Developing effective and responsible policy and risk mitigation measures for the quantum era.
PQIC Quantum Policy and Ethics Center will establish U.S. leadership in socially responsible quantum industry development development by linking policy and sociotechnical thought leaders with quantum educators, scientists, engineers, and business leaders to shape emerging technology development.
Across the program, we're focused on three key drivers of success: speed, scale, and inclusivity.
Why the PQIC Quantum Policy and Ethics Center?
With all new disruptive and transformative technologies, there is the potential to solve societies issues in unimaginable ways and in parallel the risk of creating unintended societal consequences. Despite quantum’s transformative potential, there is little structured research into the ethical implications of such quantum technologies, nor highly advanced Centers focused on ethics that would form a foundation to ensure policies on ethical behaviors are enacted and implemented with consistency across industries and individuals.
The PQIC Quantum Policy and Ethics Center (QPEC) will be a premier capability to establish U.S. leadership in socially responsible quantum industry development by linking policy and sociotechnical thought leaders with quantum educators, scientists, engineers, and business leaders to shape emerging technology development. The Center will help the quantum industry avoid pitfalls such as the lack of workforce diversity and inclusion; discriminatory, or socially disruptive solutions; and widespread social distrust, alienation, and fragmentation. QPEC will position the U.S. as a global quantum public policy thought leader and point of exchange between policymakers, industry, academia, and civil society to develop effective and responsible policy and risk mitigation measures for the quantum era.
About
The multi-institutional Center works cooperatively to develop and advance thought leadership around data-driven policies and ethical considerations for a thriving and equitable society in the quantum era. QPEC will serve as a neutral public square for dialogue and thought leadership advancing partnerships, policies, programs, norms, and standards. The Center drives for ethical, responsible, and human-centered quantum technology development, use cases, and workforce and privacy implications. QPEC will facilitate exchanges between socio-technologists, public policy experts, quantum scientists and engineers, business leaders, and policymakers. This cross-sector approach aims to ensure the quantum industry does not face the pitfalls of some breakthrough technology revolutions such as a lack of workforce diversity, unintentionally discriminatory or socially disruptive technology, public skepticism and alienation, and lack of early emphasis on applications and needs related to pressing societal challenges (e.g., climate change, minority health disparities). The center will integrate with other cluster activities and national stakeholders to ensure the development, outputs, and uses of quantum are ethical and equitable through establishing a continuous feedback loop between scientists and policy researchers in the nation's capital.
Our Quantum Future: Some Assembly Required
The cross-sector working group was established to create a white paper to outline the importance of quantum as a disruptive technology, the interlink of technological ethics with inclusivity, access, and equity in society, the process emerging technology has taken from policy to regulation to standards, and highlighting the lessons learnt from previous revolutions. By examining the value of quantum as an emerging technology, the white paper lays out the need for highly developed taxonomies, frameworks, roadmaps, and policies on ethics for industry to implement; the risks of not having standards; and the need for an advanced Quantum Policy & Ethics Center for micro and macro ethical training and compliance.
Core Team
We're focused on three key drivers across PQIC Quantum Policy and Ethics Center. Learn about them, below
Speed
Speed is critical to accelerate innovation and real-world solutions in Greater Washington and achieve our region's full potential of dynamic leadership and economic competitiveness in quantum.
Scale
If Greater Washington is to coalesce and network the many institutions and talent assets in the region to create a thriving ecosystem supporting and enabling innovation and economic development and lowering the cost and risk associated with the move towards quantum, programs must be delivered at scale.
Inclusivity
Inclusivity is at the core of PQIC's programs because it is key to achieving equitable regional growth and development. An inclusive workforce and equitable industry approach will drive more diversity of thought and innovation through quantum solutions that work for all communities.
