The Mathematical Institute (MI) of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) has been encouraging the research in the field of cryptology and information security since the early 1990s. To continue this good practice and research and since the importance of information privacy was socially recognised, SANU organised a conference "Privacy in digital age: Illusion or national challenge" in 2017. The conference emphasised the need to establish a National Centre for Cyber Security and Privacy, which was officially set up on November 22, 2017.

Figure: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Magnifying glass: privacy, individual, protection, cyber space, digital age, confidentiality, digital economy, authenticity, rights, security

Mathematical Institute of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

The Centre's program framework comprises the following: (a) It is the institution that comprises research and educational activities to improve cyber security and privacy; (b) It develops international cooperation in the fields of cyber security and privacy; (c) It participates in solving research and development problems that may appear in establishing security and privacy, which is of interest to both citizens and institutions in the Republic of Serbia.

Security, trust and privacy are widely recognised as key attributes that provide all the benefits that digital space brings and simultaneously prevent it from becoming an open door to malicious activities that can lead to catastrophic consequences.

According to all the mentioned above, the mission of the Centre is to contribute to the following:

• the process of solving the problem of cyber security and privacy for the benefit of the citizens of Serbia;
• stimulating the scientific community of Serbia to solve problems that are at the same time: (1) within world academic priorities,
  (2) helps solve everyday life problems, and
  (3) have the potential to develop business activities nationally and internationally.

Some issues are pointed out, such as: The importance of cyber security and privacy; Cyber security and privacy and new technologies. Cyber security and privacy and digital economy; Centre projects, and Illustrative references.

The importance of cyber security and privacy.

Cyber security is recognised as one of the key requirements. Privacy is the right and need of every individual, but the individual alone cannot adequately protect their privacy since the areas of privacy threats are in different infrastructural systems in the digital (cyber) space (telecommunications, health and medical, and government or business systems, for example), which are beyond the direct control of the individual and can be a starting point for endangering citizens. Cyber privacy and protection are much more layered and essentially more significant than in our real space because:

• cyber privacy and security can be compromised in many more ways, and
• the consequences of these threats can be much more severe and at the same time more difficult to detect.

Cyber security and privacy, and new technologies.

The constant widening of digital space and activities in it imposes new challenges in achieving security and privacy. There is a constant battle between methods for compromising security and privacy and improving methods for achieving these key attributes, which are of utmost importance for digital space and activities in it.
Accordingly, the specific objectives of the Centre include:

• Intensification of scientific research in the field of cyber security and protection of privacy due to: (a) national needs, (b) inclusion in the current international direction of research, and (c) because scientific research in this area is of direct importance to practical applications;
• Establishment of multidisciplinary scientific research projects with direct applications in the improvement of security and protection of privacy in our country and in international cooperation in the field of cyber privacy and security.

Cyber security and privacy, and the digital economy.

Digital space without mechanisms for improving security and protecting privacy becomes a "digital jungle" and an open space for various malicious activities, the consequences of which threaten entities and systems and individuals, as well as business activities. Security and privacy protection of all citizens in digital space are also prerequisites for developing the elements of the digital economy that create resources and services. It is indisputable that in the field of creating products and providing services for security and privacy in the digital space, there is an opportunity for our participation in this part of the digital economy in national and international frameworks as well as for applying our research results in advanced commercial solutions.

Projects of the Centre.

The Centre's ongoing projects fall into the following two categories: (a) Design, security evaluation, and application of advanced cryptographic techniques of low implementation complexity; (b) Advanced techniques for blockchain technology and applications. These projects have been implemented or are being implemented in accordance with international agreements with Shandong Computer Science Center, Shandong Academy of Sciences, China, The University of Tokyo, Institute of Industrial Science, Japan, Indian Statistical Institute, India, and by signed contracts with Telekom Srbija.

Illustrative references:


[1] S. Tomovic, M. Knezevic, and M. J. Mihaljevic, "Analysis and Correction of the Attack against the LPN-Problem Based Authentication Protocols", Mathematics, vol. 9, Iss. 5, (27 pages), March 2021.
[2] M.J. Mihaljevic, "A Blockchain Consensus Protocol Based on Dedicated Time-Memory-Data Trade-Off", IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 141258-141268, Avg 2020
[3] M. Kneževic, S. Tomovic and M.J. Mihaljevic, "Man-In-The-Middle Attack against Certain Authentication Protocols Revisited: Insights into the Approach and Performances Re-Evaluation", Electronics, vol. 9 (8), 1296 (23 pages) Avg. 2020
[4] M. J. Mihaljevic, "A Security Enhanced Encryption Scheme and Evaluation of Its Cryptographic Security", Entropy , vol 21 (7), July 2019 (11 pages)
[5] M. J. Mihaljevic and F. Oggier, "Security Evaluation and Design Elements for a Class of Randomized Encryptions", IET Information Security, 12 pages, Vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 36–47, Jan. 2019,
[6] V. Mikhalev, M. J. Mihaljevic, O. Kara and F. Armknecht, “Selected Design and Analysis Techniques of Contemporary Symmetric Encryption”, Security of Ubiquitous Computing Systems, Eds. G. Avoine and J. Hernandez-Castro, Springer, pp. 49-62, Springer 2021.
[7] A. Mileva, V. Dimitrova, O. Kara and M.J. Mihaljevic, “Catalog and Illustrative Examples on Lightweight Cryptographic Primitives”, Security of Ubiquitous Computing Systems, Eds. G. Avoine and J. Hernandez-Castro, Springer, pp. 21-47, Springer 2021.
[8] Japan Patent JP 6667174 B2 : M. J. Mihaljevic and K. Matsuura, Communication Data Encryption/decryption Method And System,February 2020.
[9] Japan Patent JP 6602210 B2: K. Matsuura and M.J. Mihaljevic, Authentication System and Method,, November, 2019.
[10] M. J. Mihaljevic, “Bitcoin, Blockchain Technology and Cryptography - An illustration of Certain Issues”, Anali Oranka SANU u Novom Sadu, br. 10, pp. 41-47, Jan. 2020.