quantum internet |
| 5. Quantum Sensing | Atomic clocks, magnetometry, gravimetry |
| 6. Quantum Simulation | Many-body physics, materials science |
| 7. Enabling Technologies | Photonics, electronics, materials, fabrication |
| 8. Valorisation |
Business strategy, IP, market analysis, societal impact |
Why Domain 8 matters: Valorisation formally recognizes that
commercialization strategy, investment analysis, and organizational transformation
are core quantum competencies — not afterthoughts.
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Proficiency Triangle — How Deep to Go
Six proficiency levels (A1–C2, mirroring the European language framework) across three skill areas:
| Level |
Label |
Business Translation |
| A1 | Awareness | Recognizes quantum is relevant to the organization |
| A2 | Literacy | Understands quantum use cases and strategic implications |
| B1 | Utilization | Can evaluate vendors, manage quantum projects |
| B2 | Investigation | Can design hybrid classical-quantum workflows |
| C1 | Specialization | Deep domain expertise in quantum applications |
| C2 | Innovation | Pushes the frontier of quantum technology |
For executive audiences, A2 Literacy and B1 Utilization
represent the critical decision-making threshold — the level at which leaders can
confidently evaluate quantum investments, hire the right teams, and govern quantum programs.
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Qualification Profiles — Who Needs What
Nine standardized role profiles (P1–P9) define competency requirements by function:
| Profile |
Title |
Target Audience |
| P1 | QT-Aware Person | General workforce |
| P2 |
QT-Informed Decision Maker |
C-suite, board members, investors |
| P3 | QT-Literate STEM Professional | Engineers, scientists |
| P4 | QT Application Developer | Software engineers |
| P5 | QT System Designer | Systems architects |
| P6 | QT Hardware Engineer | Hardware specialists |
| P7 | QT Researcher | Academic researchers |
| P8 | QT Core Developer | Framework/platform engineers |
| P9 | QT Core Innovator | Research leaders |
Profile P2 — QT-Informed Decision Maker maps directly to the
audience of our workshop series. It defines the specific competencies executives need:
understanding quantum advantage boundaries, evaluating ROI scenarios, managing quantum
talent pipelines, and governing technology risk.
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New in v3.0
Certification Scheme for QT Proficiency
CFQT 3.0 introduces a formal certification scheme complete with sample assessment
tasks and qualifying works. This signals a move toward verifiable quantum credentials
— a development that will reshape hiring, procurement, and due diligence
across the industry.
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Source: CFQT v3.0 (2025), EU Publications Office, DOI: 10.2759/8917117, ISBN: 978-92-68-26104-0
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2026: The Inflection Point
Three converging EU initiatives make 2026 the year quantum workforce development
shifts from aspiration to obligation:
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European Quantum Act — mandates quantum readiness across
critical infrastructure sectors
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EU Quantum Skills Academy — launching under the Digital
Europe Programme to operationalize CFQT
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Quantum Flagship Phase 2 — new calls explicitly require
workforce development plans aligned with CFQT
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Organizations that invest in quantum literacy now will be positioned to meet regulatory
expectations, attract top talent, and capture first-mover advantage as the technology
matures through 2028–2030.
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Our Response
Are You Ready for the Quantum Leadership Challenge?
Quantum technologies are rapidly transforming industries. The challenge is not just
technical; it’s about the leadership.
To drive quantum commercialization in Baden-Württemberg, the quantum heart of Europe,
Technologie Lizenz Büro (TLB) GmbH, the main commercialization
company for universities of BaWü, is launching the Quantum CXO Workshop Series
to nurture the next generation of Quantum CXOs.
The Quantum CXO Workshop Series
| Stop |
Workshop |
Focus |
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W1: Q-Explorers |
Fundamentals — Explore & Understand |
| 2 |
W2: Q-Strategists |
Strategy — Strategize & Plan |
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W3: Q-Organizers |
Implementation — Build & Execute |
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W4: Q-Leaders |
Leadership — Build & Execute |
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W5: Q-CXOs |
Advanced — Lead & Transform |
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Workshop 1: Quantum Explorers
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1-Day Workshop:
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Quantum Technology and the Markets |
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Navigating Quantum Cybersecurity |
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Post-Quantum Challenges |
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An Action Plan and Risk Assessment |
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A Vendor Due Diligence Checklist |
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Who Should Attend
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PhD Students and PostDocs |
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Innovation Managers |
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Startup Founders and Entrepreneurs |
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Corporate Strategists and R&D Leaders |
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Policy and Q-ecosystem stakeholders |
No Quantum Expertise Required!
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Workshop Details
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Format: In-person
Date: Wed 22 April 2026 (8:30 – 17:00)
Venue: Ettlinger Str. 25, 76137, Karlsruhe
Price:
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Students: 300 Euros + VAT |
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Staff and PostDocs of Uni Stuttgart, Uni Ulm, BaWü Stiftung: 500 Euros + VAT |
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Others: 750 Euros + VAT |
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Payment Method:
Bank Account:
Reference:
Capacity: Max 15 attendees
Registration Due Date:
Mon 13 April
Contacts:
quantum@tlb.de
Phone: +49 721 790040
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What Sets Us Apart
✓
MIT-trained quantum experts and MBA professionals — bridging deep technology and business strategy
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Direct university IP pipeline — access to commercialization-ready quantum innovations from Baden-Württemberg’s leading research institutions
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CFQT-aligned curriculum — training designed around Europe’s official competency standard, ensuring your team’s skills are recognized and portable
✓
Investor-grade outputs — readiness scorecards, ROI projections, governance checklists, and talent roadmaps
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Join the Next Generation of Quantum Leaders
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quantum@tlb.de
• +49 721 790040
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The Bottom Line
The CFQT 3.0 framework makes one thing clear: quantum competency is no longer optional
for technology-forward organizations. The EU is building the regulatory and educational
infrastructure to enforce it. The talent market is pricing it in. And the organizations
that move first will define the competitive landscape for the next decade.
Our workshop series gives your leadership team the structured, CFQT-aligned training
to move from awareness to action — in days, not years.
We look forward to building quantum readiness together.
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TLB — Technologie-Lizenz-Büro der Baden-Württembergischen Hochschulen GmbH
Bridging academia and industry in quantum technology.
tlb.de/quantum
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quantum@tlb.de
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+49 721 790040
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This newsletter draws on 48 academic, institutional, and industry sources compiled
during our March 2026 literature review, including publications from the EU Quantum
Flagship, EPJ Quantum Technology, MIT, RAND Europe, ILO, CEN-CENELEC, BMBF, and arXiv.
A full bibliography is available on request.
You are receiving this because you are a stakeholder, partner, or investor in TLB’s
quantum technology initiatives.
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