Mauritz Kop and Mark Lemley Host Canadian Quantum Governance Delegation at Stanford RQT to Inform its G7 Presidency
Stanford, CA, May 8, 2024—Today, the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) had the privilege of hosting a distinguished Canadian delegation for a critical dialogue on the future of quantum governance. The meeting, held at Stanford Law School, was a pivotal moment for shaping the international policy landscape for these transformative technologies. Professor Mark Lemley and Executive Director Mauritz Kop were honored to welcome senior officials from Global Affairs Canada, the nation’s foreign ministry, for a conversation designed to inform Canada’s quantum policy development efforts ahead of its G7 Presidency in 2025.
The timing of this transatlantic engagement could not be more crucial. As quantum technologies transition from theoretical research to practical application, the window of opportunity to establish norms, ethical frameworks, and responsible quantum governance models is now. The discussions underscored a shared understanding that proactive and collaborative international dialogue is not merely beneficial, but essential to harnessing the immense potential of quantum science while mitigating its profound risks. The insights exchanged during this meeting would ultimately contribute to a landmark international agreement, demonstrating the power of combining academic foresight with diplomatic action.
Mauritz Kop and Mark Lemley Host Canadian Quantum Governance Delegation at Stanford Law's Center for Responsible Quantum Technology
A Convergence of Expertise in Law, Technology, and Diplomacy
The success of such a dialogue hinges on the diverse expertise of its participants. On behalf of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, its Founding Director Mauritz Kop was pleased to co-host the session. Professor Kop’s work, which focuses on the ethical, legal, social, and policy implications (ELSPI) of quantum technologies, AI, and cybersecurity, has included serving as a member of the Expert Panel on the Responsible Adoption of Quantum Technologies for the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). This role provided a direct link to the foundational research shaping Canada's domestic and international quantum strategy.
Mark Lemley and Mauritz Kop at Stanford RQT.
Kop was joined by his esteemed colleague, Mark Lemley, the William H. Neukom Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and the Director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology. As one of the world's preeminent scholars in intellectual property and technology law, Professor Lemley’s insights into innovation, competition, and the legal structures that govern emerging technologies were indispensable to our discussions on incubating startups and navigating the complex IP landscape of the quantum sector.
The Canadian delegation brought a wealth of diplomatic and policy experience to the table. The delegation was led by Tara Denham, Director General for Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion at Global Affairs Canada and the department’s Senior Official on cyber, digital, and emerging technology policy issues. Ms. Denham's portfolio includes leadership of Canada's engagement on democracy and human rights and their digital dimensions, and she notably spearheaded the creation of the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism during Canada's 2018 Presidency. Her extensive experience in managing portfolios from the Middle East to peace support operations, and her deployment as Chief of Staff to the Representative of Canada in Kandahar, provided a grounded, security-conscious perspective on the geopolitical ramifications of dual-use technologies.
Accompanying her was Kelly Anderson, the Director for International Cyber, Digital and Emerging Technologies Policy at Global Affairs Canada. A career diplomat since 1997, Ms. Anderson has held critical roles including Deputy Director for NATO and European Defence Cooperation, as well as for Conventional, Chemical and Biological Weapons. Her service as Canada’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and as Head of the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy section of the Canadian Embassy to Austria has given her a deep and practical understanding of international security architectures and treaty frameworks. The delegation was rounded out by Marie Alnwick, Consul General, and Kate Walter, Senior Foreign Policy Officer, both from the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco/Silicon Valley, who facilitate the vital connection between Ottawa and the innovation ecosystem of the West Coast.
The Core Dialogue: Forging a Path for Responsible Quantum Governance
The substance of our meeting was a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that quantum technologies present. Our wide-ranging conversation can be distilled into three core thematic areas that formed the basis of our policy recommendations.
First, we addressed Geostrategy, Governance, and Great Power Rivalry. We explored the intricate web of governance frameworks required to manage the profound dual-use nature of quantum technologies. This involved detailed discussions on modernizing international treaties to account for quantum capabilities, identifying potential "governance tipping points" where new regulations might become necessary, and the strategic application of export controls. All of this was framed by the overarching context of geostrategic competition, underscoring the pressing need for a coherent and unified national security strategy among like-minded democratic nations to ensure the stability of the global order.
Second, our focus turned to Technology, Security, and Standardization. A significant portion of the exchange centered on the complex security dilemmas inherent in the convergence of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and their potential impact on nuclear technologies. We examined the paramount importance of developing robust, internationally recognized standards and certification processes to guarantee the safety, reliability, and interoperability of quantum systems. This dialogue naturally extended to the acute challenges of research security and protecting intellectual property, particularly within a globalized innovation environment characterized by intense competition.
