JPMorgan banks more quantum talent, hires National University of Singapore’s Charles Lim

JPMorgan Chase, already seen as one of the most aggressive corporations in the world when it comes to working with quantum technology, has hired Charles Lim to become Global Head on Quantum Communications and Cryptography for the banking giant.

Marco Pistoia, Managing Director, Distinguished Engineer, Head of Global Technology Applied Research, Head of Quantum Technology at JPMorgan Chase, posted on LinkedIn:

“Great day today for the Global Technology Applied Research group at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Happy to welcome Dr. Charles Lim as the firm’s Global Head of Quantum Communications and Cryptography. In the course of his brilliant career, Charles, formerly a Professor at National University of Singapore, has published extensively in the most prestigious journals worldwide, such as Nature, Nature Communications, Nature Photonics and npj Quantum Information. In his new role, Charles will lead JPMC’s research activities related to Quantum Communications and, in particular, Quantum Key Distribution.”

Lim’s LinkedIn page also provided confirmation of the move, with his new title and employer included.

Lim’s efforts in the realm of QKD will be worth watching, as JPMorgan Chase, along with Toshiba and Ciena, conducted one of the first major proof-of-concept demonstrations of QKD, an achievement Pistoia and Toshiba CEO Taro Shimada discussed at IQT’s Quantum Enterprise event in San Diego in May.

During that event, Pistoia was cagey about the bank’s ambitions for QKD, but Lim’s hiring suggests JPMorgan is at least taking a much closer look at the role it could play. Lim led the National University of Singapore’s efforts, discussed last year, to make QKD more secure.

Along with Pistoia, who during IQT’s San Diego event was described by Safe Quantum President and CEO John Prisco as a “rock star,” JPMorgan Chase has banked some big-name quantum talent. Other companies aiming to be quantum enterprises may want to start ramping up their recruiting efforts.

QKD and related topics are sure to be hotly discussed at IQT’s next event on quantum cybersecurity in New York City in October.

Dan O’Shea has covered telecommunications and related topics including semiconductors, sensors, retail systems, digital payments and quantum computing/technology for over 25 years.