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Hoover Institution Invites Mauritz Kop to Speak on Quantum, Democracy and Authoriarianism
Hoover Institution Invites Mauritz Kop to Speak on Quantum, Democracy and Authoriarianism

Professor Mauritz Kop Addresses Quantum Technology's Role in the Era of Digital Repression at Hoover Institution Workshop

Palo Alto, CA – April 22, 2024 – Professor Mauritz Kop, Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), delivered insightful opening remarks at a breakout session on Quantum Technology as part of the two-day closed door workshop, "Getting Ahead of Digital Repression: Authoritarian Innovation and Democratic Response." The workshop, held on April 22-23, 2024, at Hoover Institution, Stanford University, was a collaborative effort by the National Endowment for Democracy’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, Stanford University’s Global Digital Policy Incubator, and the Hoover Institution’s China’s Global Sharp Power Project.

The event convened leading researchers and advocates to map how digital authoritarians are innovating globally and to identify new strategies for ongoing knowledge-sharing and cooperation to confront this deepening challenge. The agenda focused on understanding how autocrats leverage emerging technologies—from AI and digital currencies to quantum technology—for social control, censorship, and to export their governance models.

Guardrails Against Digital Authoritarianism

Professor Kop's address served as a crucial discussion starter for the breakout session, which aimed to brainstorm how advances in quantum technology might alter the dynamics of the struggle against digital authoritarianism and to explore potential guardrails. His remarks underscored the profound societal impact of quantum technologies and the imperative for proactive, principles-based governance to ensure they are developed and deployed responsibly, safeguarding human rights and democratic values on a global scale.

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Hoover Institution, Governance, Quantum Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Democracy, AuthoritarianismMauritz KopHoover Institution, Quantum, AI, Democracy, Governance, Democracy versus Authoritarianism
IOP Quantum Science and Technology publishes Ten Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation
IOP Quantum Science and Technology publishes Ten Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation

Stanford, April 22, 2024—The leading peer-reviewed journal Quantum Science and Technology has published the open-access article, "Ten Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation," a significant paper that offers actionable guidance for the ethical development of quantum technologies. The publication is the result of a two-year, deeply interdisciplinary study by a transatlantic group of leading scholars and represents a major step forward in operationalizing a framework for responsible quantum innovation.

This work builds upon the foundational research of the group, including the "Towards Responsible Quantum Technology" paper published by the Harvard Berkman Klein Center, and will be central to the mission of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology.

A Global, Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The paper is a testament to the power of global, interdisciplinary collaboration. Authored by a spectacular team of leading lights in law, philosophy & ethics, socioeconomics, data science, quantum physics, materials science & engineering, and innovation policy, the study brings together a wealth of expertise from the world's most prestigious academic institutions.

The author group, led by Mauritz Kop of Stanford University, includes Mateo Aboy (University of Cambridge), Eline De Jong (University of Amsterdam), Urs Gasser (Technical University of Munich), Timo Minssen (University of Copenhagen), I. Glenn Cohen (Harvard University), Mark Brongersma (Stanford University), Teresa Quintel (Maastricht University), Luciano Floridi (University of Oxford and Yale University), and Raymond Laflamme (University of Waterloo). This formidable team provides a holistic and robust foundation for the quantum governance principles outlined in the paper.

A Framework for Responsible Quantum Innovation

The paper's central contribution is a set of ten guiding principles designed to operationalize a framework for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT). This framework seeks to integrate considerations of the Ethical, Legal, Social, and Policy Implications (ELSPI) of quantum technologies directly into the research and development lifecycle, while also responding to the core dimensions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): anticipation, inclusion, reflection, and responsiveness.

The principles are organized into three functional categories, termed the SEA framework, which provides a methodological guide for the quantum community:

  • Safeguarding: This pillar focuses on the proactive identification and mitigation of risks associated with quantum technologies.

  • Engaging: This principle emphasizes the critical need for inclusive and continuous dialogue among all stakeholders, from researchers and industry to policymakers and the public.

  • Advancing: This pillar is dedicated to ensuring that quantum technology is actively steered towards desirable societal outcomes and contributes to addressing the world's most pressing challenges.

The Ten Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation

The Ten Principles paper proposes the following ten actionable principles to help address the risks, challenges, and opportunities associated with the entire suite of second-generation quantum technologies:

  1. Information Security: Make information security an integral part of QT, proactively addressing security threats, including the risk quantum computers pose to current encryption standards.

  2. Dual Use: Proactively anticipate the malicious use of quantum applications by addressing the risks of dual-use technologies that can be employed for both beneficial and harmful purposes.

  3. Quantum Race: Seek international collaboration based on shared values to address the winner-takes-all dynamics of a potential quantum arms race.

  4. Quantum Gap: Consider our planet as the sociotechnical environment in which QT should function, engaging states to ensure equitable access and prevent a "quantum divide."

  5. Intellectual Property: Incentivize innovation while being as open as possible and as closed as necessary, engaging institutions to find the right balance between protecting intellectual property and fostering an open research environment.

