Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Quantum Technologies
Abstract: Quantum technologies (QT) are advancing rapidly, promising transformative impacts across science, industry, and society. Alongside these developments, there is a growing need to consider their broader implications. This short impulse talk offers an introduction to the Ethical, Legal, and Social Aspects (ELSA) of QT. It will provide a brief orientation to the emerging discourse around ELSA of QT, its relevance for quantum research and innovation, and the importance of integrating these perspectives early in the development process.
4.45 pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A
Speakers:
Moderator: Lee Rozema (UniVie)
The event takes place on tuesday 3rd of June in Lise-Meitner lecture Hall, 1st floor, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna
Afterwards: Get-Together with snacks
Please register below ↓
About the speakers
Claudia Reinprecht has served in the Austrian Foreign Ministry since March 2004. After diplomatic postings in Vienna, Brussels, Amman/Jordan, Hong Kong/China and Paris, Ms Reinprecht has been appointed chief of unit for transport, telecommunication, digital, tech and innovation diplomacy, serving as the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s focal point for digital and tech diplomacy and Global Gateway. Having studied in Salzburg/Austria and Salamanca/Spain, Ms Reinprecht acquired a masters and PhD degree in law with a focus on international public law, international criminal law and refugee law. In addition, she acquired a General Executive MBA-post-graduate degree from the Austrian Business School LIMAK in Linz in 2013. During her diplomatic career, she has worked on a broad range of issues in multilateral and bilateral foreign policy, in particular emerging and disruptive Technologies, human rights, communication and media, cultural and science diplomacy, foreign economic relations, international justice and home affairs, including terrorism. Ms Reinprecht served as ambassador of Austria to UNESCO in Paris and Consul General of Austria in Hong Kong and Macao. Prior to, that she had served as policy adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Austria Dr. Michael Spindelegger advising him in matters relating to international law and human rights, foreign cultural diplomacy as well as development policy.
Douglas K. R. Robinson is a policy advisor at the OECD’s Science and Technology Policy Division, where he leads work on strategic intelligence and the anticipatory governance of emerging technologies, including synthetic biology, quantum technologies, and advanced materials. He also coordinates initiatives under the OECD Global Forum on Technology. In addition to his policy role, he is a research scientist (currently on leave) at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and an honorary research associate at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. His work focuses on technology foresight, innovation policy, and the evolving geopolitics of science and technology. He has over 20 years of experience in technology assessment and has contributed to international frameworks guiding transformative science and innovation policy.
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Adrian Schmidt is a physicist and researcher at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at KIT. Within the research group LIGHT he works on the societal implications of quantum technologies. This includes educational questions, art-science interactions or policy advice, especially for German political actors.
Zeki Seskir is a researcher at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His work focuses on the societal, ethical, and policy dimensions of quantum technologies. He coordinates the project „QuTec: Quantum Technology Innovations for Society,“ which explores the broader impacts of quantum advancements. With a background in physics and science and technology policy, Zeki has contributed to various initiatives, including co-founding QTurkey, a local branch of QWorld dedicated to quantum education and outreach. His research encompasses topics such as the quantum startup ecosystem, democratization of quantum technologies, and the development of educational tools like quantum games. Zeki is actively involved in international discussions on responsible innovation in quantum science.
Registration form
Quantum Outside the Box is a collaborative effort of the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics and the VCQ.