Charting the landscape for responsible and ethical quantum computing
Although at an early stage of development, quantum computing offers transformative potential across industry and wider society. Potential applications, including quantum machine learning, simulation, and optimisation, are being explored across sectors such as financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and scientific discovery. Future use cases, which could include the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals, optimising energy efficiency, and fraud detection, present an opportunity for significant societal benefits.
This pivotal moment in quantum computing’s evolution presents an important opportunity to take a responsible and ethical approach to its development and use. As we’ve learnt from past examples of emerging technologies, such considerations must enter at an early stage in order to steer the trajectory of development towards maximising societal benefits, ensuring their equitable distribution, and minimising potential risks. At the NQCC, we work proactively to embed responsible and ethical quantum computing throughout all of our activities, as well as championing and enabling a responsible approach across the quantum landscape.
This commitment to responsible innovation is shared by many across the quantum computing community. At the NQCC’s Roundtable Workshop on Responsible and Ethical Quantum Computing (REQC), hosted at techUK offices in September 2023, we brought together thought leaders in quantum computing, policy, and responsible technology to establish a shared understanding of the current landscape for REQC in the UK and internationally.
Mentioned frequently at the workshop was the UK’s world-leading position on responsible innovation in quantum, evidenced by the emphasis on societal benefit, ethical development, and responsible innovation throughout the UK’s National Quantum Strategy. Others agree: the World Economic Forum’s Quantum Economy Blueprint uses the UK as a key case study in how to develop a responsible National Strategy. The more recent publication of the Regulatory Horizons Council report on Regulating Quantum Technology Applications, written by a team of independent experts commissioned by DSIT’s Office for Quantum, highlights responsible innovation as a core theme for both current practice and future regulation, to incorporate societal and ethical dimensions.
It was also clear at the workshop that the industry – both end-users and vendors – recognises the importance of responsible innovation in quantum. Good intentions and a commitment to doing the right thing were frequently heard, but it was noted that further support and guidance on responsible quantum is needed to deliver. In response, the NQCC, along with industry co-chairs techUK and UKQuantum, recently established the Responsible Quantum Industry Forum, to enable the UK’s quantum industry in the responsible development and use of quantum technologies. Following the co-development of shared principles, the Forum provides a venue for member organisations to share best practices, case studies, and lessons learnt in operationalising responsible quantum.
We also heard of the developing field of research into responsible quantum, and the opportunities to leverage lessons learnt from past technologies: anticipating implications early, engaging inclusively, and responding appropriately, working together across sectors and domains. The UK’s collaborative and vibrant quantum industry was identified as a key enabler, with the roundtable workshop itself highlighted as an example of what could be achieved by bringing interdisciplinary expertise together.
The outputs of the roundtable workshop have been invaluable in shaping the NQCC’s strategy for responsible and ethical quantum computing, across three pillars.
Firstly, we are carrying out research on societal, ethical, and policy considerations, leveraging our technical expertise to provide thought leadership, and disseminating our understanding into policy discussions, as well as the responsible quantum research community.
Our research also informs the second pillar: embedding and operationalising REQC internally. To support our responsible approach, we have developed a framework for REQC and are working with our teams to build understanding, processes, and tools to put our principles into practice.
The final pillar is enabling: championing responsible quantum and building capabilities throughout the quantum computing community. The Responsible Quantum Industry Forum is one example. Another is the NQCC’s annual Quantum Hackathon, which incorporates REQC as a core component, training a new generation of quantum computing researchers to consider and address societal and ethical considerations to innovate responsibly.
As quantum computing continues to evolve, we must work together as a community to ensure its responsible and ethical development and use. In doing so, we can manage risks, ensure equitable distribution of benefits, and harness quantum computing’s potentially transformative capabilities to deliver a brighter future for all.Top of Form
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techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
Tech and Innovation Summit, 6 Nov (rescheduled date)
Emerging technologies will be debated and explored at our annual Tech and Innovation Summit, taking place on 6 November. This campaign week will directly feed into the themes discussed at the Summit.
techUK’s flagship Tech and Innovation Summit returns to traverse the extraordinary and ground-breaking discoveries made possible by the application of emerging and transformative technologies.
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Sprint Campaigns
This campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
Event round-ups
Report
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
This campaign has explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations is currently being produced (to be launched in September 2024).
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Event round-ups
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign will explore how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity will take the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and reports.
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Upcoming events
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Campaign Weeks
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
Summits
Tech and Innovation Summit 2023
Tech and Innovation Summit 2024
Laura Foster
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Head of Programme for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
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- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
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