Project description DEENESFRITPL An agreement in the form of a computer code Written in a code resembling a programming language so their interpretation is always unambiguous and never subject to dispute, so-called 'smart contracts', the computer equivalent of legal contracts, can easily be interpreted by machines. The EU-funded PROCONTRA project will focus on the interaction between smart contracts and cryptography. Its aim is to develop this emerging field into a mature science and to create a formal theory of protocols. Designing a complete security model for analysing smart contracts is the first pillar of the project. The second pillar is to propose new smart-contract protocols and to extend the existing ones. Overall, PROCONTRA will use smart contracts to identify what tasks are achievable with them and under what assumptions. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Smart contracts are formal agreements that take the form of computer programs. They are typically written down, and automatically executed, on blockchains. Smart-contract protocols are algorithms that describe how these contracts operate in multiparty settings. Due to the large number of potential applications, interest in this field has exploded in the last few years. Also, the PI has generated important results through his work in this area. The ambitious goal of PROCONTRA is to transfigure this emerging field into a mature science. Our main research hypothesis is that smart-contract protocols will be used in real life and many of them will strongly rely on advanced cryptographic techniques and will need to be developed using modeling methods from theoretical cryptography. We will work in this direction by proposing new solutions in this area, providing formal models and security proofs. Given the importance of these protocols, it is crucial to fully analyze their security before they are deployed in real life. Therefore, the first pillar of this project is to design a complete security model for analyzing them. The second pillar is to propose new smart-contract protocols and to extend the existing ones. Our protocols will be proven secure in the model we propose in the first pillar. This will be done using traditional “pen-and-paper” methods. However, the most important proofs will also be machine-checked using proof assistants. On a more theoretical side, we will also work on characterizing what tasks are in general achievable using smart contracts, and under what assumptions. Throughout the project, we will closely interact with the smart-contract practitioners, and with the industry, in order to understand what are the practically-relevant problems in this field and to ensure that the project’s outcome will have an impact beyond academia. This will also take a form of participation in the standardization efforts in this area. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitycryptography Keywords universal composability framework multiparty computation protocols smart contracts blockchain Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Host institution UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI Net EU contribution € 2 478 370,00 Address KRAKOWSKIE PRZEDMIESCIE 26/28 00-927 WARSZAWA Poland See on map Region Makroregion województwo mazowieckie Warszawski stołeczny Miasto Warszawa 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 € 2 478 370,00 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI Poland Net EU contribution € 2 478 370,00 Address KRAKOWSKIE PRZEDMIESCIE 26/28 00-927 WARSZAWA See on map Region Makroregion województwo mazowieckie Warszawski stołeczny Miasto Warszawa 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 € 2 478 370,00 ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE Participation ended France Net EU contribution € 18 000,00 Address ROUTE DE SACLAY 91128 Palaiseau Cedex See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Essonne 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 € 18 000,00
