In the next in our series of interviews with our EIT Education and Skills Days sponsors, we spoke to QuLearnLabs, one of the winning projects from the EIT Deep tech Talent Initiative’s 2024 Call for Training Proposals, about collaborative ecosystems and the growing appetite for hands-on, human-centred education in deep tech.
“We are driven by the belief that innovation in areas such as quantum computing, AI, and Web3 must be matched by equally innovative approaches to learning.”
QuLearnLabs’ mission is to build and invest in tech professionals for quantum and advanced computing skills by bridging the gap between emerging technologies and accessible, future-ready education. The EIT Education and Skills Day aligns with this missions and provides a unique platform to connect with educators, policymakers, and innovators who share our commitment to rethinking how Europe develops the skills needed for the digital and green transitions.
By sponsoring and participating the event, QuLearnLabs hope to enable more collaboration and inspire other education providers and startup communities as well as more established industry actors to get inspired, get involved to join the network and community of EIT.
“We believe collaboration in a world where technology moves faster than the traditional schooling systems is key for a stronger European tech landscape.”
QuLearnLabs see the future of talent development defined by collaborative ecosystems with industry, education providers, and government working together to create adaptive, lifelong learning pathways. They believe that no single actor can meet the speed and complexity of deep tech evolution alone, and that meaningful progress depends on shared responsibility and co-creation.
- Industry brings real-world challenges, access to technology, and insight into emerging skill needs.
- Education providers translate those needs into high-quality learning experiences, integrating technical depth with critical thinking, creativity, and ethics.
- Government and public institutions provide the policy frameworks, funding mechanisms, and inclusivity mandates that make these collaborations sustainable and equitable.
They currently work with universities, startups, and policy partners to design micro-learning modules, accelerators, mentorship experiences that respond dynamically to the evolving deep tech landscape, opportunities to jobs, and innovation activities like hackathons, community meetups and access to network.
However, they understand that the deep tech ecosystem is a high-risk area when it comes to return on investment (ROI), but teaching deep tech skills will not only prepare learners to succeed in deep tech, but also prepare them for critical thinking with research skills, questioning assumptions and validating assumptions for any other field or technology space.
QuLearnLabs believe the most critical skills gaps in deep tech today are not just technical, but interdisciplinary and translational, and though Europe produces outstanding researchers and engineers, there is a growing shortage of professionals who can connect deep scientific expertise with real-world application, entrepreneurship, and societal impact.
The key gaps they see include:
- Applied understanding of quantum, AI, and advanced computing and the ability to translate complex concepts into practical innovation.
- Systems thinking and cross-domain literacy, especially across disciplines like quantum, Web3, and AI.
- Entrepreneurial and product development skills for scientists and engineers entering innovation ecosystems.
- Collaborative, open innovation mindsets to work effectively across academia, startups, and industry.
To address these exact needs, QuLearnLabs designed learning and mentoring programmes that blend technical skill-building with innovation and leadership development, and help learners move from theory to practice.
QuLearnLabs set out to build a community of 1,000 learners, and while they knew the deep tech space in areas like quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI) was still considered niche. The response to their first cohort was overwhelming with over 550 applicants, and the second had over a thousand, which showed the demand for accessible, applied, and future-oriented learning was far greater than expected.
They believe three main factors drove this momentum:
- Relevance and timing: Learners and professionals are increasingly aware that quantum and AI are shaping the next technological revolution, yet few accessible programs connect these fields in a practical, career-focused way.
- Community-driven design: They built a learning ecosystem that combines mentoring, peer collaboration, and open knowledge sharing.
- Industry-led learning: Participants are taught by experts actively working in the field, such as quantum software engineers from AI-SEQ, who teach from experience and highlight what matters most in today’s job market.
“The overwhelming interest reflects a growing appetite for hands-on, human-centred education in deep tech, and confirms that people are eager to be part of a global movement shaping the technologies of tomorrow.”
Applicants came from over 70 countries with backgrounds from Bachelor’s to post-doctoral level, with many coming from under-represented groups in tech. To ensure the programme was accessible and inclusive, QuLearnLabs partnered with community leaders of under-represented groups, and also offered discounted access to many learners, such as those who were unemployed. Additionally, publishing the course on EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative website has attracted many young people as well as those from underrepresented groups.
“The old-style top-down approach, where teachers lecture and students just listen, should be a thing of the past because it can make teachers feel superior and students feel inferior.”
By focusing on education led by passionate professionals and educators who enjoy teaching and giving back to the community. They have created a psychologically safe learning environment where learners feel comfortable asking questions and sharing doubts on topics they haven’t fully mastered.
QuLearnLabs are also creating a cycle where past learners return as mentors. For example, two learners joined the QuLearnLabs team immediately after completing the programme. One even reached out before the programme finished offering to support in volunteering roles as a way to learn and build their network.
QuLearnLabs at the Education and Skills Days 2025
At the Education and Skills Days, Andreea Moga, Lead Founding Partner at QuLearnLabs, will lead a panel discussion that centres on building a talent pipeline for cybersecurity and quantum, and include:
- Quantum technologies as a strategic frontier: enabling breakthroughs in computing, sensing, communication, and security
- Connecting academic research with industry needs to turn scientific advances into scalable applications
- Creating inclusive, future-ready training pathways to broaden access to high-impact quantum careers
- Supporting EU-wide standards and micro-credentials to ensure quality, portability, and recognition across the quantum talent ecosystem
Andreea said: “People are already contacting me directly to meet at the event, so the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative ecosystem really works.”
QuLearnLabs will also be highlighted as the Impact Story for talent, because their experience is a clear example of impact within the EIT Deep Tech Talent Community. Their story demonstrates that the demand for accessible deep tech education is enormous, and when programs like AI-SEQ combine high-quality training with inclusive outreach, they can transform people’s careers and strengthen Europe’s deep tech talent pipeline.
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