Objective The efficiency of cryptographic constructions is a fundamental question. Theoretically, it is important to understand how much computational resources are needed to guarantee strong notions of security. Practically, highly efficient schemes are always desirable for real-world applications. More generally, the possibility of cryptography with low complexity has wide applications for problems in computational complexity, combinatorial optimization, and computational learning theory.In this proposal we aim to understand what are the minimal computational resources needed to perform basic cryptographic tasks. In a nutshell, we suggest to focus on three main objectives. First, we would like to get better understanding of the cryptographic hardness of random local functions. Such functions can be computed by highly-efficient circuits and their cryptographic hardness provides a strong and clean formulation for the conjectured average-case hardness of constraint satisfaction problems - a fundamental subject which lies at the core of the theory of computer science. Our second objective is to harness our insights into the hardness of local functions to improve the efficiency of basic cryptographic building blocks such as pseudorandom functions. Finally, our third objective is to expand our theoretical understanding of garbled circuits, study their limitations, and improve their efficiency.The suggested project can bridge across different regions of computer science such as random combinatorial structures, cryptography, and circuit complexity. It is expected to impact central problems in cryptography, while enriching the general landscape of theoretical computer science. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitycryptographynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputational science Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-StG-2014 - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY Net EU contribution € 1 265 750,00 Address RAMAT AVIV 69978 Tel Aviv Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 265 750,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY Israel Net EU contribution € 1 265 750,00 Address RAMAT AVIV 69978 Tel Aviv See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 265 750,00