European Competence Framework For Quantum Technologies

The European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies aims to map the landscape of possible competences, knowledge and skills, in Quantum Technologies.

The first version of the Competence Framework has been compiled by the QTEdu CSA in 2021. It can be used to facilitate the planning and design of education and training projects in Quantum Technologies and provides an instrument to compare different educational approaches. Based on input from the community and analysis of interviews, the Competence Framework has been updated by the Quantum Flagship CSA Qucats. The new version 3.0 (April 2025) is now available.

The Competence Framework was developed in a bottom-up approach with input from a wide range of stakeholders. Between summer 2020 and spring 2021, input for the framework as well as predictions around the future quantum workforce were collected in an iterative study  (Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 19, 010137), and the results were refined by conducting expert interviews for each domain. The publication of a Methodology and Version History by the European Commission provided a complete overview of the documentation process and the steps taken to arrive at the framework version 1.0. For version 2.0, feedback and usage experiences have been incorporated and events have been organised to involve the community. The update to version 2.0 within QUCATS has been reported in Front. Quantum Sci. Technol., Vol. 2.

The update to version 2.5 is based on the analysis of more than 30 interviews with industry representatives, published in Advancing quantum technology workforce: industry insights into qualification and training needs, EPJ Quantum Technol. 11, 82 (2024). This led to a first draft of qualification profiles and a clustering of roles and qualifications discussed in the interviews. The process was complemented by further discussions and expert consultations, as well as a mapping of job vacancies to the profiles. In this way, the profiles were iteratively refined. The update process is documented in Extending the European Competence Framework for Quantum Technologies: new proficiency triangle and qualification profiles, EPJ Quantum Technol. 12, 1 (2025). With the new qualification profiles incorporated, the beta version of profiles compiled within QTEdu is outdated.

The update to version 3.0 focused on clarifications, minor additions and refinements. It is accompanied by the introduction of a Certification Scheme for QT Proficiency, which makes the application of the framework more concrete. The scheme provides guidance on how proficiency levels can be demonstrated in practice, offering example tasks especially at beginner levels and outlining common qualifying works for more advanced levels. It also clarifies the relationship between content domains and proficiency areas and levels.

The CFQT consists of three main parts:

1. The content map provides a structured overview of QT-related content relevant to education. It is structured into eight domains with 42 subdomains, detailed with topics and subtopics . Explore this dimension in the interactive graphic below (version 2.0/2.5).

2. The new proficiency triangle visualises the six proficiency levels for three proficiency areas. 

   • The proficiency areas structure the QT-related proficiency into three areas: (I) Quantum concepts, (II) QT hardware & software engineering, and (III) QT applications and strategies. Thus, the areas cluster proficiency into some QT-specific background, the hands-on engineering skills up to aspects like systems engineering and making a product out of a lab setup, and the business and value creation aspects. They are independent of any specific QT.

   • For each area, six proficiency levels – A1 Awareness, A2 Literacy, B1 Utilisation, B2 Investigation, C1 Specialisation and C2 Innovation – specify via in-depth level descriptions of the key knowledge and skills relevant to each level. They are complemented by examples, e.g. of relations to (sub)domains from the content map.

   • The proficiency triangle shows the coverage of the proficiency levels for the three areas. 

3. Nine qualification profiles provide examples of the typical coverage of the proficiency levels, enabling the profiles to be easily compared using the proficiency triangle. The profiles themselves contain the coverage of the proficiency levels, a general description, example personas and additional suggestions, e.g. which training or study programmes might be relevant to reach the profile. Qualification pathways through the profiles are also provided.