There is no reason why a student studying poetry cannot be part of the quantum technology wave of the future.

QuantumCT has launched a competition specifically geared to students in non-STEM fields, offering a chance to vie for prestige and prize money. The QuantumUP! Challenge is a hackathon seeking to engage UConn students and peers across the state in conversations about how advancements in technology are poised to transform Connecticut’s economy.

Teams of five people will take on case challenges focusing on quantum technology’s role across non-STEM disciplines, such as business, intellectual property, and public safety. Competitors can enter regardless of their level of understanding of quantum, which organizers say in the point.

“The Quantum UP! Challenge is significant because offers students that are not involved in STEM-related fields an opportunity to engage directly with the technologies and policies that will define our future,” said Abhijit Banerjee, Associate Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UConn. “We are excited to see how these students will envision Connecticut’s role in the global quantum economy.”

UConn and Yale are lead partners in QuantumCT, a public-private partnership established to advance Connecticut as the nation’s top accelerator of quantum technology. Partners include government offices and agencies, industrial leaders, communities, and academics.

The partnership believes that quantum technology will have a profound impact on Connecticut’s economy, with applications across many different fields and industries. QuantamUP! brings the non-engineers and scientists into the fray.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the case challenges will be revealed. Teams will receive specific challenges from Quantum UP! Sponsors. The tasks are designed to make students think critically about how quantum technology can benefit business and society, as well as impact on daily lives.

The teams will present their findings at the Nov. 1 event. Challenge sponsors – including GE Healthcare, Google, The Hartford, Travelers, and the law firms of Devlin and King & Spalding – will be on hand to receive recommendations and analysis. Following the presentations, QuantumCT will host a celebration for the participants, including networking opportunities with some of the most influential companies in Connecticut and beyond.

Registration closes very soon and participants are encouraged to join in as soon as possible. Colleges and universities across the state will be represented, including UConn, Yale, Bridgeport, St. Joseph’s, and more.

For more information, visit quantumct.org.