Project description
Robust cryptographic protocols to tackle quantum attacks
In cryptography, a zero-knowledge proof is a protocol in which one party (the prover) acknowledges the truth of a statement to another party (the verifier) without conveying any additional information. The EU-funded PLAZA project aims to create practical zero-knowledge proofs that can withstand quantum attacks. The project will use hard lattice problems, which are a very promising set of assumptions that can be leveraged to create the most efficient quantum-resistant encryption and digital signature schemes. The challenge will be to create more complex, yet practical, lattice-based schemes and construct more efficient zero-knowledge proofs.
Objective
The world is on a seemingly irreversible path towards a more privacy-oriented and decentralized mode of
storing and operating on data. A lot of this transformation is being enabled by advanced cryptography that’s
designed to cut out the need for trusted third parties that we rely on today. The effect of this transformation
is a more secure and, at the same time, a more efficient way of interaction in which the manual checks and
audits are instead embedded into the cryptographic protocols themselves. Another technological development
that’s on the horizon is a general-purpose quantum computer, whose utility comes from the fact that it will
be able to solve some problems considerably faster than a classical computer. Because of the multitude of
its positive scientific applications, building such a computer is being vigorously pursued by governments and
private companies. The main negative consequence of quantum computing is that it breaks most of the
cryptography that’s crucial to the privacy transformation.
The main ingredient of privacy-centric cryptography is a zero-knowledge proof for showing knowledge
of an x satisfying f(x) = y without revealing anything else about x. The most compact zero-knowledge
proofs currently rely on the hardness of various mathematical assumptions which are no longer difficult in
the presence of quantum computers. The central objective of the PLAZA project will be to create practical
zero-knowledge proofs that can withstand quantum attacks by basing them on the hardness of lattice problems.
Lattice problems are a very promising set of assumptions upon which to base cryptography and they
are currently being used to create the most efficient quantum-resistant encryption and signature schemes.
Creating more complex, but still practical, lattice-based schemes has so far proved to be a major challenge
mostly due to the difficulty of constructing efficient zero-knowledge proofs – and this is the problem that the
project proposes to solve.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8803 RUESCHLIKON
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.