June 01, 2026 -- The recently established European Quantum Academy (EQA) is Europe’s network for training and education in quantum technologies. It brings together over 70 partner institutions from across the continent, including researchers from the Professorship for Physics Education at Leipzig University. Professor Philipp Bitzenbauer leads the work package on educational research and quality assurance. The European Quantum Academy aims to build an interconnected, Europe-wide ecosystem for quantum technology education and training — ranging from schools and public outreach to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as professional development.

“Our contribution from Leipzig is not only to support these educational programmes academically, but also to provide evidence-based input for their didactically informed further development,” explains Bitzenbauer. Specifically, he and his team will map networks, existing resources and current needs in quantum technology education, while also initiating and coordinating empirical studies. “These measures are intended to help systematically improve and further develop teaching and learning materials, courses and curricula within the EQA through structured quality assurance processes,” says the expert in physics education.

He adds that a particular focus in Leipzig will be on the empirical perspective. Specifically, researchers at Leipzig University will systematically investigate what learners actually understand and which didactic approaches are effective in the teaching and learning of quantum physics and quantum technologies. The aim is to develop robust recommendations for the further advancement of quantum technology education in Europe. “The scale and breadth of the EQA provide an opportunity to expand our previous work significantly,” emphasises Bitzenbauer.

At Leipzig University, in-depth research is being conducted into how learners understand concepts in quantum physics, which mental models they develop, and how teaching and learning can be designed so that learners develop a lasting and robust understanding of key concepts such as measurement processes. “Against this background, it was only natural for Leipzig to take on responsibility within the European Quantum Academy precisely in those areas concerned with didactic quality, empirical evidence and the systematic advancement of quantum technology education,” explains Bitzenbauer, who sees the European Quantum Academy as “an exceptional opportunity” for his research. He argues that to date, many empirical studies on the teaching and learning of quantum physics have been limited to individual institutions and courses, or small sample groups. Through the EQA, researchers at his institute will now be able to contribute their expertise in empirical teaching and learning research to a Europe-wide network. This will make it possible to conduct large-scale studies across different countries, institutions, educational levels and target groups.

In Bitzenbauer’s view, Germany is already well positioned by European standards because quantum physics has long been an established component of upper-secondary physics education. Traditionally, the emphasis was placed primarily on topics rooted in the historical development of quantum physics, such as the Bohr model of the atom. In recent years, however, the emphasis has shifted. According to Bitzenbauer, modern approaches to quantum physics place greater emphasis on connections to current technological applications, particularly quantum information, quantum computing, quantum cryptography and other second-generation quantum technologies. Leipzig University in particular has traditionally been strong in both research and teaching in the field of quantum physics – Werner Heisenberg conducted research here, and cutting-edge work on quantum technologies continues today at the Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences.

As one of the largest partners in the European Quantum Academy consortium, Leipzig University will receive around €400,000. The project will receive a total of €10 million in funding over a four-year period.