The Quantum Crossroads: Why Traditional Policymaking Is Already Obsolete
- Mira Yossifova
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
As quantum technology races ahead of regulation, governments must abandon reactive approaches and embrace strategic foresight to navigate humanity's most transformative technological shift
We are at a crossroads. Our civilization and the path ahead depend on what we do today because we are defined by the choices we make, as individuals and as a society.
This also includes policymaking. I am not talking about a doomsday scenario here. Still, whether we face pressing social issues like income segregation, misinformation, and cyberwars, or we balance technology adoption systemically and ethically, depends mainly on the policies countries issue today. And these policies should not, must not be siloed and linear.
Technology development is moving so fast these days that by the time policymakers are able to define and grasp the problem, it has already been escalated or moved to another plane. And quantum tech illustrates this case perfectly: while we're still debating regulatory frameworks, companies are already deploying quantum solutions that will reshape entire industries. For instance, IBM Quantum has partnered with Moderna to accelerate drug discovery in biotech and with Boeing for advanced materials simulation. In finance, quantum computing is being tested for portfolio optimization and risk assessment, as seen in collaborations like those between JPMorgan Chase and quantum firms to model complex financial scenarios more efficiently. Data from the MIT Quantum Index Report 2025 [1] shows that quantum computing patent filings increased by over 300% between 2016 and 2021, underscoring the rapid commercialization.
And here lies one of the greatest dilemmas of policymakers: on one hand, slow policymaking can often hinder tech development, and on the other, the principle of “moving fast and breaking things” could prove to be devastating to certain social areas. Quantum adoption presents our ultimate policy test case since quantum is going to redefine the innovation process to its core. It is a technology with unstoppable disruptive power, but it also has far-reaching implications for individual lives, society, and even democracy itself.
This quantum leap will bring us unprecedented freedom to experiment rapidly and cost-effectively. Combined with AI, the speed of innovation will be incomparable to anything we've seen before. The World Economic Forum's Technology Convergence Report 2025 [2] highlights how the integration of quantum computing with AI accelerates materials innovation and advanced simulation, especially useful in industries like chemicals, life sciences, and logistics.
This isn't just a challenge for tech superpowers. It's a global imperative. In Bulgaria, where I serve as a policymaker, we're witnessing firsthand how nations must rapidly adapt. We are actively engaging with these advancements through initiatives like the Bulgarian Quantum Communication Infrastructure (BGQCI), which aims to establish the first national quantum networks and test quantum security technologies as part of the broader EuroQCI effort. Additionally, the Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT) at Sofia University, founded in 2023, is advancing quantum science research, and the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) in Sofia is contributing significantly to quantum computing, including high-level programming languages like Silq and the development of qblaze, a state-of-the-art quantum simulator. These efforts reflect Bulgaria's growing role in critical technologies, as noted in the 2025 Digital Decade Country Report [3], where the country is positioned as an emerging player in quantum computing with initiatives supported by EU funds.
Yet, with such transformative power comes responsibility. These changes aren't decades away. They're happening now. And the window for shaping their direction is rapidly closing. If we want to make technological development intentional rather than accidental, we must understand the underlying patterns that drive it. A systemic investigation of these technological chains of causation isn't just academic. It's the essential first step in any meaningful policymaking process for our quantum future.
Perhaps the most alarming pattern emerging from quantum's advance is the democratization of previously unimaginable power. Technology is accelerating the imbalance between inputs and outputs. We see a rising asymmetry where a single entity, a single person with new technology, can potentially have massive effects. Imagine what someone with knowledge in biochemistry and access to quantum computing for experimentation could accomplish. Drug discovery that once took decades could happen in months. But the same tools that could cure diseases could also be misused to create them.
Historically, when faced with such asymmetric threats, like nuclear technology or genetic engineering, societies have turned to one solution: state regulation. The state serves as a welcome regulator when it comes to safety. But what do we do when it can't keep up? I am a strong supporter of the free, bottom-up innovative approach, but in the times to come, that could prove to be a grave mistake in certain fields. This is where the OECD's Quantum Technologies Policy Primer (2025) [4] helps policymakers, such as me. The report emphasizes key policy opportunities, addressing challenges, and emphasizing the critical role of anticipatory governance and international collaboration in shaping the human-centric and values-based development and use of quantum technologies.
As a policymaker and futurist, I believe we should strive to embed future-based policymaking into governance processes – using strategic foresight methodologies as a fundamental tool to help institutions make more informed decisions about emerging technologies like quantum. Traditional policymaking methods are becoming obsolete. And the solution isn’t to regulate faster, it’s to do it differently.
Governments must evolve from reactive to proactive stances, employing strategic foresight to effectively prepare for and navigate the future of uncertainties. We need policies that can evolve with the technology itself. For ethical testing, regulatory sandboxes are emerging as a vital tool: the UK's Regulatory Horizons Council recommends [5] sandboxes for quantum applications to allow controlled testing at lower technology readiness levels, helping regulators gain insights while fostering innovation without undue risk.
As I said, we are at a crossroads, not only for tech development, but also a time for a paradigm shift in policymaking and the broader governance process. What we are seeing is that we need a more systemic approach. The question isn't whether quantum will transform our world – it's whether we'll shape that transformation responsibly.
Are we heading towards a disruptive yet balanced future?
The article was published first in 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥 𝟐 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟒: 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟓 - https://lnkd.in/dnGAeqMb
Image: AI generated.
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