Hyderabad, 1 October 2026: As quantum technologies move from research laboratories towards broader applications across industry and society, questions around their responsible development, governance and societal impact are gaining increasing importance. Issues including access, standards, security, privacy, economic and social impacts, and the distribution of benefits and risks require consideration alongside technological development.

Against this backdrop, QUASAR – the Quantum and Society Alliance for Research officially launched on 1 October 2026 as a global alliance bringing together research institutions and scholars working on the ethical, legal, social and political dimensions of quantum technologies. Quantum Ecosystems Technology Council of India (QETCI) is a founding member of the alliance.

A growing field of research

Research examining the societal dimensions of quantum technologies has developed significantly since 2019, bringing together perspectives from ethics, law, public policy, political science, technology governance and related fields. QUASAR begins with 30 research centres from 16 countries across five continents and 68 individual researchers, providing a platform for greater collaboration and visibility for this emerging field.

The alliance seeks to strengthen connections between researchers working across different disciplines, jurisdictions and research traditions, while supporting the development of a global research community focused on quantum and society.

Advancing responsible quantum technologies

QUASAR will support comparative research and joint publications across legal systems and research traditions, facilitate coordination for joint funding opportunities, and increase the visibility of research on the societal dimensions of quantum technologies.

Members will also share teaching and educational experiences related to quantum ethics and support early-career researchers entering the field. QUASAR’s first Quantum and Society Research Symposium is planned for 2027.

A central feature of the QUASAR website will be a global atlas mapping research centres, laboratories and programmes working at the intersection of quantum technology and society. The platform will also provide a shared repository of key documents, reports and literature to support research and knowledge exchange.

Prof. Matthias C. Kettemann of the Innsbruck Quantum Ethics Lab (IQEL), Austria, and convener of QUASAR, said:

“With social media and AI, we only started talking about rules once market power was concentrated and the social effects were already being felt. With quantum technologies, we have the chance to get ahead of the wave, but only if research on the societal impact is as well connected as research on the technology itself.”

“Responsible development and use of quantum technologies requires us to understand, monitor and address their potential impacts on society. Establishing appropriate principles and governance approaches at an early stage can help ensure that societal considerations develop alongside the technology. At QETCI, we believe that international collaboration is essential to advancing this work, which is why we are pleased to be a founding member of QUASAR.”

— Reena Dayal Yadav, CEO, Quantum Ecosystems Technology Council of India (QETCI)

Global collaboration on quantum and society

The alliance’s rotating secretariat for the 2026–27 founding phase is hosted by IQEL, Innsbruck Quantum Ethics Lab, at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, the former scientific home of Nobel Prize Winner and renowned quantum physicist Anton Zeilinger.

About QUASAR

QUASAR (Quantum and Society Alliance for Research) is a global alliance connecting research centres and scholars working on the ethical, legal, social and political dimensions of quantum technologies. 

Website: https://quas-ar.org/

About QETCI

Quantum Ecosystems Technology Council of India (QETCI) is a Section 8 not-for-profit organisation that serves as a think tank, advisor and catalyst for India’s quantum ecosystem. QETCI works across ecosystem development, policy research, workforce and education, industry engagement, international collaboration, and initiatives supporting the development and adoption of quantum technologies.

Through its research and ecosystem-building initiatives, QETCI works on the mission to enable and accelerate the Indian quantum ecosystem.

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