In conversation with Prof Gao Weibo: Advancing quantum science through research, leadership and talent
As the first recipient of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation Chair Professor in QUASAR, Prof Gao Weibo is shaping secure quantum technologies while building the talent and partnerships needed for a resilient quantum future.
Text: Jesmine Ong
Learn more about QUASAR and Prof Gao’s work from this video.
What fuels world-changing research? At NTU Singapore, it is often the combination of scientific excellence, bold vision, and sustained support that drives success. This combination comes sharply into focus in the work of Professor Gao Weibo, the inaugural Dieter Schwarz Foundation Chair Professor in Quantum Sovereignty and Resilience (QUASAR).
QUASAR sits at the crossroads of science and security, where photons, electrons, and human ingenuity converge. Under this professorship, Prof Gao leads efforts to address one of the defining challenges of our time: safeguarding information in a quantum future.
“We study how quantum technologies can strengthen encryption, build quantum-safe systems, and protect the growing ecosystem of Internet-connected devices,” Prof Gao explains.
Prof Gao’s leadership extends beyond the lab. As Chair of NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Director of the Quantum Science and Engineering Centre at NTU, he connects education, research and national priorities into a single, coherent effort.
Prof Gao (2nd from right) with his research team at the Quantum Science and Engineering Centre.
For Prof Gao, the appointment is both an honour and a mandate. The endowed professorship provides the resources and recognition to accelerate frontier research in quantum information science, attract outstanding students and young researchers, and translate laboratory breakthroughs into societal impact. It also positions NTU as a key contributor to Singapore’s strategy on quantum sovereignty and resilience.
Among his team’s breakthroughs is a scalable quantum conference experiment that boosts secure communication rates by orders of magnitude – opening new possibilities for compact quantum sensing and computing.
“The translational potential is immense,” Prof Gao says. “Quantum communication, especially Quantum Key Distribution, safeguards critical information in finance, defence, and government.”
Looking ahead, Prof Gao sees the next decade as a defining chapter for quantum science. His ambition is to push new frontiers of secure communication, sensing and computing, and to place the University firmly at the forefront of global quantum innovation.
