Q-CTRL released Black Opal Enterprise, an expanded version of its learning platform designed to help businesses adopt quantum computing.

Black Opal Enterprise is the only comprehensive and interactive enterprise-ready quantum computing education platform, which now includes user management, tracking, analytics, and co-branding. Its launch follows the release of Black Opal for individual users in April 2022.

Q-CTRL's first Black Opal Enterprise customers include quantum computing provider IonQ, as well as soon-to-be-announced Big Four consultancies, a Fortune 500 petrochemicals company, a military unit in Australia, and a government research center in the UK.

Black Opal's intuitive, visual, and highly interactive platform makes it easy for anyone to learn quantum computing, regardless of their professional backgrounds. The platform has quickly become a go-to resource and has received exceptional reviews.

"Black Opal lowers barriers to understanding quantum computing for businesses and organizations building quantum-ready teams and empowered customers" said Mick Conroy, Q-CTRL's Product Manager for Black Opal. "In our customer engagement - and even in my own journey learning quantum computing on the job - we discovered how powerful building the right visual tools with enterprise functionality could be."

The demand for people with technical expertise is even more acute in the quantum industry, and employees are demanding the kind of customized training that Black Opal Enterprise provides, according to Q-CTRL. Companies are using the platform to train new hires and long-time employees.

"As one of the very first Black Opal Enterprise customers, I find the depth of content and the execution quality of Q-CTRL's edtech tool for quantum computing to be very impressive," said Ariel Braunstein, SVP Product and Marketing of IonQ. "The tool will aid in internal educational initiatives to onboard new employees and support their growth. Quantum computing is an exciting new industry and there is always something new to learn, for all levels of expertise."

Black Opal Enterprise features include:

• Co-branded user-experience pages
• Seat licensing structure with account management and administrative functions delivering flexibility for changing learner cohorts
• Detailed usage analytics to ensure learning cohorts are tracking against goals
• Recognition of accomplishment with co-branded completion badges and digital learning certificates
• Dedicated customer support forum and access to experts
  

Based on the laws of physics at the smallest scale, quantum computing is expected to transform the world by allowing scientists and business leaders to solve problems previously considered impossible from developing new fuels and more efficient batteries to improving risk management and operational efficiencies. The Boston Consulting Group estimates the potential impact at up to $850 billion per year.

Building a quantum ready workforce is a critical challenge for enterprises seeking to get ahead of this rapidly emerging industry. Organizations need to start preparing for the arrival of this technology now. In February 2022, the US National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) released the National Strategic Plan for Quantum Information Science and Technology Workforce Development which directly identified the need for quantum-ready business leaders and professionals.