Cryptology & Security Initiative - CSI

Coordinating Institution: Université du Luxembourg
From: 01/10/2001
To: 30/09/2006
Budget: 524,685.00€
Contact(s): Asselborn Jean-Claude

Summary :

The project aims at establishing a strong know-how on cryptology and information security in Luxembourg, in order to provide confidentiality and authenticity of information and availability of information system ressources in enterprises and administrations. This is done by monitoring the technologic development and scientific advance in this field, by offering the research and security community access to a common documentation center and electronic knowledge bases. Moreover a scientific research lab on cryptology and information system security is founded at the University of Luxembourg, top level researchers are being recruited for it and teaching programs at university level are defined and organized. During the first phase of the project (2001-2004) emphasis was put on the cryptologic part of the project (cryptography, cryptanalysis and steganography), whereas the second phase (2004-2006) was dedicated to the information security part of the project. This phase was particulary concerned about security problems in the context of e-commerce and e-governement applications and during it the team focused on three specific problems: the management of evidence of documents, the management of information security, the problems related to various aspects of certification. 2006 was the last year of the project, which ended at the end of September 2006. The main focus was put this year on studying the state of the art in identity management, anonymity, key escrow techniques and formalization of security procedures (this activity was done in common with Clussil). During this year much work was done in creating permanent structures, which will extend in the future the mainly explorative work of this project by launching research activities on a high scientific level, integrated in the international research community in security and trust. Important achievements were: - the creation of the Laboratory of Algorithmics, Cryptology and Security (LACS) at the University of Luxembourg, with 5 professors or assistant-professors and a team of PhD students; - the launch of the master studies in Management of Information Systems Security, with students coming from main enterprises; - the preparatory work for an international conference on cryptography; - the contribution to the definition of the P1 research program “Security & Reliability” of the university’s four year plan.

Collaborations: Clussil (Basel II working group, RSSI working group)

Refereed Scientific Publications: --

Other Publications:

The project team has created a knowledge base on cryptology and information security themes, containing a large number of survey papers written by the team members and references to research papers of the research community. Internet access to this knowledge base can be given to external people having presented a personal request to get the access rights. The team has also prepared a series of seminar documentations on symmetric cryptology, asymmetric cryptology and steganography.

Figure: Project team