Quantum & Society Research Colloquium: Ahn Nguyen

On 16 September 2025 the Centre for Quantum and Society will organise the next Quantum & Society Research Colloquium with Anh Nguyen as our speaker, with the lecture:

Securing (the minds) behind the quantum dream? Emerging law and practice of knowledge security in quantum innovation

Quantum innovation faces major engineering hurdles in translating quantum science into quantum technologies that can scale up and commercialise. The key to unlocking quantum ambitions is the coming together of scientific expertise, engineering acumen and commercial savviness.

The pursuit of these ambitions entails intense competition over talent and the regulatory efforts to secure state and institutional actors’ knowledge base through the emerging law and practice of “knowledge security.” In light of the proposed Dutch Knowledge Security Screening Bill (tabled for early 2027) and the recent EU Quantum Strategy (July 2025), this talk explores on what “knowledge security” means for the pursuit of quantum innovation.

First, the talk outlines the proposed (institutional) obligations in the Dutch Knowledge Security Screening Bill and contextualises these provisions alongside related legal frameworks of immigration, export controls and espionage. Then, the talk teases out the policy tensions between knowledge security and quantum innovation imperatives of talent acquisition for the quantum workforce, international collaboration and technological scale-up. Finally, the talk reflects on how the varying “threat constructions” underlying current knowledge security law and practices reverberate upon individuals as well as the overall pursuit of innovation in quantum, more broadly critical and emerging, technologies. 

The talk will be hosted (in person, with the possibility to attend remotely) by the T.M.C. Asser Institute and the Law and Governance of Quantum Technologies Research Group at the Institute for Information Law (IViR) and the Amsterdam Center for International Law (ACIL) at the Amsterdam Law School of the University of Amsterdam.

Time: 15:30 – 17:00

Location: T.M.C. Asser Institute, R.J. Schimmelpennincklaan 20-22, 2517 JN Den Haag, Netherlands (Room TBD)

Interested in attending, or receiving updates about future events?

Anh Nguyen is a PhD researcher in the Law and Governance of Quantum Technologies research group within the Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam. Her PhD looks at how legal dynamics play out in the emergence of quantum innovation value chains. The project delves into the role of law in the ring-fencing of access to material resources, the politics of knowledge production, and value appropriation from techno-scientific research in quantum innovation.

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.