Tennessee Employers Explore Quantum Opportunities Through New Pre-Apprenticeship
Insider Brief
- The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative has selected 18 professionals from 17 Tennessee employers for the nation’s first quantum pre-apprenticeship, designed to help organizations prepare for future quantum technology adoption.
- The 12-week program provides training in quantum computing, networking, and sensing while participants complete employer-focused assessments identifying potential quantum use cases.
- The initiative is part of Chattanooga‘s broader quantum ecosystem development, supported by the National Science Foundation and regional partners including the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and EPB Quantum Center.
Press release – The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC) has selected 18 professionals from 17 Tennessee employers to participate in the nation’s first quantum pre-apprenticeship, an initiative designed to help companies better understand quantum technologies and identify potential opportunities for future adoption.
Originally envisioned as a 10-person pilot, the Quantum Ready Pre-Apprenticeship was expanded to 18 participants after attracting nearly 80 applicants, reflecting growing interest among both employers and employees in understanding how quantum technologies may impact industries ranging from healthcare and financial services to advanced manufacturing, energy, and logistics.
Participants represent organizations including Unum (NYSE:UNM), Covenant Logistics (NYSE:CVLG), Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, Erlanger, TVA, Dixie Group (OTC:DXYN) and others spanning sectors expected to be among the earliest beneficiaries of commercial quantum applications.
The 12-week program is designed for professionals already working in technology-adjacent roles. Through a combination of asynchronous learning, industry speakers, hands-on exposure to quantum platforms, and applied projects, participants will develop a foundational understanding of quantum computing, networking and sensing. The goal is to help working professionals become informed stewards and ambassadors for quantum innovation within their organizations.
Each participant will complete a capstone Quantum Opportunity Assessment evaluating potential use cases and future applications relevant to their employer. The program is delivered through the BuildWithin platform and supported by a National Science Foundation planning grant awarded to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, with CQC serving as a subawardee focused on workforce and industry engagement.
“UTC is committed to ensuring advances in quantum research translate into real-world opportunities for our region,” said UTC Chancellor Dr. Lori Mann Bruce. “Through initiatives like this one supported by the National Science Foundation, we’re helping build the talent, partnerships, and industry engagement needed for Chattanooga-area employers to evaluate emerging quantum technologies and prepare for future opportunities.”
According to McKinsey & Company’s 2026 Quantum Technology Monitor, quantum computing could generate as much as $2.7 trillion in economic value globally by 2035. Industries expected to realize significant benefits include healthcare, transportation and logistics, advanced manufacturing, energy, and financial services—all sectors with a strong presence in Tennessee.
“When people talk about quantum, they often focus on the scientists building the technology,” said Charlie Brock, CEO of CQC. “We’re equally interested in the companies that will use it. Success for us is seeing companies begin exploring how quantum technologies might apply to their businesses and positioning themselves to capture an outsized share of the economic opportunity that’s coming.”
“Companies are seeing Chattanooga’s quantum momentum with the establishment of the nation’s first quantum pre-apprenticeship and that’s reflected in the growth of this inaugural cohort,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “These companies and employees are preparing today for technologies that will shape their entire industries tomorrow.”
The Quantum Ready Pre-Apprenticeship is part of Chattanooga‘s broader effort to connect research, infrastructure, education, and industry around quantum technologies. The region is home to a growing quantum ecosystem that includes EPB Quantum CenterSM, the nation’s first facility to offer commercially available quantum computing (opening 2026) and quantum networking, research leadership at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Vanderbilt/EPB Institute for Quantum Innovation, and a growing number of companies exploring potential applications of quantum technologies.
“An industry becomes quantum-ready from the inside: when leaders at every level can recognize where the technology applies and act on it,” said Philip Minardi, Co-Founder of BuildWithin. “Building that capability across a workforce is the discipline this program is designed to prove out.”
“While quantum technologies are still emerging, we believe it’s important to understand how they may impact our industry and our customers in the future,” said Kimberly Bowen, Senior Vice President, Global Talent & Inclusion at Unum. “No one knows exactly what the future will look like, but we do know that helping people learn, grow and stay curious is one of the best ways to prepare for it. Programs like this give employees a chance to better understand emerging technologies while helping organizations build the knowledge they’ll need to navigate what’s ahead.”
“Healthcare organizations are increasingly evaluating how emerging technologies can improve everything from operations and logistics to research and patient care,” said Jim Coleman, President and CEO at Erlanger. “Programs like this help build internal awareness and understanding so that when new opportunities emerge, organizations are better prepared to evaluate them thoughtfully and responsibly.”
The cohort begins in late June and concludes in September with capstone presentations focused on real-world business opportunities and challenges identified by participating organizations.