Two researchers from the College of Information Technology participate in an international conference in Indonesia with innovative research in quantum security

Duhaa Fadill Abbas
As part of the College of Information Technology’s objectives to strengthen scientific research and enhance the university’s presence in international academic forums, Professor Dr. Al-Hareth Abdul Kareem Abdullah from the college, accompanied by PhD candidate Safaa Tahseen Mohammed Jawad from the Software Department, took part in the ICONEST International Conference hosted by UNIROW University in Indonesia. During the event, they presented their joint research titled “Accelerating CRYSTALS-Dilithium: Lazy Reduction for Faster NTT and Compact Key Storage.”

The research highlights the growing challenges faced by classical cryptographic systems in the era of quantum computing, as widely used algorithms such as RSA and ECC are expected to be vulnerable to Shor’s algorithm once sufficiently powerful quantum computers become available. The study proposes improved solutions based on lattice-based cryptographic schemes, particularly the CRYSTALS-Dilithium framework, due to its strong resistance to quantum attacks while aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce computational overhead.

The research introduces the Lazy Reduction technique as a method to decrease the number of modular arithmetic operations and accelerate the Number Theoretic Transform (NTT). Additionally, it proposes a compact private key storage approach that achieves a 29% reduction in key size, ultimately improving performance without compromising security.

ICONEST serves as a platform for showcasing the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and computational sciences, including machine learning, generative intelligence, robotics, and language-based models. The conference emphasized practical applications, ethical discussions, and international academic cooperation to advance technological innovation globally.

The event provided valuable opportunities for researchers and students to engage with leading experts, explore innovative research ideas, stay updated on global scientific trends, and strengthen academic and industrial collaboration at the international level.