Input | Output at Tokyo Tech: pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology

Research has always been integral to Input | Output’s (IO) creative process, allowing for the development of high-assurance blockchain solutions grounded in functional correctness.

Collaborating with researchers and leading universities worldwide, IO addresses challenging research questions to build a solid foundation for fintech blockchain infrastructure. Led by Aggelos Kiayias, chief scientist at IO and a professor at the University of Edinburgh, the research team investigates various topics, including cryptography, distributed systems, game theory, human-computer interaction, networks, formal verification, programming languages, trusted hardware, policy and regulation, and privacy-preserving technologies.

Rooted in research: pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology

Next week, IO teams will showcase their commitment to innovative blockchain research at the Tokyo Tech event.

The goal is to present the history and evolution of the collaboration between IO and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, demonstrating how this collaboration has driven significant advancements in blockchain technology. Since mid-2016, this collaboration has been pivotal in shaping various development phases of Cardano, including Byron, Shelley, and Basho. These contributions include the development of the first versions of the Ouroboros protocol, the delegation framework that enabled the creation of stake pools, and the ongoing work on Hydra to enhance network scalability.

Charles Hoskinson will deliver the opening address. Following this, Mario Larangeira, Maxim Jourenko, and Xiangyu Su will present a historical overview of the collaboration between IO and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, highlighting past research contributions, current research efforts, and future initiatives. Kriss Baird will then discuss Project Catalyst, emphasizing its role as an innovation engine and global impact. Finally, Intersect’s Jack Briggs and Tokyo hub member Yuta will explore the significance of championing distributed and open development.

IO research and education affiliations

IO collaborates with leading universities worldwide to advance research and education in blockchain technology.

Research

One of the first affiliations was the establishment of the Blockchain Technology Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh in 2017. Supported by funding from IO, the European Union, Intel, and the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, this laboratory serves as a hub for the Blockchain Technology Laboratory network, a group of universities across Europe, the United States, and Japan engaging in open-access research in decentralized systems.

Members include:

• Blockchain Technology Laboratory at Edinburgh
• Cryptocurrency Collaborative Research Chair, Tokyo Tech School of Computing
• Blockchain Technology Laboratory at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• Wyoming Advanced Blockchain Lab at the University of Wyoming.

These institutions focus on blockchain and cryptography technology, exploring provable security, cryptographic primitives and protocols, and secure multiparty computation. They also work on developing new protocols and establishing novel security definitions and cryptographic models.

Besides these institutions, IO collaborates with the following universities on dedicated research projects:

• University of Oxford
• University of Connecticut
• Athens University of Economics and Business
• National Technical University of Athens
• Stanford University
• Delft University of Technology
• Utrecht University
• Carnegie Mellon University.

Additionally, IO CEO Charles Hoskinson’s interest in formal mathematics led to establishing the Hoskinson Center for Formal Mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University, made possible by a $20m donation from him.

Over the years, IO funding has also supported collaboration with researchers at the University of Kent, the University of Lancaster, the University of Illinois, the University of Cambridge, Radboud University, Eindhoven University of Technology, and Boston University.

Education

Education is a cornerstone of IO's strategy to foster a knowledgeable and engaged global community. By prioritizing education, IO shares its expertise and empowers individuals – developers, academics, and business professionals alike – to contribute meaningfully to the technological development of Cardano. The education team combines extensive experience in curriculum design, project management, and the technical aspects of Cardano, Haskell, and smart contracts, ensuring that programs are comprehensive and tailored to diverse learners' needs.

For this, IO’s education team collaborates with numerous universities and educational institutions worldwide to deliver high-quality education, including the University of the West Indies, Carnegie Mellon University, the European Business University of Luxembourg, the University of Malta, and the National Technological University in Buenos Aires. Additionally, the team has collaborated on curriculum design for blockchain programs with Yeovil College in the UK and Consilium Academy in South Africa.

Figure 1. The map of IO’s research and education collaborations worldwide

Conclusion

The commitment to research and education, combined with its extensive collaborations with academic institutions, positions IO at the forefront of blockchain innovation. By tackling fundamental questions and fostering academic collaborations, IO continues to contribute significantly to the evolution of decentralized technology.

For more details, explore IO’s library of research papers, take a look at the series of blog posts about the research underpinning Cardano, and subscribe to the IO Academy YouTube channel.