  6. Inclusion: Pursue diverse R&D communities in terms of disciplines and people, engaging a wide range of voices to ensure a holistic approach to innovation.

  7. Societal Relevance: Link quantum R&D explicitly to desirable societal goals, advancing society by focusing on applications that address pressing needs.

  8. Complementary Innovation: Actively stimulate sustainable, cross-disciplinary innovation, advancing technology by exploring synergies with other fields like AI and biotechnology.

  9. Responsibility: Create an ecosystem to learn about the possible uses and consequences of QT applications, advancing our understanding of Responsible QT through continuous feedback and assessment.

  10. Education and Dialogue: Facilitate dialogues with stakeholders to better envision possible quantum futures, advancing our collective thinking and education about QT and its impact.

A Catalyst for a Values-Based Quantum Future

The overarching objective of this interdisciplinary effort is to steer the development and use of quantum technology in a direction that is not only consistent with a values-based society but also actively contributes to solving its most significant challenges. The "Ten Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation" provides a crucial foundation for this work.

The paper is a call to action for the entire quantum community—researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and the public—to engage in the vital work of building a responsible quantum ecosystem. As the authors conclude, the goal is to develop and operationalize these guiding principles into the best practices and real-world applications that will define the quantum future. The annual Stanford RQT Conference, among other initiatives, will continue to provide a forum for these critical, interdisciplinary discussions.

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Governance, Policy, Quantum Technology, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum-AI, Research, Stanford RQTMauritz KopQuantum, Governance, Principles, RQT, Stanford, Mateo Aboy, Eline De Jong, Urs Gasser, Timo Minssen, Mark Brongersma, Teresa Quintel, Luciano Floridi, Raymond Laflamme, I. Glenn Cohen, Mauritz Kop, Harvard, Oxford, Yale
Mauritz Kop Teaches Stanford Quantum Computing Association Students at Stanford Electrical Engineering
Mauritz Kop Teaches Stanford Quantum Computing Association Students at Stanford Electrical Engineering

STANFORD, CA, April 16, 2024 – Today, Mauritz Kop, Founding Director of the newly established Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), delivered a lecture to the Stanford Quantum Computing Association (SQCA) at Stanford Electrical Engineering, titled "A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology." The interdisciplinary lecture was a featured event in the SQCA's distinguished "Industry Nights" speaker series and concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session with Stanford's outstanding physics, computer science, and electrical engineering students.

The Stanford Quantum Computing Association (SQCA)

The Stanford Quantum Computing Association (SQCA) serves as a vital hub for the university's burgeoning quantum community, connecting students across disciplines with the forefront of quantum innovation. SQCA’s mission is to establish and support a quantum computing community at Stanford by building bridges between students, researchers, and faculty from various departments interested in the field. Its "Industry Nights" series consistently hosts influential voices from leading companies and research institutions such as Google Quantum AI, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantinuum, providing quantum computing students with direct access to the field's pioneers. The SQCA also acts as a liaison between the Stanford quantum community and academic and industry groups outside the university. Its activities include hosting talks, holding workshops, and organizing projects.

Ethics, Law, Societal Impact, Economics, and Policy

During his talk, Professor Kop outlined a comprehensive vision for navigating the dawn of the quantum age. He introduced the concepts of the Quantum-ELSPI metaparadigm—which addresses the ethical, legal, socio-economic, and policy implications of the technology—and the Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) framework developed by a transatlantic team of interdisciplinary scholars. The RQT framework, Kop explained, integrates these ELSPI perspectives into the entire lifecycle of quantum research and development, from the lab to the market.

To make this framework actionable, Kop presented the "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation," a guide designed to operationalize RQT. These principles are organized into three functional categories: Safeguarding, Engaging, and Advancing (SEA). A crucial insight shared was that safeguarding society and humanity can often be best achieved by responsibly advancing quantum technology. This vision was recently detailed in a paper co-authored by Kop and his team, "A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology," which was notably published in the prestigious journal Nature Physics on April 9, 2024, lending significant credibility to the mission of embedding responsible governance within the scientific community.

Stanford Center for RQT and Stanford Quantum Incubator (SQI) Launch

The lecture was also marked by two significant announcements for the Stanford quantum community. Kop officially introduced the Stanford Center for RQT, a new multidisciplinary center under his leadership that aims to influence the emerging quantum technology governance cycle and foster a competitive, values-based quantum ecosystem. He also unveiled the recent launch of the Stanford Quantum Incubator (SQI), a Silicon Valley business catalyst designed to bridge the gap between academia, government, investors, and industry to accelerate quantum development and adoption.

The presentation underscored the massive global implications of quantum technology, which is poised to transform everything from healthcare and energy to defense and materials science. By engaging directly with the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers at the SQCA, Kop emphasized the shared responsibility of the entire community to steer these powerful technologies toward beneficial societal and planetary outcomes while the field is still malleable.

