Innovation Summer 2026

Going quantum Engineers and geoscientists do not need to become quantum physicists themselves to contribute to the quantum computing industry, or any quantum field. “There’s a massive talent shortage in this field,” Salfi said. From Laforest’s perspective, the opportunity for engineers and geoscientists becomes clear as soon as the technology is broken down into its components. “Anyone working in materials and electronics, a lot of their systems rely on work at very low temperatures.” At the hardware level, quantum systems depend on precisely controlled electrical signals. “Creating really pure RF signals, pulse shaping, signal processing, that’s a place where engineers in telecom have made a significant impact,” Laforest pointed out. At the same time, fabrication remains one of the most pressing challenges. “How can you create your patterns in the most reliable way possible…and then create 1,000 more that are exactly the same?” Laforest added. The breadth of technical needs is reflected in how Laforest describes the field today. “The quantum technology game is not a game of quantum physicists anymore. We need the [engineers], we need the technicians, we need the tradespeople,” he said. Salfi estimated “only about 20 percent of the people building useful quantum technology will have a PhD in physics. Probably 30 percent of them are going to be engineers.” Laforest said the biggest barrier keeping engineers and geoscientists from getting involved in quantum fields is not knowledge but mindset. “The only thing that stops engineers from jumping into the quantum game is themselves,” he said. “You don’t need to know quantum to be useful in a quantum company. We need the skills that you have. We’ll take care of the quantum.”

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Innovation Summer 2026

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