Quantum Social Lab: Mapping Challenges and Opportunities of Quantum Based Technologies

Billions of dollars, euros, and Renminbi are currently invested in the development of quantum technology (QT) in application areas such as computing, communications, and simulation. While much of the research is still in the foundational stage, it is expected that QT will be transformative for the natural and economic sciences, engineering, life sciences, and medicine. The impacts of QT on society at large that flow from these transformations have revolutionary potential as well, but are currently underexplored. To start filling this gap, this course sets the stage for the launch of the TUM Quantum Social Lab, which takes an interdisciplinary approach to examine the social effects, opportunities and challenges of QT. Participants in the course will address questions concerning QT and cyber security and geopolitics, data protection, fairness and equity, and skills and competences, among others. The student contributions will feed into the launch phase of the Lab.

After attending the module's course, the students will be able to:
• Identify social implications of quatum based technologies with an emphasis on quantum communication technology
• Evalute quantum technologies social impact based on human rights and ehtics frameworks
• Anticipate policy options and interventions to unlock the potential of quantum tech and addressing its challenges

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The module is offered in the form of a block seminar, dealing with the social aspects of quantum based technologies. The teaching method includes (a) a series of foundational presentations/lectures by the teaching staff to set the stage for subsequent discussions and introduce the basic framework for the analysis, evaluation, and approaches of problem-solving of the course topic; and (b) a set of student presentations as qualitative, thematic deep dives based on surveys of materials, literature reviews, and/or expert interviews, to bring in their perspectives, ideas, thoughts to the conversations, building upon the in-class presentations, group works and assigned readings.

reader, slides (poster), and any further media

Antonio,Acín et al (2018): The quantum technologies roadmap: a European community view, New J. Phys. 20 080201, S. 1-24, https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/aad1ea/pdf
• Jeutner,Valentin (2021): The Quantum Imperative: Addressing the Legal Dimension of Quantum Computers,in : Morals and Maschiens, S.52-58, https://doi.org/10.5771/2747-5174-2021-1-52
• Vermaas, Pieter E. (2017): The societal impact of the emerging quantum technologies: a renewed urgency to make quantum theory understandable, Delft University, Ethics and Inf. Technol. 19, 4 (December 2017), 241–246, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676
• Holter, Carolyn Ten, et al. (2021): Reading the road: challenges and opportunities on the path to responsible innovation in quantum computing, University of Oxford, https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2021.1988070 Recommended Readings:
• Perrier, Elija. (2021). Ethical Quantum Computing: A Roadmap, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2102.00759.pdf
• Kop, Mauritz (2020): Regulating Transformative Technology in The Quantum Age: Intellectual Property, Standardization & Sustainable Innovation, Stanford - Vienna Transatlantic Technology Law Forum, Transatlantic Antitrust and IPR Developments, Stanford University
• Kop, Mauritz (2021): Establishing a Legal-Ethical Framework for Quantum Technology, Yale Law School, Yale Journal of Law & Technology (YJoLT), The Record, March 30 2021, https://yjolt.org/blog/establishing-legal-ethical-framework-quantum-technology
Background Readings (for reference only):
• Ladikas, Miltos et al. (2015): Science and Technology Governance and Ethics, Springer • Sandler, Ronald (2013): Ethics and Emerging Technologies, 2013. Edition, Palgrave Macmillan • Kirchschlaeger, Peter (2021): Digital Transformation and Ethics, 1.Edition, Nomos (especially chapters 6, 7, 8)

The examination consists (1) of a presentation of contents and results of a project. The students will work on sub-questions in the context of the course's topic. They will show their results of their project in a 15 minute oral presentation, which will be subsequently discussed by the participants of the course (60%).
In addition to the oral presentation (2) a poster containing the content and results of the project will also be part of the examination (40%). The presentation and the poster are means to measure the students’ ability to analyse and evaluate the social impact of quantum technologies and to identify social implications of quantum based technologies in two different, but complementary ways. Additionally both parts of the examination offer also the opportunity to measure the students' ability to develop approaches for especially policy options on their own.