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Teaching, Quantum Technology, StanfordMauritz KopStanford Quantum Computing Association, Students, Mauritz Kop, Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
Nature Physics publishes A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology by Urs Gasser, Eline De Jong and Mauritz Kop
Nature Physics publishes A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology by Urs Gasser, Eline De Jong and Mauritz Kop

The leading journal Nature Physics has published "A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology," a significant Comment piece authored by a transatlantic team of scholars: Urs Gasser, Eline De Jong, and Mauritz Kop. Published on April 9, 2024, the article serves as a manifesto of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT). It presents a compelling argument for proactively establishing ethical and societal guardrails for quantum technology (QT) while the field is still in its formative stages.

Citation: Gasser, U., De Jong, E. & Kop, M. A call for responsible quantum technology. Nat. Phys. 20, 525–527 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-024-02462-8

This foundational work builds upon the Stanford Center for RQT's prior scholarship, including the foundational paper "Towards Responsible Quantum Technology" published at Harvard and the University of California, and the "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation" published at IOP Science & Technology. All three authors are members of the Stanford RQT Center, which is founded and directed by Kop, who also served as the senior and corresponding author on the Nature publication. The article crystallizes the Center's crucial mission: to guide the development of quantum technologies in a direction that is safe, ethical, and beneficial for humanity and the planet.

Watch Urs Gasser and Eline De Jong present their Nature publication at the Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference here: https://youtu.be/2vA9fID-7SA?si=MV67C9jN34UlsmuW&t=1279

The Core Argument: A Proactive Stance on Quantum Governance

The central thesis of "A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology" is both clear and urgent: the time to consider and implement governance frameworks for QT is now. The authors draw a crucial lesson from the history of other powerful innovations, such as nuclear fission and artificial intelligence (AI), where ethical, legal, and social considerations were often addressed reactively, "once the genie is already out of the bottle." Given the potentially transformative and disruptive power of quantum, the article argues that repeating this mistake is not an option.

A Framework for Responsible Quantum Innovation

To navigate this complex landscape, the authors propose a comprehensive framework for Responsible Quantum Technology. This is not a call for premature, heavy-handed legislation but for a systematic approach to anticipate and manage the ethical, legal, social, and policy implications (ELSPI) throughout the entire QT lifecycle.

The framework is designed to be operationalized through a set of quantum-specific guiding principles, which the authors organize into three functional categories, known as the SEA principles:

  • Safeguarding: Principles focused on mitigating downside risks, requiring that issues like information security and malicious dual-use scenarios are considered from the outset of research and development.

  • Engaging: Principles designed to foster robust interaction between innovators and diverse stakeholders to address complex issues like intellectual property, market competition, and equitable access.

  • Advancing: Principles that prioritize and incentivize the development of QT applications that serve desirable societal goals and the common good.

This layered approach, spanning technical, ethical, and socio-legal considerations, provides a navigational aid for researchers, funders, policymakers, and industry leaders, offering both an "issue spotter" to identify potential challenges and a "compass" to guide the technology's trajectory.

The Authors of the Nature Publication on Responsible Quantum Technology

The Nature article is a product of deep interdisciplinary expertise, authored by three leading figures at the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology:

Urs Gasser is a distinguished Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he is Dean of the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology. A Fellow at the Stanford RQT Center, he was previously the Executive Director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His research focuses on the societal and regulatory implications of emerging technologies, bringing a wealth of experience in technology law and policy.

Eline De Jong is a Dutch philosopher and ethicist serving as a Fellow at the Stanford RQT Center. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in the philosophy and ethics of quantum technology. Her background includes advising the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy on the societal impact of AI, providing a deep understanding of the co-evolution of technology and society.

Mauritz Kop, the Founding Director of the Stanford RQT Center and the article's senior and corresponding author, is a tech lawyer, policy advisor, and academic whose work focuses on creating sui generis governance frameworks for exponential technologies like AI and quantum. His scholarship, published by leading institutions globally, aims to integrate risk management, regulatory compliance, and safety standards directly into the innovation process.

This collaboration between legal, policy, and ethics scholars underscores the article's central message: ensuring a responsible quantum future requires a concerted, interdisciplinary, and international effort. As the manifesto for the Stanford Center for RQT, Nature’s "A Call for Responsible Quantum Technology" is a foundational text, setting a clear and principled agenda for the global quantum community.

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Academics, Ethics, Governance, Policy, Law, Quantum Technology, Quantum ELSPI, ReguleringMauritz KopNature Physics, Stanford RQT, Harvard, Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, Urs Gasser, Eline de Jong, Mauritz Kop, Law, Ethics, Policy, Governance, Regulation
Stanford Quantum Incubator Launched at Stanford Law School
Stanford Quantum Incubator Launched at Stanford Law School

Stanford, March 31, 2024—Today, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Stanford Quantum Incubator (SQI)—a Silicon Valley business catalyst dedicated to advancing quantum technology development and adoption both regionally, nationally, and beyond. Situated at the prestigious Stanford Law School, the Stanford Quantum Incubator stands as a pivotal force, bridging the critical gap between academia and industry to foster an environment ripe for much-needed innovation and economic growth.

