Dr. Kanwaljit Singh leads the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) team’s efforts in the areas of digital identity, cybersecurity, and applications of emerging technologies to accelerate development outcomes.
Kanwal graduated from Cornell University with a Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry and joined Intel Corporation where he led teams tasked with investigating advanced technologies in materials science, semiconductor fabrication, device integration and reliability engineering. Kanwal was awarded Intel’s highest honor, the “Intel Achievement Award” for industry-defining impact. In his technology career, Kanwal led efforts in developing and scaling silicon-based quantum computing across multiple research areas in physics, electronics, cryogenics, and computation. Kanwal has authored over 100+ patents and publications in organic chemistry, semiconductor devices, and quantum computing.
At the Gates Foundation, he is focused on leveraging technology for social good. He spearheaded a global strategy to promote foundational digital identity, investing in technology creation, scaling, risk management, capacity building, and global advocacy. He has also led initiatives to address cybersecurity gaps in sub-Saharan Africa and explored the use of speech recognition technologies to empower rural, low-income populations. Kanwal is a strong advocate for global partnerships and digital public goods. He has partnered with organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, ITU, and the United Nations to advance the digital public infrastructure approach globally and accelerate progress towards the 2030 sustainable development goals.