A Standards-First Future for Quantum Governance
Stanford, CA, August 7, 2025—A star team of leading interdisciplinary scholars from the Universities of Cambridge, Harvard, Munich, and Stanford has today published a landmark paper in the prestigious journal Science, outlining a novel and proactive framework for the global governance of quantum technologies. The Science Policy Forum piece titled "Quantum technology governance: A standards-first approach," was led by Professor Mateo Aboy of Cambridge with senior authorship by Mauritz Kop of Stanford. The paper introduces a "Standards-First" approach to regulation, emphasizing the urgent need for harmonized global standards and Quantum Technology Quality Management Systems (QT-QMS). The publication in Science is the culmination of years of dedicated research, synthesizing key takeaways from our annual Stanford RQT Conference and building on thought leadership established in outlets like Nature.
The paper, co-authored by a team representing the very model of interdisciplinary excellence we advocate for - including distinguished professors I. Glenn Cohen of Harvard Law School and Urs Gasser of the Technical University of Munich, addresses one of the most pressing challenges of the quantum age: how to foster innovation responsibly while mitigating the risks of geopolitical fragmentation and a potential "race to the bottom" in safety and ethics.
The core of our argument is the necessity of a "Standards-First" philosophy. Rather than waiting to apply reactive, and often conflicting, national regulations, we contend that the international community must prioritize baseline global standards before quantum technologies become deeply entrenched. This proactive approach aims to prevent a "quantum splinternet"—a fractured ecosystem of incompatible protocols and norms that could stifle innovation and exacerbate international tensions.
Quantum Technology Governance: A Standards-First Approach. Aboy, Gasser, Cohen & Kop, Science (2025). We propose a standards-first approach to quantum governance ensure a safe, ethical, and interoperable quantum future. A certifiable QT-QMS standard can help simplify future regulatory efforts and agility.
The Quantum Technology Quality Management System (QT-QMS)
Building on this, the paper introduces a practical framework: the Quantum Technology Quality Management System (QT-QMS). Drawing from established standards in high-consequence industries like medicine and aerospace, QT-QMS provides a clear, certifiable pathway for building safe and reliable quantum products. It translates high-level ethical principles into concrete, operational processes for risk management, lifecycle auditing, and supply chain integrity, simplifying future regulatory efforts.
As senior author Mauritz Kop notes, “Publishing this governance framework in a leading science journal like Science underscores our central message: getting quantum governance right is not just a task for lawyers and policymakers, but an essential, collaborative effort that must deeply involve the scientists and engineers who are building this future. We must embed our shared values directly into the architecture of quantum systems.”
The research provides a clear-eyed analysis of the current global landscape and presents a tangible roadmap for building a stable, interoperable, and responsible quantum ecosystem. By championing a global "race to the top" built on quality, safety, and trust, the framework proposed by Aboy, Gasser, Cohen, and Kop aims to ensure that the profound benefits of the quantum revolution are realized for all groups of our societies.
Charting the Future of Quantum Governance: Our Vision for a Standards-First Approach in Science
Our new Policy Forum piece in Science, titled "Quantum technology governance: A standards-first approach," represents a milestone for our team and for the broader conversation around the future of technology policy. It is the culmination of years of dedicated research, building upon a trajectory of thought leadership established through leading platforms like Nature, and with distinguished academic communities at Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, Waterloo, Copenhagen, the Max Planck Institute, and TUM Munchen. The coauthors discussed governance frameworks after the last SEA-framework publication at IOP Science, and the role of standards versus regulation at this early stage. In addition, this work synthesizes key takeaways from our annual Stanford RQT Conference under Faculty leadership of Professor Mark Lemley, where global leaders convene to tackle these complex issues.
At its core, this piece is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. It brought together an all-star team of scholars, each a recognized leader in their respective domain, to forge a unified vision for a more agile, innovative, and secure quantum future.
An Alliance of Leaders: The Minds Behind the Vision
The strength of our Science article lies not only in its ideas but in the diverse expertise of its authors, who represent the very model of interdisciplinary excellence we advocate for.
