QuTec: Quantum Technology Innovations for Society

Project description

Quantum technology (QT) has become a high priority worldwide in recent years. With the developments in cryogenics, photonics, lithography, and similar complementary technologies, the fabrication and manipulation of ever smaller physical systems enable the creation of novel devices and techniques that exploit quantum phenomena such as superposition, interference, and entanglement. By using these physical phenomena of the quantum realm, the development of new sensors, communication systems, and a novel type of computers called “quantum computers” appear feasible soon.

Currently, planned public investment in QT worldwide totals more than €20 billion over the next decade, and Germany alone plans to spend €2.65 billion on these technologies. With the allocation of such large amounts of public funds, there is a growing need to link R&D in QT with reflection and action on societal issues, ethics, and technology assessment topics. As QT becomes more popular, it becomes increasingly important to explore questions such as potential threats to the current internet infrastructure from quantum computers or the reasons for prioritizing QT against other research topics.

This project will conduct research on the landscape of QT, innovation and transformation expectations, and societal aspects of quantum technologies. This will involve interviews with researchers in the field and workshops on responsible research and innovation (RRI) in this area.

As QT develops, path dependencies will emerge and new opportunities for research on the topic will arise. The following two questions are thus at the core of the project:

  • How are quantum technologies imagined, envisioned, and intended to be realized in our current techno-societies?
  • What are the possible path dependencies for future scenarios for the development of these technologies?

The project will also make recommendations for future research in quantum technology assessment.

Publications


2023
Journal Articles
Seskir, Z. C.; Umbrello, S.; Coenen, C.; Vermaas, P. E.
Democratization of Quantum Technologies
2023. Quantum Science and Technology, 8 (2), Art.-Nr.: 024005. doi:10.1088/2058-9565/acb6aeFull textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Presentations
2022
Journal Articles
Seskir, Z. C.; Migdał, P.; Weidner, C.; Anupam, A.; Case, N.; Davis, N.; Decaroli, C.; Ercan, İ.; Foti, C.; Gora, P.; Jankiewicz, K.; La Cour, B. R.; Malo, J. Y.; Maniscalco, S.; Naeemi, A.; Nita, L.; Parvin, N.; Scafirimuto, F.; Sherson, J. F.; Surer, E.; Wootton, J.; Yeh, L.; Zabello, O.; Chiofalo, M.
Quantum games and interactive tools for quantum technologies outreach and education
2022. Optical engineering, 61 (8), Article no: 081809. doi:10.1117/1.OE.61.8.081809Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document
Presentations
Coenen, C.; Seskir, Z.
Towards quantum technology assessment
2022. Hermeneutics of Science and Technology: Sino-German and Darmstadt-Guangzhou workshop (2022), Darmstadt, Germany, March 12, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
Perspectives on societal aspects and impacts of quantum technologies
2022. Quantum Week Webinar exploring the forthcoming quantum technology revolution [Webinar] (2022), Online, October 10, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
Quantum Technologies and Application Areas
2022. Quantum Technology Seminars (2022), Istanbul, Turkey, September 21–22, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
What does the second quantum revolution mean for medicine and healthcare?
2022. Tagung zur Digitalisierung in Medizin und Gesundheitswesen (2022), Berlin, Germany, September 1, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
Quantum secure as an emerging topic: a landscape study
2022. European Association for the Study of Science and Technology : The politics of technoscientific futures (EASST 2022), Madrid, Spain, July 6–9, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
Quantum Games and Interactive Tools for Quantum Technologies Outreach and Education
2022. Quantum Science Days (QSD 2022), Online, June 1–3, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
The Landscape of the Quantum Start-up Ecosystem
2022. Quantum Science Days (QSD 2022), Online, June 1–3, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
The Landscape of the Quantum Start-up Ecosystem
2022, May 5. Quantum Eastern Europe: Creating Quantum Awareness in Eastern Europe (2022), Online, May 5–6, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.
Overview of Quantum Technologies Around the World
2022. EuroCC@Turkey Quantum Computing and Technologies Workshop (2022), Online, March 31–April 1, 2022 
Seskir, Z. C.; Umbrello, S.; Coenen, C.; Vermaas, P. E.
Democratization of Quantum Technologies
2022. STS Turkey 2022, İstanbul Bilgi University Santralistanbul Campus (2022), Istanbul, Turkey, November 24–25, 2022 
Posters
Seskir, Z. C.; Coenen, C.
How will quantum technologies (QT) change the digital world?
2022. 5th European Technology Assessment Conference "Digital Future(s). TA in and for a Changing World" (ETAC 2022), Karlsruhe, Germany, July 25–27, 2022 Full textFull text of the publication as PDF document

Contact

Dipl.-Pol. Christopher Coenen
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)
P.O. Box 3640
76021 Karlsruhe
Germany

Tel.: +49 721 608-24559
E-mail