Project description
Improving cryptographic distributed systems’ security
Critical infrastructures, such as power grids and cellular networks, are distributed systems composed of autonomous nodes connected by a network. A key objective is fault tolerance, ensuring security and accessibility even when some nodes fail or provide incorrect information. While cryptography can enhance robustness and scalability, improper implementation may cause performance and security issues. As a result, many real-world systems use cryptography sparingly, limiting their effectiveness. The ERC-funded CRYPTOSYSTEMS project aims to strengthen the security of cryptographic distributed systems by developing new formal models for analysis. It will explore innovative cryptographic applications to improve these systems’ robustness and scalability. The project will also develop advanced techniques, including compact signatures and efficient methods for distributed randomness generation, specifically designed for distributed algorithms.
Objective
Many of today’s criticaMany of today’s critical infrastructures such as power grids or cellular networks are distributed systems which are
comprised of autonomous nodes connected over a network. To avoid single points of failure, a central goal in
distributed systems is to implement such systems in a fault-tolerant manner. Fault-tolerant systems remain secure and
available even if some minority of nodes crash or spread incorrect information. To improve robustness and scalability,
cutting-edge systems frequently rely on cryptography. In spite of its benefits, careless use of cryptography can incur
performance penalties or lead to vulnerabilities. Both of these aspects significantly complicate its use in practice. As
a result, many real-world systems use cryptography sparingly and therefore lack both robustness and scalability. To
improve this unsatisfying state of affairs, the objectives of CRYPTOSYSTEMS are as follows:
• New Formal Models. Established formal models from cryptography and distributed systems pursue independent
security goals and therefore lack compatibility. CRYPTOSYSTEMS will develop new, more appropriate
formal models for analyzing the security of cryptographic distributed systems.
• Efficient and Robust Distributed Algorithms. The use of cryptography is currently underexplored in
distributed systems. CRYPTOSYSTEMS will present exciting new applications of cryptography that will lead
to the development of more robust and scalable distributed systems.
• Cryptography for Distributed Algorithms. Cryptography is seldom developed with distributed algorithms as
its primary use-case in mind. This results in inefficient or unwieldy cryptography which hampers the efficiency
of distributed algorithms. To counteract this, CRYPTOSYSTEMS will develop cutting-edge cryptography such
as compact signatures and communication efficient distributed randomness generation routines. Importantly,
these tools will be specifically geared toward use in distributed algorithms.
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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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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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-2023-STG
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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.
66123 SAARBRUCKEN
Germany
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.