When it comes to collecting, using and storing data, privacy and security have never been more critical than they are today. Terms like quantum-safe and cybersecurity are increasingly common, but many people don’t often consider what truly drives the mechanisms that keep our data safe and protected.
While data privacy is a critical concern, the escalating threat of data breaches and cyberattacks presents an even greater challenge.
How can we ensure that the data we protect today remains secure tomorrow? How do we guard sensitive information from hackers - whether that data is at rest, in transit, or actively in use?
And how do we address the new risks posed by emerging technologies, such as quantum computing, which introduces the troubling concept of “harvest now, decrypt later (read more about this here)”?
We invite you into the world of Multi-Party Computation (MPC), a cutting-edge cryptographic technique.
MPC works by breaking encrypted data into multiple pieces, which are distributed across different nodes. This fragmentation makes it technically impossible for attackers to access meaningful information. Even in the unlikely event that a breach occurs, only a small portion of the data would be exposed - making it completely useless to the attacker.
Recognizing the growing need for advanced data security solutions, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Partisia - two innovative leaders in the fields of Multi-Party Computation and advanced cryptography - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). And thereby entering into a partnership that aims to strengthen their collaborative research efforts.
The primary goal of this collaboration is to push the boundaries of Multi-Party Computation (MPC) research, with a focus on developing groundbreaking Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs).
By combining their expertise, OIST and Partisia seek to offer a global perspective on secure computation, quantum-resistant cryptography, and cybersecurity, helping to safeguard sensitive information in an increasingly connected world.
Combining great minds from across the globe to empower organizations worldwide
As previously mentioned, Privacy and procession of data are becoming an increasingly urgent global priority, and Japan is no exception. The country’s data protection law, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), aligns closely with the stringent standards set by the European Union's GDPR, placing privacy at the forefront of regulatory focus.
This shared commitment to data protection is just one of many values that unites the two entities. It's clear that both OIST and Partisia share a common vision not only for the future of this partnership, but for the general future as well; including the key challenges to tackle and the opportunities to pursue.
Below are the areas where OIST and Partisia plan to collaborate:
Develop joint research projects in cryptography, secure computation, and cyber security.
Facilitate research exchange visits and internships of Partisia’s research staff to OIST and OIST’s researchers to Partisia.
Joint development of training material and dissemination of knowledge on topics of mutual interest.
Collaborate on applications for research funding in Japan, EU, or elsewhere.
Work together to identify innovation opportunities for Partisia and OIST in Japan.
Working closely on these areas of collaboration we will achieve an even greater knowledge on how the technology of Multi-Party Computation will pave the way for enhancing privacy and securing data.
