Emergent abilities in large AI models such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), show the need to continuously improve and update technology impact assessment tools, closely following the pace of technology development. Technology impact assessment is about determining the unintended, indirect, or delayed societal impacts of a future technological innovation. It is also about capitalizing on opportunities and enabling responsible innovation. Technology assessment aims to systematically monitor and examine the effects of the introduction, extension, and modification of a certain technology -including technological synergies such as combinations of quantum cloud computing, machine learning, and precision robotics- on the various sectors of society.

Influencing and shaping the quantum innovation process

In this context, we can differentiate between several, closely related types of quantum technology impact assessment (QIA): (1) interactive QIA seeking to influence and shape the innovation process, (2) constructive QIA where social issues guide the design of the technology at a very early stage, and (3) real-time QIA seeking to connect natural science and engineering investigations in quantum R&D to social sciences, humanities and policy strategy from the start, before the technology becomes locked-in.

Quantum Impact Assessments are important practical tools to facilitate responsible quantum technology adoption. Often in the form of codes of conduct, best practices, physics de-risking tools, checklists, roadmaps and moral guides, QIA instruments can be used by stakeholders including governments, industry, and academia, to explore and analyse how current technological developments affect the world we live in.

Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment

Implementing interdisciplinary, expert-based QIA’s can help raising awareness about the ethical, legal, socio-economic & policy (ELSPI) dimensions of quantum technology including quantum-classical hybrids such as quantum-inspired algorithmic solutions on traditional or special purpose hardware. QIA’s can cultivate a deeper understanding about the dual use character of quantum technology. Dual use dilemmas can be exemplified by comparing the beneficial use of quantum sensing for medical imaging and diagnostics with the maleficent use of quantum sensors for autocratic precision surveillance purposes. From this lens, it is hard not to see the parallels between quantum and the congeneric field of nuclear.

In practice, these instruments can lower barriers for quantum startups and scale-ups to develop and pilot this promising system technology in innovative ways. Importantly, these tools can assist a company with optimizing intellectual property (IP) portfolio’s and with mapping export controls. Their structured approach can be used to get past perceived legal roadblocks, similar to how the AI Impact Assessment’s systemic and holistic approach aims to remove obstacles (such as intellectual property, privacy, sharing and pooling of training, testing and validation datasets) for AI pilots, start-ups and scale-ups. The EQTA is akin to self-assessment tools such as ALTAI (Assessment List for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence) and shares a vision on using technology for good with Ethical AI by Design initiatives such as Daiki. Moreover, QIA’s can be utilized to lay out strategies towards regulatory compliance in sectors ranging from Healthcare, Chemistry and Defense, to Aviation, Logistics and Finance. Here, we present a prototype of such QIA instrument: the Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment (EQTA), made possible by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Quantum Delta NL, and ECP.

As second generation (2G) quantum technologies (which directly harness quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition, entanglement, and tunneling) are at an early stage -most quantum applications and domains are at low to medium technology readiness levels (TRL)- it is hard to forecast their societal impact. Hence the terms ‘Exploratory’, and ‘Prototype’.

Guidance for responsible implementation of quantum technology

The EQTA contains a comprehensive step-by-step plan, encouraging companies, researchers, developers and designers to start a dialogue to clarify which legal, social, ethical, and technical standards are important in the creation and application of QT systems and quantum-classical interactions. The EQTA Quickscan and step-by-step guide can also elucidate which motives and considerations form the basis for the choices and decisions to be made during the quantum technology ​​implementation process. This makes the use of quantum technology, generative and non-generative artificial intelligence, data and algorithms -especially when applied at scale- more transparent and accountable, which includes scenarios in which quantum is deployed in conjunction with other key 4th industrial revolution technologies to achieve synergetic effects, such as DLT/blockchain, Extended Reality (XR), Synthetic Biology, Robotics, and 6G.

