Journal article
Current and Future Directions for Responsible Quantum Technologies: A ResQT Community Perspective
Ethics and Society, Vol.20(3), pp.1-21
2026
PMCID: PMC13538163
PMID: 42694271
Abstract
Quantum technologies (QT) are advancing rapidly, promising advancements across a wide spectrum of applications but also raising significant ethical, societal, and geopolitical impacts, including dual-use capabilities, varying levels of access, and impending quantum divide(s). To address these, the Responsible Quantum Technologies (ResQT) community was established to share knowledge, perspectives, and best practices across various disciplines. Its mission is to ensure QT developments align with ethical principles, promote equity, and mitigate unintended consequences. Initial progress has been made, as scholars and policymakers increasingly recognize principles of responsible QT. However, more widespread dissemination is needed, and as QT matures, so must responsible QT. This paper provides a structured, situated synthesis of the ResQT community's current work and identifies future directions from within this community perspective. Drawing on historical lessons from artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, actions targeting the quantum divide(s) are addressed, including the implementation of responsible research and innovation, fostering wider stakeholder engagement, and sustainable development. These actions aim to build trust and engagement, facilitating the participatory and responsible development of QT. The ResQT community advocates that responsible QT should be an integral part of quantum development rather than an afterthought so that quantum technologies evolve toward a future that is technologically advanced and beneficial for all.
Details
- Title
- Current and Future Directions for Responsible Quantum Technologies: A ResQT Community Perspective
- Authors
- Adrian Schmidt (Corresponding Author) - Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyAlexandre Artaud - Delft University of TechnologyArsev Umur Aydinoglu - Middle East Technical UniversityAstrid Botticher - Friedrich Schiller University JenaRodrigo Araiza Bravo - Harvard UniversityMaria Luisa Marilu Chiofalo - University of PisaRebecca Coates - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationIlke Ercan - Delft University of TechnologyAlexei Grinbaum - CEA Paris-SaclayEmily Haworth - PushQuantum (Germany)Carolyn Ten Holter - University of OxfordEline de Jong - University of AmsterdamBart Karstens - Rathenau InstituutMatthias C. Kettemann - Universität InnsbruckAnna Knorr - Harvard UniversityClarissa Ai Ling Lee - Monash University MalaysiaFabienne Marco - Technical University of MunichWenzel Mehnert - AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbHJosephine C. Meyer - George Mason UniversityPieter Vermaas - Delft University of TechnologyShantanu Sharma - Microsoft (India)Carrie Weidner - University of BristolBarbara Wellmann - Deloitte GmbH (Germany)Mira L. Wolf-Bauwens - University of OxfordZeki C. Seskir - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Publication details
- Ethics and Society, Vol.20(3), pp.1-21
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11569-026-00522-2
- ISSN
- 3091-3322
- PMID
- 42694271; PMC13538163
- Copyright note
- This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Data Availability
- The data collected and analyzed in this study contain potentially identifiable information. Therefore, the data cannot be shared publicly due to privacy and ethical restrictions. However, summary statistics and aggregated results supporting the study’s findings are included in the manuscript and its supplementary materials. The corresponding author may provide additional information about the data or analysis procedures upon reasonable request, subject to ethical approval.
- Grant note
- Adrian Schmidt and Zeki C. Seskir received funding from the Inspiring and Anchoring Trust in Science (IANUS) grant, which is funded by the European Union. Eline de Jong acknowledges support from the project Quantum Impact on Societal Security (project number NWA.1436.20.002), funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) under the Quantum/Nanorevolution programme, and from the Quantum Delta Netherlands Growth Fund programme. Fabienne Marco’s research for this submission was supported by the DFG Cluster of Excellence TransforM (EXC 3137/1, Grant No. 533801653) and the QuantWorld Project (Quantum Aktiv, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991266495502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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