Enterprise and Innovation in Cryptography
Enterprise and Innovation in Cryptography
Industry and Academia Working Together
Cryptography. It all kinda started with Bob and Alice, but it is now is building our futures.
Introduction
This week we were awarded a 2.5 year KTP with a company we have so much respect for: MIRACL [here]. Our focus will be to build on their first class cryptography library [here], and build the trusted tools of the future. It is also an opportunity to advance into areas of Zero Knowledge Proofs, Homomorphic encryption and Post Quantum Cryptography. For us, it is a unique opportunity that could allow us to crystalize our ideas for the future of digital trust, and to be supported by a company that can take these ideas to the market — and make a real impact.
And, so, it is healthy for academics to be working with industry, and in cryptography I see some much interaction between academic and industry. I continually get requests from recuitment agencies looking for people with top-level cryptography skills. It does seem to be one of the most in-demand specialist skills. And, the salaries offered would make many academics blush.
Cryptography: Enterprise and Innovation
Cryptography as an industry is advancing so fast, with academia and industry working together in a way that most disciplines would struggle with. We have our own Blockpass ID Lab — and which was the first research lab in the world to focus on identity and trust, and co-funded by Blockpass — a leader in KYC (Know Your Customer) [here]. In just three years in the existance of the lab, we have graduated quite a few PhD students and published over 100 research papers. We also have two major spin-outs evolving (True Deploy and LastingAsset). Along with we are involved in two major EU grants (GLASS and TRUSTEE).
And, just this week, the University of Edinburgh annouced a major investment in a blockchain researh hub:
For many academics involved in cryptography, I often see some form of part-time engagement with companies, or where they have paused their academic career to pursue industry applications. I may also be wrong, but those involved in cryptography are often quite enterprising, and have many have created highly successful companies. Of course, the trail blasers included Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman and who created RSA Security LLC, but many others have followed.
Academia and industry cross-over
It is certainly the case that unlike some areas of computer science, a strong academic foundation is well prized and respected in the industry, as there is generally major gaps in knowledge in industry around cryptography. While, in some areas in computer science, industry and academia are often far apart — in cryptography there is a healthy cross-fertilization of ideas and research focus.
At academic conferences, for example, you will often find just as industry-based researchers as there are from academia. Perhaps, that’s what I like about the subject area, as the two domains of industry and academia are continually pushing each other on — with real-life and practical implementations based on theory and innovation. Each week there seems to be a major break-through, and it is often based on peer-reviewed work.
Just to name a few …
This list could be extremely long, but I will just give a few examples. First we have one of the leading lights of cryptography: Shafi Goldwasser — advisor to a number of companies, including Algorand — and with an D-index of 68:
And, the co-founder of Algorand, we have the mighty mentor and innovation of Silvio Micali:
And, then, Victor Shoup with a Google h-index of 63, and now a Principal Researcher at DFINITY:
And, Nigel Smart, with a Google h-index of 70, and a Chief Academic Officer at Zama. He was the co-founder of Unbound (and which was aquired by Coinbase in 2021) [here]:
And Yehunda Lindell (the other co-founder of Unbound) with a Google h-index of 65 [here]:
And, what I love about cryptography , is that you can have a strong industry publication record, without having to be in academia. Jan Camenish is an excellent example of this, and has continued to have world-class publications while following an industry path [here]:
In fact, Jan has an h-index well beyond most of those who have spend their time purely in academia.
Conclusion
The cryptography industry is alive and buzzing, and applying itself into so many areas of privacy and trust — and building new worlds.