Muhammad Unggul Karami - The hype of quantum in the academic sphere: Promises and expectation of the future of quantum technology in peer-reviewed literature [Hype Studies Conference 2025 presentation]

Quantum technology is a term that combines two seemingly different concepts (Roberson, 2021). ‘Quantum’ has traditionally been perceived as a domain so complex that it is accessible primarily to specialists, while ‘technology’ is something that everyone can use. The emergence of this term signals the transition of quantum theory from a purely theoretical framework in physics to a source of new technology development. Quantum technology is nowadays regarded as an emerging technology that expected to have novel applications in computing, sensing, and communication.

In the field of emerging technology, expectations and promises play important roles (Borup et al., 2006). Not only do expectations align scientists around common goals, but they can also stimulate resources and support (Eames et al., 2006). Using the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries (Jasanoff and Kim, 2015), one can to relate expectations and promises of the future to the individuals, institutions, and practices shaping the present.

Previous research has shown that these expectations travel through our society (Konrad and Alvial Palavicino, 2017). Moreover, in the context of emerging technology, expectations articulated by scientists and researchers within academia shape the expectations in other spheres, such as media and policy (Caulfield and Condit, 2012).

In this study, we conducted a qualitative content analysis of highly cited papers on the topic of quantum technologies from 2007 to 2023. Each year, we analysed the top 10 articles to capture the discourse. Drawing on the concepts from the sociology of expectations and sociotechnical imaginaries, we interpreted the embedded expectations and promises regarding quantum technology. Our analysis revealed two distinct ways of conveying expectations: the 'use case' and 'goal'. The ‘use case’ is related to the notion that quantum technology can address problems. While the ‘goal’ is related to the forms of the future in which quantum technology will be widely available.