Exploring the social, political and economic stakes of the next quantum revolution

Quantum computing is seen as a game changer in technology - but it’s not just a scientific breakthrough. It has the potential to reshape power structures, amplify inequality, and further solidify monopolies in our global politics.

In the UK, the National Quantum Strategy (NQS) (2023) offers a hopeful roadmap: investing in talent, boosting national security, and driving innovation. Behind this optimism lies urgent ethical and political questions.

In this article, we explore three critical challenges that must be addressed before quantum technologies are unleashed at scale.

1. POLITICAL: The race to quantum-secure communication

Who will we trust, and who will we share our secrets with?

As quantum computers advance, so does the threat to our current encryption systems. Classical encryption methods like RSA rely on the difficulty of factoring large numbers - a problem that quantum computers can solve efficiently using Shor’s algorithm.

Here’s the risk - RSA doesn’t tell you when it’s been cracked. If an attacker uses a quantum computer to break your encryption, you may never know - at least not until it’s too late. They could decrypt sensitive data, monitor communications, or impersonate others without detection.

To defend against this, we look to Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). This technology leverages quantum mechanics to detect eavesdropping and secure communication channels. This is the foundation of Quantum-Secure Communication, and it's why nations are now racing to develop and deploy QKD networks. It’s the modern day race to the moon!

There’s many factors to consider here:

• These networks don’t just secure communication, they control who can talk securely with whom. If another nation doesn’t have a quantum secure information system, we cannot share information with them this way.

• New alliances and exclusions will form - so when we develop this technology, who will we share it with? And who would share it with us?

National Quantum Strategy - global agreements:

Building on the two-way agreement with the US on quantum collaboration, the NQS aims to have bilateral arrangements with 5 further leading quantum nations by 2033.

Thought: What does global trust look like in a world of quantum-secured elites?

2. ETHICAL: Monopolisation of drug discovery

Are we creating faster cures or stronger monopolies?

Quantum computers are expensive to build, maintain, and operate. This puts them within reach of only the most powerful companies, often those who already dominate sectors like pharmaceuticals.

One of the most discussed applications of quantum computing is using the computational  power to design drugs and medicine. While this offers enormous potential to speed up discovery, it raises ethical concerns when placed in the hands of profit-driven monopolies. The pharmaceutical industry already faces major criticisms:

• Profit over access, life-saving drugs are often priced beyond reach.

• Lack of transparency in clinical trials and development pipelines.

• Political lobbying that shapes regulation in favour of corporate interests.

• Access inequality, especially in low-income countries.

National Quantum Strategy - NHS services:

Mission 3: By 2030, every NHS Trust will benefit from quantum sensing-enabled solutions, helping those with chronic illness live healthier, longer lives through early diagnosis and treatment.

Thought:  Could quantum computing worsen healthcare inequality more than already?

3. SOCIAL: Increased global and national inequality Who will benefit and who will be left behind?

Quantum technologies demand rare expertise and expensive infrastructure - both concentrated in elite institutions and wealthy nations. This risks deepening global and social divides:

• Geopolitical gaps: Countries without quantum infrastructure may be locked out of future innovation ecosystems.

• Workforce inequality: Quantum jobs require advanced, often exclusive education - creating a two-tier tech economy.

• Diversity risks: Physics and computing already lack representation. Without intervention, quantum may repeat and worsen these patterns.

Thought: If we fail to address these imbalances now, could quantum computing widen the same divides it has the potential to help solve?

National Quantum Strategy - education:

The UK has pledged to fund over 1,000 PhD studentships in quantum-related disciplines between 2024 and 2034. Additionally, the Quantum Technology Hubs received £3 million from EPSRC in April 2025 to run a coordinated skills and training programme over four years.

Final Thought: Technology Is Not Neutral

Quantum computing will change the world - but how it changes depends on who controls it, who gets access to it, and who benefits. The future of quantum computing must be designed not only for what’s possible, but for what’s fair.

National Quantum Strategy - outlook:

“We will work internationally to share and increase knowledge, build secure supply chains and collaborate on the most pro-innovation and ethical global governance and regulation of quantum technologies.”

The quantum revolution demands proactive, not reactive, governance and policies. It’s difficult to govern a technology that we barely understand, but the UKs National Quantum Strategy is a great start.

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