Prof. Dr. David DiVincenzo is widely recognized as a pioneering figure in quantum information science, renowned for establishing the theoretical foundations essential for quantum computing development. Currently serving as Director of both the Institute for Theoretical Nanoelectronics (PGI-2) and the JARA Institute for Quantum Information (PGI-11) at Forschungszentrum Jülich, he concurrently holds professorial appointments at RWTH Aachen University and a fractional position at TU Delft. Born in Philadelphia in 1959, DiVincenzo earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983, followed by postdoctoral research at Cornell University, before embarking on a distinguished 26-year career at IBM's Watson Research Center where he established himself as a leading theoretical physicist in quantum information processing.
DiVincenzo's most seminal contribution remains the formulation of the DiVincenzo criteria in 1996, which established the five essential requirements for building a functional quantum computer and has since served as the definitive benchmark for the entire field of quantum computing. His collaborative work with Daniel Loss in 1997 proposing a spin-based quantum computer architecture using electron spins in quantum dots created the foundational blueprint for what is now known as the Loss-DiVincenzo quantum computer, guiding experimental implementations worldwide. His theoretical investigations span both spin-qubit and superconducting qubit systems, providing critical insights that have shaped the development pathways for multiple quantum computing platforms. The extraordinary impact of his work was formally recognized through his election to the US National Academy of Sciences in 2023 and his designation as a Clarivate Citation Laureate in 2025, honors reflecting the exceptional influence and citation impact of his publications in quantum information science.
As Associate Editor of Reviews of Modern Physics and through his strategic advisory roles with organizations including ATOS Quantum, Alice & Bob, and the CEA Quantum Program, DiVincenzo continues to shape the global trajectory of quantum technology development. His leadership in major European initiatives such as the Quantum Flagship program and the OpenSuperQ project demonstrates his commitment to advancing quantum computing from theoretical concepts to practical implementations. DiVincenzo's ongoing research focuses on optimizing qubit coherence and developing novel approaches for fault-tolerant quantum computation, particularly through the investigation of topological protection schemes for quantum information. His vision remains firmly directed toward overcoming the fundamental challenges that stand between current quantum devices and the realization of large-scale, error-corrected quantum computers capable of solving problems beyond the reach of classical supercomputers.
