Gilles Brassard
Gilles Brassard is a computer scientist whose quantum information research includes machine learning and secure communication. He began computer science studies at Université de Montréal at age 13 in 1968, earned bachelor's and master's degrees, completed a Cornell PhD in cryptography, and joined UdeM as an assistant professor in 1979. With Charles Bennett, he developed the BB84 protocol and a theoretical protocol for quantum teleportation; in 2013, he coauthored a paper on quantum speed-ups for unsupervised learning. He held the Canada Research Chair in Quantum Information Science from 2001 to 2021, shared the 2018 Wolf Prize in Physics, and received the 2025 Turing Award. As of October 2026, he is a professor at Université de Montréal and scientific director of INTRIQ.
- Now at
- Université de Montréal and Transdisciplinary Institute for Quantum Information
- Works
- 274
- Citations
- 49,904
- h-index
- 61
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.
Timeline
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1968–1979
Studying computer science
At age 13 in 1968, he begins computer science studies at Université de Montréal, where he earns bachelor's and master's degrees. He completes a Cornell PhD in cryptography and becomes a UdeM assistant professor in 1979.
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1984
The BB84 protocol
With Charles H. Bennett, he introduces the BB84 protocol in 1984 for secure information transfer using quantum theory.
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1992
Quantum teleportation theory
In 1992, he develops a theoretical protocol for quantum teleportation with Bennett and four colleagues, including Claude Crépeau.
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2001–2021
A quantum information chair
From 2001 until 2021, he holds the Canada Research Chair in Quantum Information Science.
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2013
Quantum unsupervised learning
In 2013, he coauthors the paper “Quantum speed-up for unsupervised learning.”
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2018
A Wolf Prize in Physics
He shares the 2018 Wolf Prize in Physics with Charles Bennett.
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2025
The A.M. Turing Award
He shares the 2025 A.M. Turing Award with Charles H. Bennett.
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As of October 2026
Professor and INTRIQ director
As of October 2026, he is a professor at Université de Montréal and scientific director of INTRIQ, the Transdisciplinary Institute for Quantum Information.
Sources and credits
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