Workshops Government Technology Policy for Legislators

Government Full Day Workshop

Quantum Technology Policy for Legislators and Regulators

This workshop equips legislators and regulators with the technical literacy needed to evaluate quantum technology claims, design proportionate regulation, and avoid common policy mistakes.

Full day (6 hours + Q&A)

In person or online

Max 30 delegates

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Workshop Description

Legislators and regulators are being asked to make decisions about quantum technology with incomplete information and under significant vendor and geopolitical pressure. Should PQC migration be mandated with penalties, or encouraged through guidance? Should QKD networks receive public investment, or does PQC make them unnecessary for most use cases? Should quantum computing export controls be broadened, or do they risk pushing allied research offshore? The NCSC has publicly stated that QKD does not provide the security guarantees often claimed; how should regulators interpret this when quantum communications companies lobby for public infrastructure investment?

This workshop provides the technical literacy needed to evaluate these competing claims without becoming a technical specialist. It covers quantum computing, communications, and sensing in policy-relevant terms: what each can do now, what the realistic development timeline is, where the genuine regulatory gaps exist, and what proportionate regulation looks like. The session draws on case studies from other technology domains (internet governance, biotechnology, nuclear energy) to illustrate what happens when regulation is too early, too late, or too broad. All content is calibrated to current capability, not speculative futures.

What participants cover

Quantum computing: current NISQ capability (50-1,000+ qubits, high error rates), fault-tolerant timeline estimates (2030-2040), and what regulators should conclude from vendor roadmaps
Quantum communications: what QKD provides versus what is claimed, the NCSC position, and regulatory implications for national communications infrastructure
Quantum sensing: dual-use concerns for atomic clocks, gravimeters, and magnetometers in navigation, defence, and medical applications
Proportionate regulation design: sector-specific versus horizontal approaches, standards-based regulation, and mandatory sunset and review clauses
Common policy mistakes: confusing QKD with unbreakable encryption, premature regulation of speculative capabilities, hardware over-investment at the expense of security
Vendor claim evaluation: a structured methodology for separating genuine quantum capability from marketing

Preliminary Agenda

Full Day Workshop structure with scheduled breaks. Content is configurable to your jurisdiction, committee remit, and current regulatory priorities.

#	Session	Topics
1	Quantum Technology: Three Pillars for Policymakers Computing, communications, and sensing explained for regulatory decision-making
2	Quantum Computing: Capability, Hype, and Regulatory Implications What quantum computers can and cannot do, and what that means for regulation	Current NISQ hardware: 50-1,000+ qubit systems from IBM, Google, IonQ, Quantinuum, and others; error rates, coherence times, and the gap between marketing claims and operational capability Fault-tolerant timeline: most credible estimates place useful fault-tolerant quantum computing at 2030-2040; how regulators should interpret vendor roadmaps Regulatory implications: cryptographic vulnerability (PQC mandate urgency), drug discovery acceleration claims (mostly overstated for near-term), and the AI-quantum intersection
Break, after 50 min
3	Quantum Communications and Quantum Sensing: Regulatory Landscape Where regulation is needed and where it risks stifling innovation	QKD networks: what QKD provides (information-theoretic key exchange) and what it does not provide (unbreakable encryption); the NCSC position on QKD versus PQC and its regulatory implications Quantum sensing: atomic clocks, gravimeters, magnetometers, and their applications in navigation, subsurface detection, and medical imaging; emerging dual-use concerns Proportionate regulation: case studies in technology regulation that got the balance right (internet governance) and wrong (early biotechnology over-restriction); lessons for quantum policymakers
4	Interactive Demonstration: Policy Impact Assessment Full-day format only	Evaluating a quantum technology vendor claim: structured methodology for separating genuine capability from marketing Drafting a quantum technology policy brief: translating technical assessment into ministerial advice format Regulatory impact assessment: modelling the consequences of a hypothetical quantum technology regulation
Break, after 60 min
5	Designing Proportionate Quantum Regulation Frameworks for regulating without restricting	Sector-specific versus horizontal regulation: when quantum technology needs dedicated rules versus when existing frameworks (GDPR, NIS2, product safety) can be extended Standards-based regulation: using NIST, ETSI, and ISO standards as regulatory building blocks rather than writing technology-specific legislation Sunset and review clauses: why quantum technology regulation must include mandatory review periods given the pace of capability development
6	Common Policy Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Learning from the quantum hype cycle	Confusing quantum communications with unbreakable security: why QKD networks do not eliminate the need for PQC migration Treating quantum computing as imminent: the risk of premature regulation based on speculative timelines Over-investing in hardware at the expense of security: the asymmetry between quantum computing investment and quantum-safe infrastructure spending
7	Q&A and Policy Planning

Designed and Delivered By

Workshops are designed and delivered by QSECDEF in collaboration with policy specialists. All facilitators have direct experience in both quantum technologies and government policy development.

QSECDEF brings world-leading expertise in post-quantum cryptography, quantum computing strategy, and defence-grade security assessment. Our advisory membership spans 600+ organisations and 1,200+ professionals working at the intersection of quantum technologies and critical infrastructure security.

Technology policy workshops are co-delivered with policy specialists who have direct experience in legislative drafting, regulatory impact assessment, and science committee support. This ensures content is framed for policy decision-making rather than technical audiences.

Commission This Workshop

Sessions are configured around your jurisdiction, committee remit, and current regulatory priorities. Get in touch to discuss requirements and schedule a date.

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