Professor Jian-Wei Pan stands as a preeminent figure in quantum physics whose innovative research has propelled China to global leadership in quantum information science. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Professor of Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China, a position he has held after establishing himself as one of the nation's most influential scientific leaders. Born in 1970 in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, Pan received his Bachelor and a Master's degree in Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1995 before pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Vienna under Nobel laureate Anton Zeilinger. His early recognition as an experimental physicist with exceptional talent led to his rapid rise in the field and his pivotal decision to return to China to establish quantum research capabilities that were previously lacking in the country.
Pan's groundbreaking contributions include leading the development and launch of the world's first quantum science satellite Micius in 2016, which revolutionized quantum communication by demonstrating entanglement distribution over 1200 kilometers between ground stations and achieving satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution. His team's earlier demonstration of five-photon entanglement in 2004 laid critical groundwork for subsequent advances in multi-particle quantum systems and quantum computing architectures. In 2021, Pan spearheaded the development of the Zuchongzhi 2.1 quantum computer, which reportedly performed calculations one million times faster than Google's Sycamore processor, marking a significant milestone in quantum computational advantage. His experimental work has consistently closed theoretical loopholes in quantum communication protocols, transforming what was once considered theoretical speculation into practical technology with real-world security applications. These achievements earned him recognition as one of Nature's 10 in 2017, where he was hailed as the Father of Quantum for his transformative impact on the field.
As director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, Pan has cultivated an extensive research ecosystem that has made quantum information science one of China's most rapidly developing scientific disciplines. His leadership extends beyond the laboratory as he serves as Vice Chairman of the Jiusan Society and shapes national science policy through his influential position within China's academic and political structures. Pan's work has received numerous accolades including the Fresnel Prize, the Quantum Communications Award, and the First Prize of China's National Natural Science Award, cementing his status as a scientific pioneer. Continuing his visionary research trajectory, Professor Pan remains at the forefront of quantum technology development, driving innovations that promise to reshape secure communications, computing capabilities, and fundamental scientific understanding in the decades to come.