Stanford Quantum Incubator: Bridging Academia and Industry

Operating from the center of the emerging quantum startup scene, the Stanford Quantum Incubator will help galvanize and attract startups and university spin-offs in the quantum and AI space. It will also serve as a nexus for the broader investment community—including venture capitalists, angel investors, accelerators, banks, and funds—and other essential stakeholders, from hardware manufacturers to cloud and software providers.

The launch of SQI comes at a pivotal moment for the United States. In the wake of the 2022 Biden Executive Orders on Quantum, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the 2023 Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, the imperative to cultivate a competitive and responsible quantum ecosystem has never been more pronounced. These government directives are accelerating investment in quantum information science (QIS) and catalyzing a host of new opportunities for public-private collaboration. It is essential that the quantum community capitalizes on this momentum.

We start the Stanford Quantum Incubator at a time when groundbreaking innovations in second-generation quantum technologies are making their way from the lab into the markets. These advancements span quantum computing, cryptography, sensing, simulation, and networking, with transformative applications in sectors such as Life Sciences and Healthcare, Finance, Cybersecurity, Manufacturing, Logistics, Automotive, Defense, and Space.

Inaugural Stanford SQI Fellows Bring a Wealth of Venture Capital Expertise

The success of this ambitious endeavor is anchored by the wisdom and experience of its leadership and advisors. The Stanford Quantum Incubator is honored to introduce its inaugural Fellows, a group of distinguished leaders from the worlds of venture capital, technology, and cybersecurity. The SQI team consists of Fellows Bradley Horowitz, David Hornik, Greg Berkin, and SQI Founding Director Mauritz Kop

A Catalyst for Responsible Quantum Innovation

Building on decades of combined entrepreneurial experience, SQI will develop a comprehensive suite of student/founder mentorship and support services designed to propel startups and scale-ups to success. Guidance will span sustainable business models, legal compliance, performance benchmarking, intellectual property portfolio optimization, and technology transfer. The incubator will directly address the multifaceted ethical, legal, societal, and policy challenges (Quantum-ELSPI) inherent in developing quantum hardware, software, and quantum-classical hybrids.

Central to SQI’s mission is a profound commitment to collaboration. Operating within a quadruple helix model that unites academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and end-users, SQI is positioned to become the epicenter of forward-looking, exponential quantum innovation. To this end, plans are underway to host a recurring networking workshop, in partnership with respected VC tech incubators, to both operationalize the Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) framework and foster a globally leading, values-based quantum ecosystem.

SQI Networking Event at Stanford Law

The inaugural SQI Networking Event at Stanford Law School is set for November 1, 2024. This workshop aims to establish a local, values-based quantum network that aligns with the RQT framework, positioning the Bay Area at the heart of quantum advancement. The event promises to be an exclusive gathering, featuring presentations from luminaries in the field, startup pitches, and ample opportunities for networking. By encouraging investment and deal flow, this process will amplify responsible quantum technology development, with a clear goal of producing multiple quantum unicorns by 2030.

As we stand on the cusp of the Quantum Age, the Stanford Quantum Incubator invites the broader Silicon Valley innovation cluster to join in this pioneering, interdisciplinary endeavor. A quality-labeled ‘Quantum Made in US’ paradigm, infused with AI and quantum talent and a culture of boundless possibility, can help American companies become leaders in making scalable quantum applications that create real business value and benefit society. By facilitating university-market collaboration, SQI is poised to be an effective catalyst for leadership in the imminent quantum revolution.

For those eager to contribute to and participate in this exciting venture, we encourage you to reach out to Mauritz Kop, Founding Director of the Stanford Center for RQT, for more information. Together, we can unlock the boundless potential of quantum technology and AI, creating a future that benefits us all.

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Innovation, Quantum Technology, Stanford RQT, Venture CapitalMauritz KopStanford Quantum Incubator, Venture Capital, Stanford Law School, Responsible Quantum Innovation, Greg Berkin, Bradley Horowitz, David Hornik, Mauritz Kop, Startups, Ethical Investing
Stanford Law’s Mauritz Kop advises UK Regulatory Horizons Council on Regulating Quantum Technology Applications
Stanford Law’s Mauritz Kop advises UK Regulatory Horizons Council on Regulating Quantum Technology Applications

London, UK, February 28, 2024— The global race to harness the transformative potential of quantum technology is well underway. As nations position themselves at the forefront of this scientific and industrial revolution, the United Kingdom has taken a decisive step to not only lead in innovation but also in the thoughtful development of its regulatory landscape. A key milestone in this journey is the recent report on "Regulating Quantum Technology Applications" by the UK's Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC). It was an honour for Mauritz Kop to contribute to this important and timely work, and this post will delve into the background, his advisory role, and how scholarship from the Stanford Program in Law, Science and Technology (LST) directed by Professor Mark Lemley has helped shape the UK's pro-innovation approach to quantum governance.

Centre for Science and Policy’s Expert Network at the University of Cambridge

On August 8, 2023, Mauritz Kop, Visiting 'Quantum & Law' Scholar at Stanford University, had the honour of advising the UK's Regulatory Horizons Council, an expert committee that counsels the government on regulatory reform for emerging technologies. In his discussion with Tom Newby (Policy Fellow, Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge) of the RHC, Kop advocated for a pro-innovation regulatory framework—one that fosters growth and attracts investment while proactively addressing societal risks. He is delighted to see that his recommendations and overall vision of regulating quantum have been significantly reflected in the final report, which will now directly inform the UK's national quantum policy.

