Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is a breakthrough cryptographic concept in digital identity management, giving individuals greater control over their personal data and online identities. SSI enables users to manage their own identities without relying on central authorities, leading to improved privacy, security and efficient interactions in the digital world. This concept shifts control over personal data from organizations to the individuals themselves, with decentralized technologies such as decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable credentials (VCs) central. This allows people to conduct digital transactions securely and confidentially while maintaining control over their data, but… is the digital world ready for this?

In this research assignment you will study the adoption of SSI and the challenges associated with it. Qualitative methods can include in-depth case studies to delve into the motivations, challenges, and success stories of organizations and individuals implementing SSI. Additionally, it is essential to stay abreast of emerging SSI standards, regulations, and technological developments. Collaboration with industry experts and research into existing solutions can provide valuable insights. The research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of SSI on digital identity, privacy, security and user experience.

Possible extension: implement your own decentralized identity vault

Methodology

Our internship assignment(s) follow the Scrum project methodology to ensure a structured and efficient approach to the (sub)tasks. This is a reflection of IdentIT’s project approach. Scrum is a highly adaptable framework that promotes collaboration, adaptability and transparency. Within this framework, we organize the work in time-bound iterations called sprints. Each sprint has a duration of two to three weeks with clear objectives and tasks. At the start of each sprint, the intern(s) and supervisor(s) hold a sprint planning meeting to define the objectives and create a sprint backlog. Weekly stand-up meetings help track progress and identify any obstacles that need to be addressed. At the end of each sprint, a sprint review, with a demo if possible, is held to present progress and collect feedback. The Scrum methodology also helps promote a collaborative and adaptable work environment, so that the best results are achieved within the specified timeframe.

Goals

The following delivery is expected at the end of the assignment:

• Analysis of the problem definition
• Study of existing solutions, standards,…
• Presentation of the research results
• Documentation of the research process