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.

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 EngineeringMark 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.

Stanford Quantum Technology Center Founding Director Mauritz Kop, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Stanford Business School Nobel Laureate Professor Guido Imbens, and SLS Professor and Director of the Stanford Program in Law and Technology Mark Lemley.

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."

A New Cycle of Technology Governance

The Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology aims to usher in a new cycle of technology governance. Its mission is to bring together the quantum community in diverse, multidisciplinary settings to investigate how society should balance maximizing the benefits and mitigating the risks of an exciting new generation of applied quantum technologies. These span computation, sensing, simulation, cryptography, communication, materials & devices, and quantum-classical hybrid approaches, with the Center taking a pro-innovation stance.

Mark Rutte addresses Stanford RQT Founder Mauritz Kop during a congratulatory speech.

"Second-generation quantum technologies will soon make their way out of the labs and research facilities and into industry," said Professor Mark Lemley. "So this is a critical time to make sure that we proactively address their impact on law, society, and public policy. With the launch of this new center, SLS and the broader Stanford University community are at the forefront of pressing, complex, and fascinating questions that have implications for the world."

Professor Mark Lemley’s keynote on Sustainable Silicon can be viewed here on Youtube: https://youtu.be/BlTjZg6EhUQ?feature=shared

Addressing the "Pandora’s Box" of Quantum Potential

The Center will focus on second-generation quantum technologies, which harness the unique properties of subatomic particles—what Kop describes as the "extravagant world of the super small." These technologies, leveraging principles like superposition, tunneling, and entanglement, are poised to revolutionize numerous sectors, from healthcare and materials science to computing and AI.

Kop notes the immense potential for good, such as unbreakable encryption, hyper-personalized drug development, and advanced sensors. However, he also cautions about the "Pandora’s Box of probabilities and unknown risks." The same power that could secure the internet could also compromise all existing digital information. "Harnessing the power of this technology will result in ‘AI on steroids’," Kop stated, emphasizing the need for responsible stewardship. "These are planetary issues," he added, highlighting the major geopolitical implications and the race to develop useful quantum technology.

Core Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology Activities and Vision

Through cutting-edge mixed-method research conducted by Stanford University professors, staff, students, and RQT Fellows (such as Professor Urs Gasser from the Technical University of Munich and Professor Mateo Aboy from the University of Cambridge), the Center will endorse scientific inquiry and public discourse on the multifaceted implications of quantum technologies.

Key activities and focus areas include:

Annual Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference: Serving as an annual highlight to convene global experts. The inaugural multidisciplinary conference took place in May 2023.

Curated RQT Research Projects: The Center currently has 10 projects focusing on law and policy aspects -often led by RQT Fellows- including global governance, intellectual property law and smart technology regulation.

Congressional Quantum Bootcamp: Slated for 2024, this project aims to foster quantum literacy and awareness among members of Congress.

Art-Inspired Innovation: The Center endeavors to weave music and art into its science and research-focused projects to foster lateral thinking and make the quantum world more accessible. As a delightful example, RQT Musicians Jin-Hee Catherine Lee (coloratura soprano) and Katie Liu (piano) performed works by Mozart and Donizetti for Prime Minister Rutte during the evening festivities in San Francisco following the launch events.

Global Collaboration: Kop envisions the Center as a "golden triangle of academics, industry and politics," emphasizing that "geographic diversity is also critical. The best people in all sectors around the world need to contribute so that society has the best options available to manage this new technology." Engaging with major technology companies like Google and IBM is also a key focus.

Stanford computer science students Jin-Hee Catherine Lee, coloratura soprano, and pianist Katie Liu, performed pieces by Mozart and Donizetti for Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte during the inaugural events for the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, Reflecting the Center’s philosophy of weaving music and art into its science and research.

Actively Stewarding the Societal Impact of Quantum Applications Towards Beneficial Outcomes

The Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology is committed to actively stewarding the societal impact of quantum-centric applications towards beneficial, inclusive, and equitable outcomes. It will examine how to balance safeguarding society by putting guardrails in place with advancing quantum-driven progress by incentivizing innovation, aiming to enable a prosperous, quantum-safe future for everyone.

Mauritz Kop extended special thanks to Professor Mark Lemley for his crucial support in making the Center a reality, and to Consul General Dirk Janssen and Innovation Attache Walter de Wit and their team for organizing the impactful events on the Stanford Campus that marked this significant launch.