We currently find ourselves in the second revolution of the quantum age which centres on the technological use of the quantum properties of individual atoms and systems. While quantum developers and advocates herald the possibilities of quantum for society, the technology is still largely in the development phase, with some first applications breaking through. In conjunction with technical developments, discourse around the ethics and responsible innovation of quantum technologies is gaining momentum, albeit slowly. 

The concept of ‘quantum ethics’ and responsible innovation of quantum technologies is still fluid and up for construction. On the one hand, given experiences with ELSA (Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects) studies and responsible innovation in other areas of new and emerging science and technology, there is little need to ‘reinvent the wheel’ as regards the kinds of ethical and broader considerations of relevance in the anticipation and embedding of a new technology in society. On the other hand, there are some specific features of quantum represented in discourse about the “spookiness” and impermeability of quantum mechanics, while the dynamics and practical requirements of quantum technology development play out on a global stage, requiring new ideas about how we can guide technological development in an increasingly closed atmosphere dominated by corporate interests and concerns about technological sovereignty. How can we engage with quantum technology development as a burgeoning field of ethical inquiry and amid calls for a responsible approach to its development? And what are the issues and values that require some reconfiguration for socially responsible approaches that can accommodate key characteristics of quantum technology development? The papers in this panel address how meaning might be assigned to quantum ethics through the lens of ontology, epistemology, political philosophy, and insights from applied ethics and Science and Technology Studies.