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NTNU Blockchain

Aim of Project

The concept of blockchains has taken the world by storm. A revolution has started in a broad range of sectors, involving public and private organisations of all sizes. This is due to the massive potential of blockchain technology to streamline and secure transactions of different kinds. Use of immutable public ledgers replaces currently trusted entities with distributed interactions whose integrity is under-pinned by cryptographic protocols. The influence of the blockchain revolution is already being felt in financial industries, and developments are advancing wherever digitalisation is taking place, including manufacturing, health and government.

A proper understanding of blockchains naturally depends on understanding the technology: the cryptographic mechanisms and protocols employed, the networking requirements and constraints, and the management of identities. However, a comprehensive study of blockchain technologies is incomplete without including also societal and application aspects. Blockchains are only relevant when they relate mistrusting entities in a social context and serve a real application. Therefore it is essential that research on blockchains takes a multi-disciplinary approach.

The overall aim of this project is to advance knowledge and understanding of the technology, societal impact, and application potential of blockchain technology. This will be achieved through several sub-goals:

• to establish NTNU as an international centre of excellence in blockchain research and a national focus point for expertise in blockchain technology;
• to train a cohort of experts with a deep cross-disciplinary understanding of blockchains;
• to develop a blockchain testbed at NTNU suitable for supporting a range of research problems and demonstrating innovative schemes.