Colloquium Series: Ethical, Legal, Social & Policy Implications of Quantum Technologies

On 26 September 2023 the Centre for Quantum and Society organizes the next Quantum & Society Research Colloquium with Prof. dr. Timo Minssen and Prof. Dr. Mateo Aboy as our speakers, on the lecture ‘Ethical, Legal, Social & Policy Implications (ELSPI) of Quantum Technologies’.

Abstract: Although many projected applications of quantum technology (QT) are still at a nascent stage, recent advances, such as in quantum computing (QC), and the expected societal impact of quantum technologies admonishes us to proceed and innovate responsibly. But how could this be achieved? How realistic are the expected applications and where do we see a hyperbole? What have been the actual patenting trends over the last 20 years for QT and QC? What are the QC patent claims directed to? Which countries and organizations are leading this innovation activity? In what jurisdictions are they being protected? Is the patent system incentivizing public disclosure? What values, opportunities and perils need to be addressed, balanced and calibrated for responsible quantum innovation? What should be the role of ethics, global competition, intellectual property, privacy, national (security) strategies, politics, and other values enshrined in laws and regulation?

This lecture will discuss these questions. Prof. Dr. Mateo Aboy will set the stage by presenting empirical results from the paper “Mapping the Patent Landscape of Quantum Technologies: Patenting Trends, Innovation and Policy Implications”, and Prof. Dr. Timo Minssen will then discuss Responsible Quantum Innovation and future work on quantum computing in the life sciences recently funded by the NNF Inter-CeBIL grant.

The talk will be hosted (in person, with the possibility to attend remotely) at the Institute for Information Law in collaboration with the Law Center for Health & Life, at the Amsterdam Law School of the University of Amsterdam.

Time: 15h30 – 16h45

Location: Amsterdam, Institute for Information Law, Roeterseilandcomplex, Building A, 5th floor

Interested in attending, or receiving updates about future events? Register here.

Prof. dr. Timo Minssen is a Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH). He is the Founding Director of UCPH's Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL), and an LML Research Affiliate at the University of Cambridge. His research, supervision, teaching, and part-time advisory practice at X-officio Advokat AB, concentrates on Intellectual Property-, Competition & Regulatory Law, as well as on the law & ethics of emerging health and life science technologies, such as genome editing, big data, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. He serves as a member of several international committees and as an advisor to the WHO, WIPO, EU Commission, various organizations, companies, national governments, and law firms.

Timo has also been a visiting research fellow at Harvard Law School, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, and the Chicago-Kent College of Law where he taught a course on comparative US and European patent law.

His publications comprise 5 books, as well as 200+ articles, book chapters, and internet publications. Timo's research has been featured in i.a. The Economist, The Financial Times, El Mundo, Politico, WHO Bulletin, Times of India & Times Higher Education, and is published in leading legal, social science, business, and natural science journals, such as Science, JAMA, NEJM Catalyst, Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Manager, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Genetics, Nature Electronics, Nature PJ Digital Medicine, The Lancet Digital Health, and PLoS-Computational Biology.

Prof. dr. Mateo Aboy is Director of Research in Technology & Law (Biomedical Innovation, AI/QC & Law) at the University of Cambridge, UK. He is a member of the Centre for Law, Medicine & Life Sciences (LML) and the Centre for IP & Information Law (CIPIL) at Cambridge, as well as Inter-CeBIL (Copenhagen-Cambridge-Harvard International Collaborative Program in Biomedical Innovation & Law). His multidisciplinary background includes a combination of engineering, law, regulatory science, and management experience. He holds degrees in electrical & computer engineering (BS, BSEE, MSECE, MPhil/DEA, PhD ECE), law (SJD/PhD/LLD), and international management (MBA), as well as a number of professional registrations. His research investigates the intersection of digital innovation, IP policy and economics of healthcare by exploring the key tenets of innovation with a focus on the digital health, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries. This includes investigating the transformation of medical technology, drug development and healthcare delivery, as well as the associated legal, regulatory, policy and strategy questions raised by the growth of medical AI/ML/QC and biotech innovations for personalised medicine. Mateo’s research seeks to understand the drivers of technology-based innovation, IP incentives, and the determinants of how emergent medical technologies are protected, regulated, funded, developed, adopted and used in practice.

He is the author of more than 150 scholarly articles published in leading scientific, engineering and legal journals, including Nature Biotechnology, IEEE Transactions of Biomedical Engineering, Medical and Biological Engineering & Computing, Medical Engineering & Physics, Journal of Law & the Biosciences, International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law (IIC), and Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice.

Centre for Quantum and Society

The Centre for Quantum and Society is a knowledge and co-creation center to maximize quantum technologies’ positive impact on society. We’re part of Action Line 4 of Quantum Delta NL, a unique program that aims to put societal impact first. We facilitate ground-breaking research into the ethical, legal, and societal dimensions related to quantum technologies. We develop tools to assess quantum applications’ impacts and develop governance approaches and guidelines. We support start–ups, small businesses, and corporate innovation teams in understanding the potential impact of quantum technologies on their sector, customers, and society. Last but not least, we initiate mission-driven innovation projects.

This monthly colloquium, organized by the Center for Quantum & Society of Quantum Delta NL, provides a platform for quantum & society researchers, aimed at building and broadening the community engaged in research on non-technical questions related to quantum technologies, including their development, applications, and implications. We will provide networking opportunities within the community, including with the aim to facilitate new collaborations.