This engagement builds upon a foundation of extensive scholarship, including his work within the Cambridge University network and, most notably, research at the imminent Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology. Its publications, such as the "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation" and "Regulating Transformative Technology in The Quantum Age: Intellectual Property, Standardization & Sustainable Innovation," have provided a robust intellectual framework for the very challenges the RHC was tasked to address.

A Pro-Innovation and Responsible Approach to Regulating Quantum & AI

His advice to the RHC was guided by the core vision of the imminent Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology: to foster a regulatory environment that is enabling, not stifling. A pro-innovation framework, as he argued, is crucial for attracting domestic and international talent and investment. Innovators and investors are drawn to jurisdictions that offer regulatory clarity and a commitment to responsible development. By establishing such an environment, the UK can position itself as a premier destination for the burgeoning quantum industry.

The RHC report embraces this philosophy. It explicitly rejects a one-size-fits-all regulatory model and instead advocates for a nuanced, application-specific approach. Recognizing that quantum technologies are at varying stages of development, the report wisely suggests that the timing and nature of regulatory interventions should be carefully calibrated. This aligns with the view that governance should be agile and adaptive, evolving in step with the technology itself.

The Influence of the "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation" on UK Quantum Governance

Kop was particularly pleased to see the RHC report explicitly reference and incorporate the "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation." This framework, developed by Kop’s interdisciplinary team at Stanford Law School, is the culmination of interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at providing actionable guidance for policymakers, innovators, and other stakeholders in the quantum ecosystem.

The Path Forward: A New Model for Tech Governance

The collaboration between the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology and the UK's Regulatory Horizons Council exemplifies a new and promising model for technology governance. As we stand on the cusp of a quantum revolution, it is imperative that we move beyond the reactive regulatory postures of the past. The development of transformative technologies requires proactive and thoughtful engagement from all stakeholders, and academia has a crucial role to play in providing the intellectual frameworks and evidence-based analysis needed to inform sound policymaking.

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Governance, Government, Quantum Technology, Stanford RQTMauritz KopGovernment Advocacy, Quantum, United Kingdom, Pro-Innovation Regulation, Cambridge University, Stanford Law, Mark Lemley, Mauritz Kop, Quantum Governance
Princeton University’s Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination’s visits Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology
Princeton University’s Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination’s visits Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology

On Wednesday, January 22, 2024, the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) had the distinct pleasure of hosting a delegation from Princeton University’s Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) for a dynamic discussion on transatlantic technology policy at Stanford Law School. The event was marked by great energy and a profound exchange of ideas, reflecting the shared commitment of both institutions to navigating the complex intersection of emerging technology, global governance, and societal values.

Princeton LISD leadership and their talented International Policy Associates at Stanford RQT

As the host of the meeting, Professor Mauritz Kop had the opportunity to welcome the LISD leadership and their talented International Policy Associates. He provided an overview of the mission of the Stanford RQT, explaining our framework for ensuring that quantum technologies are developed and integrated into society in a manner that is safe, ethical, and equitable. This introduction served as a foundation for a rich and meaningful conversation, where the Princeton fellows posed insightful questions. The discussion traversed a wide spectrum of pressing topics, including the challenges of regulating the suite of quantum technologies, the discovery of quantum use cases in healthcare, the complexities of export controls and quantum materials supply chains, and the crucial interface between AI and quantum computing. Furthermore, we explored the application of universal democratic values and culturally sensitive ethics to these new domains, comparing the innovation systems of the US, EU, and China, and considering the potential for technology to drive both scarcity and abundance on a planetary scale.

Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) and Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)

The engagement at the RQT was a cornerstone of the LISD delegation's broader visit to Northern California, which included several high-level meetings across Stanford University. The group’s thank-you message noted their "incredibly enriching visit" and the comprehensive nature of their discussions. Their agenda also included conversations with preeminent scholars Professor Francis Fukuyama and Professor Michael McFaul at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), and a meeting with Dean Jon Levin of the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). According to the delegation, these dialogues covered a range of vital geopolitical issues, from the war in Ukraine and a possible attack on Taiwan to Stanford's pivotal role in innovation, highlighting the "multifaceted impact of technology on democracy." The visit also provided an opportunity for the delegation to connect with Princeton alumni in the region.

Collaborating on global challenges and opportunities presented by quantum technologies

The esteemed LISD delegation was led by its senior leadership, including Sophie Meunier, the Acting Director of LISD and a Senior Research Scholar at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; Nadia Crisan, the Executive Director of LISD; Jonathan Fredman, a Non-Resident Fellow and former senior leader at the Central Intelligence Agency; and Jana-Alessa Peper, the Institute Assistant who coordinates the IPA program. They were accompanied by the LISD’s International Policy Associates, a cohort of students pursuing careers in foreign policy and international business, who brought a diverse array of academic and professional interests to the discussion.

