Norbert Lütkenhaus

Norbert Lütkenhaus is the Executive Director of the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo, and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He also leads the Optical Quantum Communication Theory Group at IQC.

His area of expertise the security analysis of practical Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems, an area that he started to work in 1993 when starting his PhD at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. His work covers the issues of protocol and implementation security. As Vice-Chair of the ETSI Industry Specification Group on Quantum Key Distribution, he pushes for the development of a certification path for QKD systems. He advocates for the development of quantum-safe solutions, involving QKD and Post-Quantum Cryptography.

His career has included research positions in Austria, Finland, and Germany. He has spent time in industry, initializing the first commercial realization of quantum key distribution in 2000 at MagiQ Techologies. He has also authored several patents and is co-founder and CTO of evolutionQ Inc. He serves on the Advisory Board of several international high profile research networks, conference, and workshop series.

He is an Affiliate Member of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. His international leadership is recognized through his election as Fellow of the American Physical Society.