The Big Lab brings together researchers from Técnico and associated research instituted with broad interdisciplinary expertise in blockchain and related foundational technologies including distributed computing, security and applied cryptography, AI, machine learning, software engineering, big data and cloud computing, human computer interaction, service design, and design thinking.

 In partnership with knowledge users and user communities, our cutting-edge research targets new ways to boost the potential of these emerging technologies in health, energy, digital citizenship, transport and creative industries as well as their economic impacts.

Research Highlights

With ssv.network

Ongoing work how to replace QBFT with ABFT approaches in an Ethereum “validator network”, improving efficiency and scalability.

BIGLab member(s) involved: Rodrigo Rodrigues (IST/INESC-ID)
Other researchers involved: Henrique Moniz (Protocol Labs Research), Matheus Franco (IST)

Security of customer funds

With Anchorage Digital, we are enhancing the security of customer funds by focusing on improving the detection of dust attacks, address poisoning attacks, and other attack vectors (L. Caires, R. Rodrigues).

BIGLab member(s) involved: Luís Caires (IST/INESC-ID) and Rodrigo Rodrigues (IST/INESC-ID)

Smart contracts

Verified and certified smart contracts based on information flow and linearity analysis, and certified runtime systems (L Caires, B. Toninho, S. M. Sousa, J. Aldrich).

BIGLab member(s) involved: Luís Caires (IST/INESC-ID)
Other researchers involved: Bernardo Toninho (NOVA University), Simão Melo de Sousa (Universidade do Algarve), Jonathan Aldrich (Carnegie Mellon University)

Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT)

Development of DLT technologies in large scale domains (e.g., the TrustyFood project), and small scale domains (e.g., small scale agriculture)

Project BIGLab member(s) involved:
Miguel Matos (IST/ INESC-ID) – TrustyFood project;
Nuno Nunes (IST/ITI) and Valentina Nisi (IST/ITI) – small scale agriculture

Support for decentralized governance

With the Bauhaus of the Seas Initiative, pervasive support for decentralised governance in the crossroads of Culture, Tourism, Food, Communities and Migration, Ecosystems, Water, Nature

Project BIGLab member(s) involved: Nuno Nunes (IST/ITI), Mariana Pestana (IST/ITI) and Valentina Nisi (IST/ITI)