The dialogue reinforced the critical importance of building bridges between institutions and disciplines. The exchange of perspectives between Stanford’s technology and policy experts and Princeton’s specialists in international affairs and self-determination created a unique and valuable synergy. We extend our sincere thanks to the entire LISD delegation for a stimulating and productive session that has undoubtedly planted the seeds for future collaboration in addressing the global governance challenges and opportunities presented by quantum and other advanced technologies.

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Academics, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum Technology, Quantum-AI, Stanford RQTMauritz KopPrinceton, Stanford RQT, Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, Nadia Crisan, Francis Fukuyama, Michael McFaul, Mauritz Kop, Jon Levin
Stanford University Launches Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology
Stanford University Launches Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology

Stanford, CA – December 6, 2023 – Stanford University today announced the launch of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), a pioneering initiative dedicated to addressing the profound ethical, legal, social, and policy implications of the rapidly advancing field of quantum technologies, including quantum artificial intelligence (QAI). The Center, part of the Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology (LST) at Stanford Law School (SLS), is believed to be the first academic center of its kind.

Dutch Network for Academics in the USA Semicon, Geopolitics and Shared Values Event

The announcement was made during a distinguished Dutch Network for Academics in the USA event focused on semicon, geopolitics and shared democratic values, presented by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). The occasion was graced by the presence of outgoing Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Nobel Prize winner and Stanford School of Business Professor Guido Imbens, Stephen Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Mark Brongersma, and William H. Neukom Professor of Law Mark Lemley, who is also the Director of the LST program and serves as the faculty leader of the new Quantum Institute.

Mauritz Kop Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology

Mauritz Kop, who founded and directs the Center and began his tenure as a Transatlantic Technology Law Forum Fellow at Stanford Law School in 2019, highlighted the critical juncture at which the Center is being established. "Quantum technologies—especially in the areas of encryption, computing, and sensors—were rapidly evolving from hypothetical ideas to commercial realities," Kop observed. "Here, I determined, was where the most interesting–and pressing–questions of law and policy lay. Put simply, quantum technology involves the smallest particles in the universe but has the potential to create some of the world’s biggest technological quandaries and opportunities."

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Academics, Quantum Technology, StanfordMauritz KopStanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, Mauritz Kop, Mark Lemley, Guido Imbens, Mark Brongersma, Mark Rutte
Mauritz Kop Fellow at Inter-CeBIL Harvard Cambridge Copenhagen
Mauritz Kop Fellow at Inter-CeBIL Harvard Cambridge Copenhagen

Harvard-Cambridge-Copenhagen, Sept 15, 2023 — Mauritz Kop has accepted a position as an Inter-CeBIL Fellow at the prestigious Novo Nordisk Foundation Copenhagen-Cambridge-Harvard Inter-CeBIL Programme for International Collaborative Bioscience Innovation & Law. In this role, Kop will focus his research on Advanced Medical Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Technologies within the life sciences ecosystem.

About the Inter-CeBIL Programme

The Inter-CeBIL Programme is a world-leading research hub dedicated to identifying and tackling the most significant legal and regulatory barriers to health and life science innovation. The initiative fosters robust knowledge networks to provide tailored legal and regulatory support to patients, researchers, businesses, and incubators, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that health and life science innovations can safely and effectively reach patients and markets.

This international collaboration brings together top-tier academic institutions to drive progress in healthcare and biotechnology. The program is a joint effort between the Centre for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL) at the University of Copenhagen, the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School, and the University of Cambridge, among other key partners. The program is led by a distinguished team, including Professor Timo Minssen as the Founding Director of CeBIL at the University of Copenhagen, Professor I. Glenn Cohen who leads Harvard Law School’s contribution, and Professor Mateo Aboy who leads the Cambridge part.

Key Research Areas

The Inter-CeBIL Programme centers its research on three key "grand challenges":

1. Advanced Medical Computing: Focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Technologies (QT).

2. Pandemic Preparedness & Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR).

3. Sustainable Innovation & Biosolutions: Encompassing eco-systems, drug R&D, drug regulation, and data infrastructures.

Focus on Key Area 1: Advanced Medical Computing, AI & Quantum Technology

This key research area addresses the increasingly critical role of advanced computing in the life sciences and medical sectors. Algorithms are becoming fundamental building blocks in a wide range of medical devices, digital health technologies (DHTs), and drug discovery tools (DDTs). The use of advanced computing, including AI/ML and quantum computing (QC), holds immense potential benefits for the life sciences, drug discovery, and medical sectors. These advancements also raise significant legal, ethical, governance, and regulatory issues that the program aims to address.

In his capacity as an Inter-CeBIL Fellow, Mauritz Kop will contribute his deep expertise in quantum-AI, its governance, and its legal-ethical implications to this key research area, helping to navigate the complex challenges and opportunities presented by these cutting-edge technologies.

