Responsible research and innovation in quantum technology

Urs Gasser, Eline J. de Jong, Mauritz Kop

Philip Inglesant, Mark Hartswood, Marina Denise Jirotka

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is a core work package in the Networked Quantum Information Technologies (NQIT) project, one of four research hubs funded as part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. RRI aims to promote research and innovation which is socially desirable and undertaken in the public interest, stimulating creativity not only in the science but also in innovation arising from it, and ultimately leading to products and services that are accepted by the public. Quantum technologies are advancing rapidly, in some cases already in the market, or becoming close to market. The main strand of NQIT, and the main focus of this report, is on developments towards quantum computing, which, in its full sense, is still some years from availability. This document does four things: Provides a background to RRI within NQIT (Chapter 1 and Chapter 2); Identifies the challenges for Responsible Research and Innovation in NQIT, from interviews with participants in the project, funders, industrial partners; and from a review of quantum computing and RRI literature (Chapter 3); Makes recommendations about how to handle these challenges (throughout Chapter 3 and Section 4.1 - Section 4.3); Describes a framework and pathway to implement a tailored RRI process in NQIT (Section 4.4). Steering the way between overstating the potential benefits of quantum computing and too much caution about the potential risks, it sets a course for NQIT to become established as a trusted source of knowledge and innovation in quantum technologies.

Ria Chakraborty, Bruna S. de Mendonça, Katya Driscoll +2 more

The global landscape for quantum technologies (QTs) is rapidly changing, and proper understanding of their impact and subsequent regulations need to match this pace. A Responsible Innovation (RI) approach and guiding principles have been proposed to accompany this development. We examine practical efforts globally and in Canada, from industry to research to governments, and analyze the current status of quantum technological advances under the RI framework. We analyze and compare what is being done internationally, identify gaps in the Canadian strategy, propose initiatives to fill those gaps, and highlight areas where Canada is leading or where more work is needed.

ERVA Visioning Reports Submitter

Olivier Ezratty

We are in the midst of quantum hype with some excessive claims of quantum computing potential, many vendors' and even some research organizations' exaggerations, and a funding frenzy for very low technology readiness level startups. Governments are contributing to this hype with their large quantum initiatives and their technology sovereignty aspirations. Technology hypes are not bad per se since they create emulation, drive innovations and also contribute to attracting new talents. It works as scientists and vendors deliver progress and innovation on a continuous basis after a so-called peak of expectations. It fails with exaggerated overpromises and underdeliveries that last too long. It could cut short research and innovation funding, creating some sort of quantum winter. After looking at the shape and form of technology and science hypes and driving some lessons from past hypes, we investigate the current quantum hype and its specifics. We find that, although there is some significant uncertainty on the potential to create real scalable quantum computers, the scientific and vendor fields are relatively sane and solid compared to other technology hypes. The vendors hype has some profound and disruptive impact on the organization of fundamental research. Also, quantum technologies comprise other fields like quantum telecommunications and quantum sensing with a higher technology readiness level, which are less prone to hype. We then make some proposals to mitigate the potential negative effects of the current quantum hype including recommendations on scientific communication to strengthen the trust in quantum science, vendor behavior improvements, benchmarking methodologies, public education and putting in place a responsible research and innovation approach.

Toshio Tonouchi