The Indian state of Tamil Nadu has teamed up with Q-CTRL, a global leader in quantum infrastructure software, to introduce a pioneering quantum education program statewide. Q-CTRL's acclaimed workforce development platform, Black Opal, will be integrated into the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation’s (TNSDC) Naan Mudhalvan Upskilling Platform. This initiative will include quantum computing as a mandatory module for engineering students.

The global quantum workforce faces a significant shortage, with a McKinsey report projecting that less than half of the anticipated quantum computing positions will be filled by 2025. To bridge this quantum skills gap, global talent recruitment will be essential, with India playing a crucial role in developing the quantum economy. This strategic partnership aims to deliver top-tier, hands-on quantum computing education to hundreds of thousands of engineering students in universities, positioning Tamil Nadu as a leader in the rapidly growing quantum technology industry.

Black Opal brings quantum computing within reach for everyone, from students and software engineers to developers and executives. This interactive and visual online platform features browser extensions for instant language translation, making it accessible to a global audience. Designed to prepare learners for the quantum era, Black Opal provides all the tools necessary to enter the quantum industry, which McKinsey predicts will grow into a trillion-dollar sector within the next decade.

"Naan Mudhalvan is a government flagship program with a vision to upskill the youth of Tamil Nadu as we march into a trillion-dollar economy. Our partnership with Q-CTRL to roll out state-of-the-art quantum computing education in Tamil Nadu fuels our synergy with the industry, aiding in creating the talent pool that will feed into the industry and ramp up investment in the state”, said Tmt J. Innocent Divya, I.A.S., Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation.

“Q-CTRL is proud to be making history in India through our partnership with Tamil Nadu which has become the first state in the world to roll out quantum computing education to all technical degree programs”, said Aravind Ratnam, Chief Strategy Officer at Q-CTRL. Q-CTRL has brought on Quantum AI Global as a service provider to roll out this account and proliferate quantum technology to make India competitive in the global quantum workforce.

The Black Opal platform features interactive learning modules, open-world practice areas, shareable skill badges, and completion certificates for learners. Black Opal provides all relevant material for an introductory quantum computing course in a single software platform, covering everything from basic quantum principles through to the specialized programming techniques used in quantum computing, all through a visual interface. The platform also empowers students to master both theoretical and practical quantum computing skills through simulated hackathon activities.

Instructors can tailor their students' learning experiences on Black Opal using the Content Assignment feature, which enables course customization, cohort management, and progress tracking. This functionality allows educators to align the curriculum with specific learning goals, create personalized assignments, and monitor student progress through detailed analytics. With Black Opal’s interactive content, instructors can design an unlimited number of assignments, configure and track them through visual dashboards, and access exportable reports.