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Academics, Healthcare, Stanford RQT, University, Quantum-AI, Quantum Technology, Quantum ComputingMauritz KopInter-CeBIL, University of Copenhagen, Harvard Law School, Cambridge University, Fellowship, Quantum-AI, Medicine, Healthcare, Governance, Regulation, Law, Ethics, Policy, Mauritz Kop
Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference 2023
Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference 2023

Stanford, CA – May 22, 2023 – The 21st century is undeniably the Quantum Age, and on May 22, 2023, Stanford University hosted the inaugural Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference at the iconic Paul Brest Hall, Stanford Law School. This landmark annual event, themed "Quantum-ELSPI" for its first iteration, brought together the global quantum community to explore the multifaceted ethical, legal, socio-economic, and policy implications (ELSPI) of this transformative field.

The conference was designed as a unique confluence of quantum physics, law, and art, aiming to discuss informed suggestions on how to balance maximizing the benefits and mitigating the risks of applied quantum technology. It covered state-of-the-art quantum computing, sensing, simulation, communication, materials, and quantum-classical hybrids, all within diverse multidisciplinary settings and taking a pro-innovation stance.

A Day of Interdisciplinary Exploration and Artistic Inspiration

The day was marked by deeply interdisciplinary presentations and an elegant intellectual atmosphere, uniquely punctuated by live musical interludes featuring works by Mozart, Schönberg, and Chopin, and opera arias by Handel, Liszt, and Gounod. Attendees also witnessed interactive quantum physics experiments, including demonstrations of quantum sensing and interferometry, designed to make the counter-intuitive quantum world more accessible.

The program began with Opening Remarks by Mauritz Kop of Stanford University, AIRecht.nl, and Daiki. This set the stage for a day of profound discussions.

What Responsible Quantum Technology & Innovation Entails

As attendees experienced, the conference provided an illuminating platform for discussing the state-of-the-art in quantum science, governance tipping points, risk-benefit analyses, intellectual property, societal impact assessments, and the myriad exciting novel use cases being developed. The discussions on what Responsible Quantum Technology & Innovation truly entails in diverse, multidisciplinary, and intergenerational settings were a highlight for all participants.

Mauritz Kop offered closing remarks, and the day concluded with a reception, further fostering the sense of community and shared purpose.

Deep gratitude was extended to all the speakers, moderators, musicians (Ireh Kim, Jin-Hee Catherine Lee, Zoe Logan Schramm, Katie Liu, Daniel Changxiao Sun, and Mauritz Kop), and physicists (Franz Inthisone Pfanner, Daniel Changxiao Sun) who contributed to the success of this inaugural event. Special thanks were also conveyed to Professor Mark Lemley and the team at Stanford Law School for making this memorable conference a reality.

The Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference has set a high bar for future discussions, and the quantum community eagerly anticipates Stanford RQT 2.0.

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Academics, Stanford, Conference, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum TechnologyMauritz KopStanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, Mauritz Kop, Mark Lemley, Urs Gasser, Eline De Jong, I. Glenn Cohen, Chris Hoofnagle, Charina Chou, Joshua Walker, Hank Greely, Chris Demchak, Aubrey Davis, Elija Perrier, Florian Neukart, Jin-hee Lee, Katie Liu, Daniel Sun, Franz Pfanner, Alexandra Waldherr, Tait Graves, Jeff Welser
Quantum Technology Impact Assessment (EU AI Alliance, European Commission)
Quantum Technology Impact Assessment (EU AI Alliance, European Commission)

Brussels, 20 April 2023—The emergence of powerful new capabilities in large AI models, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), underscores the critical need to continuously improve and update technology impact assessment tools, ensuring they keep pace with rapid technological development. As defined in recent scholarship, technology impact assessment is the systematic process of monitoring and determining the unintended, indirect, or delayed societal impacts of a future technological innovation. Crucially, it is also about capitalizing on opportunities and enabling responsible innovation from the outset.

An article by Stanford Law’s Mauritz Kop on this topic is also featured on the European Commission's Futurium website.

Shaping the Quantum Innovation Process

Quantum Impact Assessments (QIAs) are emerging as vital practical tools to facilitate the responsible adoption of quantum technologies. There are several related approaches to this assessment: (1) interactive QIA, which seeks to influence and shape the innovation process; (2) constructive QIA, where social issues guide the design of the technology from its earliest stages; and (3) real-time QIA, which connects scientific R&D with social sciences and policy from the start, before a technology becomes locked-in.

Often taking the form of codes of conduct, best practices, roadmaps, and physics de-risking tools, QIA instruments can be used by governments, industry, and academia. These soft law toolsallow stakeholders to explore how current technological developments affect the world we live in and to proactively shape the innovation process toward beneficial, societally robust outcomes.

Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment

Implementing interdisciplinary, expert-based QIAs can help raise awareness about the ethical, legal, socio-economic, and policy (ELSPI) dimensions of quantum technology, including quantum-classical hybrid systems. For instance, QIAs cultivate a deeper understanding of the potential dual-use character of quantum technology, where beneficial applications (such as quantum sensing for medical diagnostics) can exist alongside potentially harmful ones (such as the same sensors being used for autocratic surveillance).

