Palm Beach State College Launches Quantum Workforce Training

New Quantum Innovation Center to prepare technicians for quantum computing deployment and support.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:06pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a quantum computing control system, featuring illuminated circuit boards, fiber optic cables, and cryogenic cooling equipment, conceptually representing the physical reality of quantum technology infrastructure.As quantum computing moves from theory to practice, community colleges are stepping up to train the technicians needed to support the complex hardware and infrastructure behind these emerging technologies.Boca Raton Today

Palm Beach State College is establishing a Quantum Innovation Center, a transformative hub for education, applied research, industry collaboration, and workforce development. The program aims to prepare a new class of technicians and skilled professionals trained to install, operate, maintain, and support quantum computing systems and related infrastructure.

Why it matters

As quantum technology moves from theory into real-world practice, experts are concerned that its success will rely on a broader workforce beyond just PhD-level researchers. The Quantum Innovation Center at Palm Beach State College is designed to address this critical labor gap by providing hands-on, industry-aligned training to build a pipeline of technicians capable of supporting the deployment and scaling of quantum computing.

The details

The program uses project-based learning and a quantum simulation lab to teach the practical physics, instrumentation, and engineering skills needed to support quantum hardware without requiring extensive advanced mathematics coursework. The curriculum is being developed in close coordination with industry partners like D-Wave, IonQ, NVIDIA, and AWS, as well as academic institutions like Florida Atlantic University. The goal is to make quantum-focused careers accessible by preparing students with the skills to help move these emerging technologies from the lab into the real world.

  • The Quantum Innovation Center is being established in 2026.
  • The college recently launched a free online course to explain quantum technology in accessible language for organizations.

The players

Palm Beach State College

A community college in Florida that is establishing the Quantum Innovation Center to train technicians for the quantum computing industry.

Dr. Luis Pentzke

The Associate Dean of Computer Science at Palm Beach State College and one of the leaders of the quantum workforce training program.

Ava L. Parker

The President of Palm Beach State College.

D-Wave

A quantum computing company that is expected to provide access to its quantum computers through cloud-based platforms for student training.

Florida Atlantic University

A university that recently acquired a D-Wave quantum computer and is coordinating with Palm Beach State College on the regional quantum ecosystem.

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What they’re saying

“Quantum technology's future depends on a broader workforce. This is where Palm Beach State College steps in – making quantum-focused careers accessible to our community by preparing students with the practical skills needed to help move these technologies from the lab into the real world.”

— Ava L. Parker, President, Palm Beach State College

“We train people to support industries. Our technicians are going to learn what is absolutely necessary to be effective technicians when it comes to physics, geometry, calculus and analytic geometry in general.”

— Dr. Luis Pentzke, Associate Dean of Computer Science, Palm Beach State College

What’s next

The Quantum Innovation Center is still in development, with many details yet to be finalized. The college is continuing to build partnerships with industry and academic institutions to shape the curriculum and secure access to quantum hardware and cloud platforms for student training.

The takeaway

By focusing on applied, hands-on training for technicians rather than advanced academic degrees, Palm Beach State College is taking a novel approach to addressing the critical workforce gap in the emerging quantum computing industry. If successful, this model could be replicated at other community colleges to help build a more diverse and accessible pipeline of talent to support the real-world deployment of quantum technologies.