Finally, we analyzed the broader Societal Impact, Economic Opportunity, and Ethical Frameworks. Moving beyond state-level security, we examined the profound impacts Quantum-AI will have on society. The discussion probed how to optimize the risk-benefit curves of exponential innovation to foster equitable outcomes and prevent the exacerbation of existing social divides. We explored avenues for investment, best practices for incubating quantum startups to ensure they can scale and compete globally, and the critical need to formulate universal ethical values. These values must act as guardrails, ensuring that these powerful new tools are developed and deployed in a manner that is aligned with human rights and democratic principles.
The conversation with the Canadian Delegation built on pioneering RQT scholarship and the CCA Quantum Potential Report, and would inform policy development efforts in Canada, as well as work on policy priorities for Canada’s G7 Presidency in 2025, that resulted in the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies. Picture: The CCA Working Group chaired by Raymond Laflamme.
A Foundation in Evidence: The Council of Canadian Academies' Quantum Potential Report
Our discussions at Stanford did not occur in a vacuum. They were built upon a solid foundation of evidence-based analysis, most notably the 2023 Quantum Potential report from the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). As a member of the expert panel that authored this report, chaired by the esteemed Professor Raymond Laflamme of the University of Waterloo, Professor Kop was able to directly infuse its findings into our dialogue.
The CCA’s Quantum Potential report was commissioned by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to assess the opportunities and challenges of quantum adoption in Canada. The report provided a clear-eyed assessment, warning that while the potential is transformative, significant scientific and engineering obstacles remain. It highlighted critical national security risks, particularly the potential for a fault-tolerant quantum computer to "undermine the digital infrastructure that underpins key areas of everyday life" and "jeopardize data privacy and security".
Crucially, the report championed a proactive and responsible approach to governance, framed through the lens of "Quantum ELSPI"—the ethical, legal, social, and policy implications of the technology. It called for "deliberate policy interventions" to address these challenges and recommended a suite of guardrails, including quantum impact assessments, reforms to privacy law, and the pursuit of responsible research and innovation (RRI) practices. It also pointed to Canada’s supply chain vulnerabilities, noting that many critical raw materials and manufactured components can only be obtained from a handful of foreign suppliers, making international cooperation essential. This comprehensive assessment provided the necessary grounding for our high-level policy discussions with the Canadian delegation, ensuring they were informed by rigorous, independent academic analysis.
The Culmination: The G7 Kananaskis Common Vision on Quantum
The journey from academic analysis and focused diplomatic engagement to international consensus reached its apex on June 17, 2025. Drawing upon the preparatory work from the CCA, the insights from our meeting at Stanford, and extensive multilateral consultations, the Government of Canada, during its G7 Presidency, unveiled the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies.
This declaration represents a landmark achievement in global technology governance and directly reflects the principles and priorities discussed at our Center. The document acknowledges both the "transformative benefits" of quantum technologies and their "far-reaching implications for national and international security". Echoing the core themes of our dialogue adn scholarship, the G7 leaders committed to a set of shared principles that build directly on the work of the RQT community and the CCA report.
The Kananaskis Declaration commits the G7 nations to:
Promote Investment and Commercialization: Pledging to support public and private R&D and accelerate the commercialization of quantum applications, including those from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Develop a Quantum-Ready Workforce: Supporting initiatives like STEM education and apprenticeships to equip individuals with the necessary skills for the quantum economy.
Foster a Trusted Ecosystem: Committing to an open and fair market environment among like-minded partners through international exchanges, the protection of intellectual property, and preventing the leakage of sensitive technologies.
Promote Trust Through Dialogue: This principle is perhaps the most direct reflection of our governance discussions. The G7 leaders agreed to promote trust through international dialogues "based on scientific expertise and aligned with democratic values," while critically recognizing that "at this early stage of innovation, a global regulatory framework is not yet appropriate”. This nuanced position, which favors soft law and norm-building over premature hard-law regulation, aligns perfectly with the concept of identifying governance tipping points that we explored.
Enhance Security and Resilience: Focusing on securing quantum supply chains, ensuring research integrity, and promoting the "timely adoption of quantum-resilient security measures" to protect data and communications networks.
Intensify Collaboration: The G7 established a Joint Working Group on Quantum Technologies to advance cooperation on R&D, inform policy dialogues on innovation and adoption, and assess the societal impacts of these technologies.
G7 Joint Working Group on Quantum Technologies
The meeting with the Canadian delegation at the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology was a profound demonstration of how academia can effectively inform and shape public policy on a global scale. It showcased a direct pathway from flagship scholarship like the “Ten principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation” and foundational reports like the CCA's Quantum Potential, through focused expert dialogues, to the codification of international norms in a G7 leaders' declaration. We are proud to have played a role in this vital process and look forward to continued collaboration with our Canadian partners and the new G7 Joint Working Group on Quantum Technologies to build a future where quantum technology unfolds responsibly, securely, and for the benefit of all humanity.