Status message
The power of self-sovereign identity is that users are in control: they decide for themselves with whom they share their data. This fits seamlessly with the public value of autonomy, which is why we think SSI is such an important theme at SURF.
What are we working on in terms of self-sovereign identity?
Applications of SSI
The SURF SSI Lab is an initiative to create more cohesion and cooperation in the initiatives within the education and research sector where SSI plays a role. The aim of the SSI Lab is to share knowledge and experience, both within SURF and with the (knowledge) institutions.
Deploying SSI within existing services
Other sectors, including government and healthcare, are increasingly researching SSI. SURF could also use SSI within existing services, such as eduID and SURF Research Access Management. SURF is therefore exploring how SSI can play a role in research and education.
Technical support
The SSI lab also provides technical and infrastructural support to internal pocs and pilots. However, the obvious way forward is to later provide support for pilots by and with institutions. Thereafter, service development can take place, if desired.
Building blocks SSI Lab
SURF's SSI Lab has an increasing number of building blocks. Knowledge about these building blocks is readily available and they can also be experimented with by institutions (of higher education) with a (limited) technical implementation/infrastructure. These are building blocks such as IRMA, Hyperledger Indy, and EBSI.
Contact: Niels van Dijk, niels.vandijk@surf.nl
SURF, together with a number of institutions, is participating in the Digital Credentials for Europe (DC4EU) consortium. This collaboration tests education- and research-related use cases with wallets and SSI on a pan-European scale.
Contact: Paul den Hertog, paul.denhertog@surf.nl
Cooperation and coordination on SSI
This GÉANT task force focuses on knowledge exchange between NRENs in the field of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and SSI-related use cases. The overall goals are to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience. In addition, to engage other interested parties working on DLT infrastructures and services.
Read more about this GÉANT task force
Contact: Niels van Dijk, niels.vandijk@surf.nl
Periodic consultations take place with OCW, DUO, MBO Digitaal and Kennisnet on topics such as digital identities, including the Digital Government Act (wDO), Digital Source Identity (DBI) and the EU-Wallet.
Contact person: Michiel Schok, michiel.schok@surf.nl
In the GÉANT project, SURF collaborated on the Trust and Identity Incubator, which researched and tested various aspects of SSI, both in terms of technology and business case. This project ran until the end of 2022.
Read more about this GÉANT project
Contact: Niels van Dijk, niels.vandijk@surf.nl
With the (European) Digital Identity programme (EDI), the Dutch government is fleshing out the new eIDAS 2.0 regulation, which focuses on the use of wallets and SSI technology. SURF is following this development and participating in workshops and input sessions organised by this project.
Contact: Niels van Dijk, niels.vandijk@surf.nl