Mateo Aboy, a leading scholar at the University of Cambridge, is at the forefront of the intersection between law, bioscience, and technology. His pioneering work on quality management systems and international standards provides the crucial bridge between high-level policy and practical implementation. With a rich history of publications, including influential work with the Institute of Physics (IOP), Professor Aboy - who is both patent lawyer, scholar, inventor, and engineer - brings an invaluable perspective on creating robust, certifiable frameworks that can earn global trust and ensure regulatory compliance without stifling innovation. He is the first author of the Science publication.
Urs Gasser, a Professor and Dean at the Technical University of Munich and formerly the Executive Director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, is a world-renowned authority on information law and policy, and guardrails for AI. His extensive research, including a recent, impactful piece in Nature Physics written together with De Jong and Kop, has consistently explored how governance models must adapt to the challenges of emerging technologies. Professor Gasser’s deep understanding of the digital ecosystem’s evolution provides the historical context and theoretical rigor needed to navigate the uncharted territory of quantum governance.
I. Glenn Cohen, one of the world's leading experts on the intersection of bioethics and law, is a Deputy Dean and Professor at Harvard Law School. His work has profoundly shaped modern legal and ethical thinking on cutting-edge technologies, such as genetics and quantum-AI driven medical devices. Professor Cohen’s involvement ensures that our framework is grounded in a deep appreciation for the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of quantum's rise, demanding a governance model that is not just efficient but also just, equitable, and aligned with fundamental human values.
Mauritz Kop, the founder of the Stanford Center for RQT, is a visionary scholar focused on the global governance of emerging technologies, particularly quantum and AI. His extensive body of work, published in leading journals, has consistently championed a balanced, democratic values-infused approach that fosters innovation while mitigating risks. His leadership in establishing frameworks for responsible quantum technology and the quantum-ELSPI paradigm, his work on the intersection of intellectual property, national security, democracy and grand strategy, and his insights from convening global experts from the U.S., EU and Asia have been instrumental in shaping the pragmatic, forward-looking recommendations presented in our Quantum Governance piece. He is senior author of the Science publication.
A star team of leading interdisciplinary scholars from the Universities of Cambridge, Harvard, Munich, and Stanford has today published a landmark paper in the prestigious journal Science, outlining a novel and proactive framework for the global governance of quantum technologies.
The Core Finding: A Standards-First Path to Responsible Innovation
Our central argument in Science is both simple and profound: in the nascent and dynamic field of quantum technology, a "standards-first" approach to governance is superior to premature, top-down regulation. While the instinct of many policymakers is to legislate in the face of transformative change, we argue that such rigid frameworks risk becoming obsolete upon arrival, stifling the very innovation they seek to guide.
Instead, we advocate for leveraging the power of international, consensus-based standards. These frameworks, developed by organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), offer a more flexible, adaptive, and globally harmonized path forward.
Our key findings include:
Fostering Interoperability and Innovation: Standards create a common language and technical baseline, allowing components and systems from different innovators and countries to work together seamlessly. This prevents fragmentation and creates a stable platform upon which companies can compete and innovate.
Building Trust and Managing Risk Proactively: Rather than waiting for risks to manifest, standards can embed safety, security, and ethical considerations into the entire technology lifecycle. The ongoing work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on post-quantum cryptography is a prime example of how standardization is already addressing the critical threat of quantum computers to cybersecurity.
Enabling Global Cooperation: In an era of geopolitical competition, technical standards remain a vital channel for international collaboration. They are a form of "soft law" that encourages alignment without infringing on national sovereignty, allowing global supply chains and research partnerships to flourish.
Laying the Groundwork for Smart Regulation: Crucially, a standards-first approach is not an alternative to regulation, but a precursor to it. The establishment of robust, widely accepted benchmarks via a Quantum Technology Quality Management System (QT-QMS) provides a foundation for future legislation to incorporate these standards by reference, thereby creating a more agile and effective regulatory framework.
NIST Standards on Post-Quantum Cryptography
This research provides a tangible roadmap for building a stable and responsible quantum ecosystem. The ongoing work at NIST on post-quantum cryptography is a prime example of how standardization is already addressing critical threats. By championing a global "race to the top" built on quality and trust, our framework aims to ensure that the profound benefits of the quantum revolution are realized for all of humanity. This article is a call to action for all stakeholders to engage in the vital work of standards-setting to chart a course that is wise, secure, and beneficial for the world.