The idea is to perform life cycle ex ante, ex durante, and ex post audits of quantum empowered systems, products, and services, and intervene -or proactively shape trajectories- where deemed necessary from the perspective of the QIA’s underlying normative equity framework. One such framework is Responsible Quantum Technology, which integrates ELSPI perspectives into quantum R&D, while adhering to RRI dimensions, actively steering towards RQT by design and default. By way of illustration, responsible quantum-relativistic hybrid systems are about aligning quantum technology, machine learning, law, philosophy & ethics, socio-economics, and policy (including national security and geopolitics) to achieve responsible real world deployments.

The results of such interdisciplinary technology assessment audits might reveal the need to build in extra safety layers in the quantum/AI empowered model that has undergone the assessment. These added safety layers should address the newly identified risks.

As quantum technology evolves, so will our QIA tools

The above underlines the dynamic character of technology assessment. It is a dynamic effort that seeks to monitor, benchmark, and validate QT applications during their lifespan. As the technology inevitably matures, ideally QIA evolves in parallel towards voluntary self-assessment, and mandatory tools compliant with risk, safety and security assessment techniques -e.g. from the insurance sector- that are in sync with established practices in industry Quality Management Systems (QMS), ISO, Cen-Cenelec, IEEE and NIST norms and standards, eventually linked to documenting and reporting, certification (CE-Markings) requirements, accreditation bodies, production licensing, and market authorization schemes. The measurable benchmarks used are crucial for providing quantum and quantum assisted assurance, and must adapt to industry’s state of the art, periodically upgraded, in a sense analogous to Moore's Law for semiconductors.

For instance, it might be that NISQ era quantum computing evolves into a general purpose technology, complementing classical technologies such as AI, whereas quantum sensing and networking each take a different technological pathway, which then demands for a tailored approach potentially resulting in different rules, guardrails, norms, standards, best practices and codes of conduct. In principle, liberal democratic values are embedded in such norms, interoperability protocols, and standards. Much combined qualitative and empirical research must be done to co-create these innovation fostering instruments within the quantum community, preferably by intergenerational, multidisciplinary groups with diverse backgrounds.

Implementation blueprints per industry

Ideally, multidisciplinary teams will create future QIA implementation blueprints per industry (e.g. Health, AgriFood, Energy, Finance, Transportation, Education, Media, Art & Entertainment, Cleantech, and Defence) for the purpose of monitoring and influencing the societal effects of sector specific quantum technology application. As quantum technology is at an early stage, legal-ethical frameworks and innovation systems are contextual, culturally sensitive and dynamic, we envision the EQTA to be updated and expanded into fully fletched quantum domain specific technology assessment instruments on the basis of the quantum community’s gained experience. Eventually, such QIA’s could evolve into cloud-based audit automation, risk and compliance management software and apps.

Experience gained with soft law QIA tools in industrial sectors and quantum domains can also shape and inform debates about the practicalities of anticipatory regulatory interventions, e.g. in the form of a hard law Quantum Governance Act or unified International Treaty, attributing harmonized responsibility, accountability, and liability within quantum value chains on the planetary level.

Best Practices for Responsible Quantum Innovation

The Netherlands gladly contributes to the European Community of Best Practices to achieve Responsible Quantum Innovation. For this purpose, we developed the Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment: a first of its kind practical tool that helps an organization raising awareness about how one can design, employ and audit QT in an ethical, legal, social, geopolitically sensitive, and technically robust manner, guiding towards responsible quantum technology & innovation informed by ELSPI considerations, while responding to key RRI values.

It was inspiring to work on one of the world's first assessment tools for quantum technology in a multidisciplinary setting, contributing to the EQTA’s societal, legal and ethical chapters from a Quantum-ELSPI perspective, with a focus on social embedding, governance, regulation, and intellectual property. Establishing a risk-based legal-ethical framework in combination with standardization, certification, technology impact assessment, and life cycle auditing of quantum driven systems such as computers, sensors, simulators, materials, and networks, is crucial to stewarding society towards responsible quantum innovation. Thanks to ECP and QDNL for bringing a diverse group of stakeholders and experts with backgrounds in quantum physics, computer & data science, cybersecurity, telecommunications, infrastructure, law, philosophy, economics, and innovation management together to create this forward looking instrument.

Download the English version of the Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment here: link