DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08-QUANTUM-ACADEMY-STEP — Sectoral digital skills academies: Quantum Skills Digital Academy

​The European Commission has launched the DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08-QUANTUM-ACADEMY-STEP call under the Digital Europe Programme.This initiative aims to establish a Quantum Skills Digital Academy to address the growing demand for quantum technology expertise across Europe.​

Objectives

This topic aims at establishing a sectoral academy in quantum. The objective of the Quantum Skills Digital Academy is to serve as a single, central contact point and to provide specialised quantum technologies training and hands-on experience at different quantum education levels. The academy will complement the existing EU-funded actions (DIGITAL-2021-SKILLS01, DIGITAL-2022-TRAINING-02, HORIZON-EUROHPC-JU-2023-QEC-05-01)12 and initiatives in the area of quantum education and training, and leverage industry to close the talent gap in the EU.

Scope

The activities of the Quantum Skills Academy will be centred around three pillars of action.

Pillar 1: Knowledge, education, and training

• Collaboration with academia, training institutions, the research community, and industry partners

• The programmes to be designed and delivered include common curricula at ISCED levels 7 (Master's or equivalent level) or 8 (doctoral or equivalent level) leading to a degree, which use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). The consortium should design and deliver at least one educational programme at level 7 or 8.

• Design and delivery of self-standing training modules, aimed at both students and professionals from different sectors, academia, start-ups, and SMEs as well as the public sector, including public administrators and education professionals

• Organisation of tutorials and hands-on activities for non-quantum experts to gain practical experience on a quantum device and development of activities targeting STEM students

• Facilitation and promotion of practical experience, such as internships, fellowships, work placements, laboratory experiences, and twinning opportunities.

Pillar 2: Building the ecosystem
(a) Building the Ecosystem

• Establishing partnerships and collaboration frameworks between academia, industry (including SMEs), and research institutions,

• Facilitating joint (practical) educational initiatives and events with industry,

• Implementing support, integration, and visibility schemes with particular attention to the participation of female students and female professionals as well as talented young people from less quantum-developed regions and people with disabilities,

• Designing and delivering training initiatives for teaching staff.

(b) Scaling Up and Dissemination

• Organising communication and awareness-raising activities targeted at secondary education students and the general public,

• Collaborating between Member States and eligible third countries in outreach activities and exchange of best practices,

• Creating a dedicated landing page integrated in the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.

Pillar 3: Measuring progress
The academy will develop a robust methodology to monitor the evolution of the labour market and the progress achieved in closing the respective skills gaps.

Consortium Composition 

The participating consortium members should demonstrate complementary roles in the proposal and demonstrate an outstanding track record in their respective fields. The Consortium must be composed of a minimum 5 entities (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from a minimum 3 different eligible countries. It is highly recommended to include at least three degree-awarding higher education institutions from three different eligible countries and two industry partners from eligible countries. The consortium is also encouraged to include at least one higher education institution or research and technology organisation (RTO) from Member States widening countries.

Funding and Duration

Budget: €10 million of European Commission funding

Funding rate: 50%

Project duration: 4 years

Timetable