Building on the foundational work of the 2018 AI Impact Assessment developed by ECP | Platform voor de InformatieSamenleving chaired by Prof. Kees Stuurman, this work presents a prototype of a QIA instrument: the Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment (EQTA). This pioneering initiative was made possible through a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy, Quantum Delta NL (QDNL), and ECP. The EQTA will be presented by Eline de Jong and Mauritz Kop at the inaugural Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference in May 2023.

Guidance for Responsible Quantum Technology Implementation

The EQTA provides a comprehensive, practical step-by-step plan that encourages stakeholders to initiate a dialogue to clarify which ethical, legal, and social aspects are important in the creation and application of quantum systems and their interaction with classical technologies. This structured approach helps make the use of quantum technology—as well as the data and algorithms that power it—more transparent and accountable from an early stage.

Looking forward, establishing a risk-based legal-ethical framework in combination with standardization, certification, technology impact assessment, and life-cycle auditing of quantum-driven systems is crucial to stewarding society towards responsible quantum innovation. Mauritz Kop’s research group has written more on this framework in their seminal article Towards Responsible Quantum Technology (Harvard).

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Academics, Ethics, Governance, Innovation, Intellectual Property, Quantum Technology, Standardization, Stanford RQT, TTLF, CertificationMauritz KopQuantum Impact Assessment, AI Impact Assessment, ECP, Quantum Delta, Eline de Jong, Mauritz Kop, Stanford Law School, European Commission, Best Practices, Physics De-Risking, Moral Guide, Ethics, Governance, Kees Stuurman, Standards, Certification, Soft Law
Towards Responsible Quantum Technology published by Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
Towards Responsible Quantum Technology published by Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Boston, MA, March 21, 2023—In a landmark contribution to the global dialogue on technology governance, the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society has published the foundational article, "Towards Responsible Quantum Technology." This significant work, the result of a deeply interdisciplinary and transatlantic collaboration, lays out a comprehensive conceptual framework for steering the development of quantum technologies (QT) in a direction that is safe, ethical, and aligned with democratic values.

The manuscript, which was also published in the Hastings Science & Technology Law Journal by the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, and in the University of Cambridge repository -with preprints at Stanford Law, ArxiV and the European Commission’s Futurium website- represents a concerted effort to get ahead of the regulatory curve. It argues for a proactive, principled approach to governance while the technology is still malleable, learning from the often-reactive postures taken with previous technological waves like AI and the internet.

A Transatlantic Constellation of Scholars

The paper is authored by a distinguished group of international scholars led by Mauritz Kop, Visiting ‘Quantum & Law’ Scholar at Stanford and the imminent Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology. The team represents a formidable convergence of expertise from the world's leading academic institutions, including Stanford, Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Cambridge, the University of Waterloo, and the Universities of Munich, Amsterdam, Maastricht, and Copenhagen.

This collaboration brought together leading lights in law, data science, theoretical quantum physics, philosophy and ethics, socioeconomics, materials science and engineering, and innovation policy. The author group includes Mateo Aboy, Eline De Jong, Urs Gasser, I. Glenn Cohen, Timo Minssen, Teresa Quintel, Mark Brongersma, Luciano Floridi, and Raymond Laflamme, whose collective insights provide a holistic and robust foundation for the proposed framework.

The RQT Framework: Integrating Quantum-ELSPI and RRI

At the heart of the paper is the conceptual framework for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT). This framework is designed to systematically integrate considerations of the Ethical, Legal, Social, and Policy Implications (ELSPI) of quantum technologies directly into the research and development lifecycle.

The RQT framework is built upon the established dimensions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)—anticipation, inclusion, reflection, and responsiveness. By merging these two approaches, Quantum-ELSPI and RRI, the authors have created a powerful tool for ensuring that the development of quantum is not driven solely by technical or commercial imperatives, but by a deep and abiding commitment to societal well-being.

Operationalizing Responsible Quantum Technology: The 10 Principles and Future Regulation

The "Towards Responsible Quantum Technology" paper is the first in a series of studies designed to build a comprehensive governance architecture. It lays the conceptual groundwork that is further operationalized in a subsequent study led by Kop, the "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation." This second paper translates the high-level SEA framework into concrete, actionable principles for real-world application.

Ultimately, the RQT framework is intended to inform the emergent regulatory landscape for quantum technology. The authors provide an outlook on how regulatory interventions can be designed and contextualized to be effective without stifling innovation. By tailoring governance to the exceptional nature of quantum, the goal is to reduce the risk of unintended, counterproductive policy effects and to foster a thriving, responsible, and values-based quantum ecosystem. The paper concludes with a call to action for the research community and other stakeholders to build upon this foundational work, to further develop the guiding principles, and to translate them into the best practices that will define the quantum future.

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Governance, Quantum Technology, Research, Stanford RQTMauritz Kopresponsible quantum technology, Responsible Quantum Innovation, Stanford RQT, Harvard Law, Mateo Aboy, Eline De Jong, Urs Gasser, I. Glenn Cohen, Timo Minssen, Teresa Quintel, Mark Brongersma, Luciano Floridi, Raymond Laflamme, Mauritz Kop, ELSPI, RRI, RQT, SEA