Hoi‐Kwong Lo

Timeline

1. 1989–1996

   Cambridge, Caltech and Princeton

   He earns a BA in mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1989, then an MS in 1991 and a PhD in theoretical particle physics in 1994 at Caltech, where John Preskill supervises him. As a Member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton from 1994 to 1996, he turns from particle physics to quantum information.

2. 1996–1999

   Bristol, MagiQ and security proofs

   In 1996, he joins Hewlett-Packard Labs in Bristol as a postdoctoral fellow. With H. F. Chau he publishes “Is quantum bit commitment really possible?” in 1997, and a Science paper in 1999 that proves the security of quantum key distribution over arbitrarily long distances. In 1999, he takes up the posts of Chief Scientist and Senior Vice President at the quantum start-up MagiQ Technologies in New York.

3. 2003–2009

   Toronto and decoy-state QKD

   In January 2003, he joins the University of Toronto as an associate professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics, and he becomes a full professor in 2009. He coauthors “Decoy State Quantum Key Distribution” in 2005 and “Experimental Quantum Key Distribution with Decoy States” in 2006. His group, working with Li Qian, is the first to demonstrate the decoy-state protocol in the lab, and decoy state is now a standard technique in the field.

4. 2012

   Measurement-device-independent QKD

   In 2012, he co-invents measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution with Marcos Curty and Bing Qi, a scheme that foils known and potential attacks on photon detectors. The two users send their signals to an untrusted relay, whose detectors can be arbitrarily flawed without compromising security.

5. 2018

   Machine learning for QKD

   In December 2018, he and Wenyuan Wang post “Machine Learning for Optimal Parameter Prediction in Quantum Key Distribution,” which uses a neural network to predict the best intensities and sending probabilities for a QKD system. Tested on a Raspberry Pi 3 and a mobile phone, it reaches a speedup of up to 100 to 1000 times over standard local search and preserves over 95 to 99% of the optimal secure key rate.

6. 2023

   IEEE award and Quantum Bridge

   In February 2023, Quantum Bridge Technologies, the Toronto start-up he co-founded, wins a $1 million contract from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development to test its quantum-resistant key distribution solution. In 2023, IEEE gives him the Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award for his research in practical quantum cryptography and quantum networks.

7. 2026

   A Mandel Quantum Optics Award

   In 2026, Optica confers the Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award on him, citing the invention of decoy-state QKD, measurement-device-independent QKD and the all-photonic quantum repeater.

8. As of October 2026

   Provost's Chair at NUS

   He is a Provost's Chair Professor (2025–2028) in the Department of Physics at the National University of Singapore and a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Quantum Technologies. His earlier posts include Research Division Director and Chair Professor at the University of Hong Kong.