On April 24, 2024, ministers and high-level representatives from more than 50 countries welcomed a new OECD Framework for Anticipatory Governance of Emerging Technologies at the OECD Science and Technology Policy Ministerial Meeting. The framework, published as OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers No. 165, applies to quantum technologies alongside other emerging fields.
According to the publication, the framework’s approach consists of five interdependent elements: embedding values throughout the innovation process, enhancing foresight and technology assessment, engaging stakeholders and society, building regulation that is agile and adaptive, and reinforcing international cooperation in science and norm-making. The OECD stated that the emerging technology context determines how each element is applied.
Ministers called on the OECD to develop tools for monitoring education and training to promote talent, inclusivity, and mobility in research and innovation. They also requested that the OECD strengthen its evidence base for science, technology, and innovation strategies through statistical improvements and strategic intelligence. The framework was subsequently referenced in the OECD’s quantum-specific publications as a governance foundation for quantum technology policy.